Quick Facts
- Nike originally planned to retro the triple white Off-White Jordan 1 High
- Following the sale of Off-White to a new parent company, Nike partnered with Virgil Abloh's estate directly for the collab
- Instead of Off-White branding, the pair features Virgil Abloh Archives
- There is zero mention of Off-White on the pair
- Expect a release on March 14-15 via an EQL raffle in LA, followed by a global SNKRS release on April 3
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After the fallout of the adidas Yeezy partnership and the passing of Virgil Abloh, a significant void has been left in the hype sneaker space. That’s not to say that collaborators and brands aren’t pumping out quality releases, but that special something that came with Off-White Jordans and early Off-White x Nike drops still seems to be missing. Well, for those who missed that era or have never had the chance to experience it, Virgil Abloh's estate is set to drop another collaborative Air Jordan 1 in 2026.
Nike and Jordan Brand originally planned to collaborate with Off-White on a retro of the Air Jordan 1 High collab from years past, but that changed after Off-White was sold to a new parent company. Now, Jordan Brand has replaced the original Off-White branding details with Virgil Abloh Archives logos, lining up with the new Sesame and Forest Green colorways of the Virgil Abloh Air Force 1 Low.
Following the initial reports of the pair being released, Hiroshi Fujiwara, founder of the famed Japanese fashion brand fragment design, was spotted wearing the sneaker at the Virgil Abloh: The Codes exhibit in Paris, France. The sneaker retains nearly all the details from the original Off-White x Air Jordan 1 High Retro OG White, but replaces the Off-White mentions with Virgil Abloh.
Virgil’s take on the Air Jordan 1 was initially released in the Chicago colorway in 2017 as part of Off-White’s The Ten Collection. It was later given two makeovers — University Blue and the European-exclusive White in 2018. Since then, the Off-White x Jordan connection has strayed from the iconic Air Jordan 1, although a few different sample pairs and rumored releases have appeared. One of these is the illustrious Canary Yellow colorway, long rumored to be the next Off-White x Air Jordan 1 release. However, the Off-White x Nike relationship appears to be over, so expect all future drops to contain Virgil Abloh branding instead.
Jordan and the Virgil Abloh Archives have updated the packaging for the pair compared to the original. A standard black and red Jordan 1 box receives multiple cut-out circles that allow you to peer into the box. Instead of opening like a normal box, the sides open up to allow a plastic see-through case to be slid out. Also included inside is a book that details some of the creative process behind Virgil's AJ 1 design.
The Virgil Abloh Archives x Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG SP Alaska will be released in-person at the Virgil Abloh Archives World Fair event in LA on March 14-15 via an EQL raffle, with more releases via pop-ups across the globe in the following days. A global launch will take place on April 3, 2026 via select retailers. As of now, a US Nike SNKRS release is not confirmed, but overseas SNKRS releases are expected. We'll keep you updated as soon as more information becomes available via the Sole Retriever mobile app
Virgil Abloh Archives x Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG SP Alaska
Images via Yankee Kicks
Images via yyt_snkrs
Images via fujiwarahiroshi / nari_x_x_x_
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy watching films and discovering music. Follow me on Letterboxd @nickvlah For tips, reviews, or any shoes in a size 13, email nick@soleretriever.com
