The Iconic Air Jordan Evolution

In 2003, the Air Jordan 1 Retro "Chicago Bulls" was introduced with a patent leather finish, a first for the AJ1 model. Aside from the Air Jordan 11, the addition of patent leather can be a critical design choice for sneakers. It can either captivate attention in a great way or end up quickly discounted. Reflecting on the style trends of 2003, basketball, hip hop, and fashion were filled with extravagant elements. Hence, Jordan Brand's decision to launch patent leather variants of the Jordan 1 Mid clearly aligned with current trends. The longevity of such fashion choices remains open to discussion. What will forever be timeless is the Air Jordan 1 "Chicago Bulls" color scheme. This iteration can arguably be deemed the pinnacle of sneaker history. Without the triumph of Michael Jordan and his acclaimed Air Jordan collection, Boxstock, the "Stock Market of Sneakers," might not exist. In 2003, the patent leather AJ1 deviated from the classic blueprint, featuring a shortened "mid" cut and replacing the Nike Air logo with the Jumpman logo on the tongue. However, the Air Jordan 1 Retro "Chicago Bulls" in patent leather preserved its essential attributes: the "White/Varsity Red-Black" palette that captivated the sneaker world.

A Trendsetting but Controversial Finish