Concept Lab // Air Jordan 5 PRM “Tyrian”

Tyrian, also known as Tyrian Red and Imperial Purple, is a reddish-purple natural dye that’s secreted by several species of predatory sea snails. Its extraction is an ancient process, where the acquisition of the dye involved tens of thousands of snails and substantial labor, and as a result, the dye was highly valued. It’s why the color purple is frequently associated with Royalty and Luxury, as only the incredibly wealthy could afford it. It’s not a theme that’s visited to frequently in footwear, although it has risen to prominence on a few occasions, most notably on 2017’s Concepts x New Balance 990. With premium footwear such a hot commodity these days — and with social media’s fixation on maroon and purple sneakers (thanks, Travis Scott) — you would have thought that we’d have seen more of the luxiously-aligned hue. So while we wait on the yet-to-be-revealed YEEZY 500 High of the same name, we’ve visited the Concept Lab to deliver an Air Jordan 5 “Tyrian” that’s fit for a King.

Firstly, the silhouette selection: The Air Jordan 5 is arguably the best base for any premium-constructed sneaker. Just think about the many highly-desired pairs before it; Tokyo and Shanghai, Bin 23, Oregon Ducks, Trophy Room and, more recently, the OFF-WHITE x Air Jordan 5. There are even rumors of a Travis Scott x Air Jordan 5 coming later this year. Furthermore, it’s currently the silhouette’s 30th anniversary. For the Concept team, the Air Jordan 5 was a no-brainer. Secondly, material selection: velvet was considered at first, due to its historical appeal, as was corduroy — both expensive fabrics of the era. But it was decided upon that a very fine suede would be the pair’s best option. Nice to the touch, easy on the eye and it shows up fine details along with the changing of the grain. Subtle and understated. Complimentary colors were also brought back to royalty, with navy and metallic golds complimenting the maroon suede to perfection. Lastly, a simple reference to the extraction process comes by way of a debossed spiral shell silhouette on the quarter panel, serving as somewhat of a stamp of authenticity that was so prominent in the bygone era.

Wanna see more of our sneaker concept work? You can check out every single one of them right here.