Hiroshi Fujiwara Debuts Air Jordan 1 '85 "UNC" Retro; Release Expected by 2030

A month after the release of its Reimagined edition, the Air Jordan 1 '85 "UNC" has surfaced on the feet of none other than Hiroshi Fujiwara.

Clad in "Dark Powder Blue/White," the pair first launched in 1985 and deviated from the Chicago Bulls-friendly color schemes seen on the two most iconic pairs of Michael Jordan's original signature model. Instead, the two-tone finish drew inspiration from His Airness' alma mater, the University of North Carolina. A "University Blue" hue has since animated a plethora of Air Jordan retros, but the decades-old "Dark Powder Blue"-accented offering kicked off the UNC moniker in footwear.

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Jordan Brand rebuilt the Air Jordan 1 from zero, referencing authentic, original pairs from its debut run to construct its most accurate retro to date. Unsurprisingly, the '85 initiative began with the silhouette's iconic "Black/Varsity Red/White" color scheme now simply dubbed Bred.

By 2030, other original finishes on Jordan's inaugural shoe will have received the elevated, painstakingly-thorough '85-treatment. A "Chicago" Jordan 1 '85 is on the docket, and was teased by a member of Team Jumpman's extended family in the same way Fujiwara previewed the "UNC" retro well-before release plans were made available to the public.

In comparison to the most recent "UNC Reimagined" style, the impending '85 reissue abandons any overt faux aging in favor of a shape, height, and overall construction that meticulously follows the blueprint laid by Nike, Inc. in the mid-1980s. A first-look at Fujiwara's seeded pair reveals a pristine combination of "Dark Powder Blue/White" across Peter Moore's now-legendary design. Quality of materials used for the most-accurate retro is also higher than on standard OG and High editions of the AJ1. Netizens lucky enough to secure the "Bred" Jordan 1 '85 expressed that the sneaker was stiff right out of the box, but that's expected given the elevated leather; the idea is that the more premium leather construction allows a better form-fitting experience once worn-in.

Since 1985, both one-to-one and related takes on the "UNC" look have graced numerous pairs of the first Air Jordan. The late Virgil Abloh reimagined the iconic two-tone finish through his Off-White™ imprint in June 2018. Pairs of the coveted collaboration currently fetch over $1,000 on after-market platforms StockX and KICKS CREW, a sizable markup from its $190 MSRP.

The "Black/Varsity Red" pair from February 2025 retailed for $250. Its likely all subsequent '85 offerings will be priced higher due to increased MSRP guidelines implemented at the end of May.

Stay tuned for firm Nike.com/Jordan release details and official photos of the "UNC" Jordan 1 '85 retro.

For more from the Swoosh conglomerate, check out the expansive Nike Air Max catalog.