Sneaker Enthusiast Ai Iwasaki Discusses the 40th Anniversary of "Air Jordan" Along with Her Favorite Models

The "Air Jordan 1" debuted in 1985 and continues to be incredibly popular today. This year marks its 40th anniversary, leading to much excitement with the re-release of the "Air Jordan 1 HIGH 85 'Bred'" and the launch of the legendary prototype color known as "Black Toe."
 
In this article, we invited Ai Iwasaki, a renowned sneaker enthusiast who deeply loves Air Jordan, to share her thoughts on the allure of the "Air Jordan" series as it celebrates its 40th anniversary, along with her favorite models.

The Incredible Connection Between Vintage Designs & Current Fashion

The year 2025 will mark the 40th anniversary of the "Air Jordan 1." Ai Iwasaki is well-known as a collector of the globally popular "Air Jordan 1."

She frequently appears at events and in media as a sneaker enthusiast, boasting over 10,000 followers on Instagram. When did Ai first develop an interest in sneakers?

 Basketball sparked her interest in sneakers. But what specifically led her to fall in love with the "Air Jordan" series? Iwasaki shared her thoughts.
 
"As I played basketball and got older, I noticed boys wearing various basketball shoes. I first saw the 'Air Jordan' series on them and thought it was really cool. I believe the first pair I noticed was the 'Air Jordan 9.'"

From then on, Ai learned about the existence of the "Air Jordan" series and found herself wanting more information, fueling her desire to collect. Interestingly, the first pair she acquired from the "Air Jordan" series was the red and black model known as the "Air Jordan 4 Toro Bravo." She later discovered that its color scheme was the same as the "Bred" colorway of the "Air Jordan 1."
 
Among her sneaker collection, she has over 80 pairs of "Air Jordan" series shoes, including around 40 to 50 pairs of the "Air Jordan 1" alone.

When asked about the allure of the "Air Jordan" series that excites people, Iwasaki responded, "Seeing Michael Jordan, the 'God of Basketball,' wearing them in footage was undeniably cool, but I think it’s genuinely impressive that sneakers released before I was even born have become part of contemporary fashion."
 
According to Iwasaki’s perspective, it's not just about Michael Jordan’s greatness, but rather the versatility of the "Air Jordan" series in coordination with modern wardrobes that strikes a chord with her.

The Red, White, & Black "Chicago" Colorway is the Golden Ratio

Among the "Air Jordan" series, Iwasaki mentions that her favorite is the "Air Jordan 1." When asked about her reasons, she replied.
 
"The one I like most from the 'Air Jordan 1' is the 'Chicago.' I fell in love with it after seeing Michael Jordan wear it."

Reflecting on the circumstances when she acquired her first "Chicago" "Air Jordan 1," which was the 2015 reissue, Iwasaki shared:
 
"I truly believe the 'Chicago' colorway is the golden ratio (laughs). It wasn't just about wanting the original 1985 version; I wanted the new 'Chicago,' so when the 2015 reissue came, I absolutely had to get the 'Chicago.'

I did not win the lottery, so it cost a bit, but I purchased it from an overseas site. At that time, there were no apps like "Nike's SNKRS," so I ordered it in a way similar to personal imports.
 
Among the combinations of red, black, and white, the "Air Jordan 1" includes the Bulls colorway known as “Bread” and a colorway with a black toe, commonly referred to as “Black Toe.” When I asked about their impressions regarding these colors, I received interesting responses.

“The 'Bread' has a lot of black, which makes it appear somewhat heavy, making it challenging to coordinate with outfits. I think 'Black Toe' is good as it is closer to 'Chicago,' but it simply cannot compete with 'Chicago.' Ultimately, 'Chicago' is the best for me.”

Attractive Design & Color Blocking that Never Fades

Iwasaki is currently married and lives with her husband and son. During the interview, her husband, who was working from home, shared interesting insights regarding Iwasaki's sneaker perspective.
 
"When I talk with my wife, I notice that her values, evaluations, and preferences regarding sneakers are different from others. I believe sneaker enthusiasts can be divided into two types. One type loves sneakers based on 'knowledge.' For example, they admire this original because it's the same model worn by Michael Jordan in 1985... like that.

"The other type simply likes what they intuitively find appealing. For instance, they may like the color combination at first glance or appreciate a specific aspect of the design.

"I definitely think she belongs to the latter type. By the way, I also like sneakers based on intuition, so we agree on that point. Regarding the 'Air Jordan 1,' rather than thinking about when Michael Jordan wore them in the NBA Finals, I find it interesting that I appreciate the visual color blocking."

As one of the top sneaker enthusiasts in Japan, Iwasaki shared her personal rules for owning "Air Jordan 1."

"Collectors often say they buy two pairs: one for wearing and one for display, but I only buy one pair. Moreover, my rule is to make sure I wear them after purchasing. Therefore, I do not buy sneakers that I wouldn’t wear regularly. My size is 26 cm, which is in high demand, so I struggle with the competitive lottery! (laughs)"
 
When I asked Iwasaki about the "Air Jordan 1" she is targeting and her thoughts on the "Air Jordan 1" celebrating its 40th anniversary, she responded:
 
"There’s information that a 'Chicago' colorway from the '85 Series' of the 'Air Jordan 1' will be released at the end of this year, and as a 'Chicago' fan, I absolutely want to get it. I also wish to collect the original colors from the 'Air Jordan' series. For example, I would love to have the 'Concord' colorway from the 'Air Jordan 11.'"

It feels quite strange to be collecting sneakers that were released before I was born, but despite the passage of time, the design remains timeless, and the universal color blocking allows for seamless integration into current fashion. It's amazing to think that we can still incorporate them into our styles today. I look forward to more exciting color blocking in the "Air Jordan" series in the future.