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In-Depth: The Rebirth of the Jordan 1 Mid
The Nike Air Jordan 1 Mid is known for being one of the most hated Jordans, ridiculed as the "lesser Jordan" compared to its high-top and low-top counterparts. In recent years, however, the Mid has redeemed itself and is now beloved by the masses. How did the Mid, once shunned by the sneaker community, find its way back into the hearts of the masses? Let's explore the history of the Air Jordan 1 Mid, from why it's considered a "bad" sneaker to how it changed things.
The "lesser Jordan"
The Air Jordan 1 Mid is like the middle child of the family and doesn't get the same attention as the Air Jordan 1 High or Low .
When it comes to collecting sneakers, collectors do so for a variety of reasons, including history, hype, and value: Highs beat Mids in every way. The Mid simply doesn't have the rich history or stories that many sneakerheads look for when deciding whether to buy a pair, even compared to other mid-top models like their cousin, the Tinker Hatfield-designed Air Jordan 3 .
With fewer advertising collaborations than those with celebrities like Travis Scott or designer brands like OFF-WHITE, and a lack of memorable exclusive colorways, the Mid simply doesn't make an impact or compare to its other counterparts. Their branding also differs, with the OG Highs featuring the original "Nike Air" branding on the tongue, giving them a historical edge, while the later Mids feature the new Jumpman logo and "Air" underneath.
Coupled with lower-quality leather and other materials like nylon, nubuck, and suede used in the Mids versus the premium leather found on the Highs, the Mids are devalued and have sealed their fate by not performing well even in the resell market. It's just the economy where it's not worth the time and effort to camp out on the site for a shoe that won't sell out immediately and won't make much of a profit on the secondary market. No one really muses over how they managed to win a Mid compared to if they won the lottery for a High.
The worst part is simply because the sneaker community always expects a high-end Air Jordan 1 Mid to one day come close to the top, but it always falls short (...). Unfortunately, the constant comparison between the two silhouettes and the “what ifs” has led to some feelings of disappointment and how it's never “good enough.” These feelings have even become part of the sneakerhead community's culture of hating the Mid.
Are Mids really as the name suggests—really average, or do they deserve a chance? We see redeeming qualities that have slowly warmed the Mids community, and some pretty amazing collaborations that fetch quite a good price even on the secondary market.
First of all, the most interesting thing about the Air Jordan 1 Mid is how affordable and convenient they are for a pair of good-looking sneakers. Not everyone can afford or get their hands on a pair of Retro Highs, while the Mids might be available in the exact same colorway for a lower price and are much easier to wear, but still look great.
Mids are also a great starting point for those new to sneaker collecting before deciding to invest in something much more expensive. They're also great sneakers for the casual collector, as they're affordable and easy to pair with a variety of outfits thanks to their silhouette and range of available colors.
Mids have proven capable of surprises with some successful kicks that are now worth over a thousand dollars on the resale market. Not only did they create a narrative with these kicks, but they also chose the right collaborators and hyped up the marketing to such an extent that they became a huge success.
The Melody Ehsani x Women's Air Jordan 1 Mid 'Fearless' was part of Jordan Brand's 'Fearless Ones' collection and launched in November 2019. Its bold color blocking of different, mismatched bright colors on each side resulted in a design that perfectly conveys the collection's theme. The design's key feature is the dial on the laces and the phrase "If you knew what you had was rare, you'd never waste it." printed on the outsole.
Another noteworthy Mid is the Air Jordan 1 Mid "Milan," which was part of a three-piece City Pack. Drawing inspiration from Italy's fashion capital, the sneaker features colors and textures inspired by the city's gothic architecture. The result is a subtle and elegant mix of earthy tones like tan and gray, with a leather MLN tag that adds a touch of refined Italian craftsmanship.
Sneaker culture and tastes are constantly evolving, which is what makes it exciting, and we don't know what the next big thing might be. The important thing is to always remember why you started collecting sneakers in the first place and simply get what you love. Enjoy collecting or wearing what you truly desire, which is what makes the money spent worthwhile in the end. And who knows, if you're a secret Air Jordan 1 Mid collector, one day it could be the next big thing.
The "lesser Jordan"
The Air Jordan 1 Mid is like the middle child of the family and doesn't get the same attention as the Air Jordan 1 High or Low .
When it comes to collecting sneakers, collectors do so for a variety of reasons, including history, hype, and value: Highs beat Mids in every way. The Mid simply doesn't have the rich history or stories that many sneakerheads look for when deciding whether to buy a pair, even compared to other mid-top models like their cousin, the Tinker Hatfield-designed Air Jordan 3 .
With fewer advertising collaborations than those with celebrities like Travis Scott or designer brands like OFF-WHITE, and a lack of memorable exclusive colorways, the Mid simply doesn't make an impact or compare to its other counterparts. Their branding also differs, with the OG Highs featuring the original "Nike Air" branding on the tongue, giving them a historical edge, while the later Mids feature the new Jumpman logo and "Air" underneath.
Coupled with lower-quality leather and other materials like nylon, nubuck, and suede used in the Mids versus the premium leather found on the Highs, the Mids are devalued and have sealed their fate by not performing well even in the resell market. It's just the economy where it's not worth the time and effort to camp out on the site for a shoe that won't sell out immediately and won't make much of a profit on the secondary market. No one really muses over how they managed to win a Mid compared to if they won the lottery for a High.
The worst part is simply because the sneaker community always expects a high-end Air Jordan 1 Mid to one day come close to the top, but it always falls short (...). Unfortunately, the constant comparison between the two silhouettes and the “what ifs” has led to some feelings of disappointment and how it's never “good enough.” These feelings have even become part of the sneakerhead community's culture of hating the Mid.
Are Mids really as the name suggests—really average, or do they deserve a chance? We see redeeming qualities that have slowly warmed the Mids community, and some pretty amazing collaborations that fetch quite a good price even on the secondary market.
First of all, the most interesting thing about the Air Jordan 1 Mid is how affordable and convenient they are for a pair of good-looking sneakers. Not everyone can afford or get their hands on a pair of Retro Highs, while the Mids might be available in the exact same colorway for a lower price and are much easier to wear, but still look great.
Mids are also a great starting point for those new to sneaker collecting before deciding to invest in something much more expensive. They're also great sneakers for the casual collector, as they're affordable and easy to pair with a variety of outfits thanks to their silhouette and range of available colors.
Mids have proven capable of surprises with some successful kicks that are now worth over a thousand dollars on the resale market. Not only did they create a narrative with these kicks, but they also chose the right collaborators and hyped up the marketing to such an extent that they became a huge success.
The Melody Ehsani x Women's Air Jordan 1 Mid 'Fearless' was part of Jordan Brand's 'Fearless Ones' collection and launched in November 2019. Its bold color blocking of different, mismatched bright colors on each side resulted in a design that perfectly conveys the collection's theme. The design's key feature is the dial on the laces and the phrase "If you knew what you had was rare, you'd never waste it." printed on the outsole.
Another noteworthy Mid is the Air Jordan 1 Mid "Milan," which was part of a three-piece City Pack. Drawing inspiration from Italy's fashion capital, the sneaker features colors and textures inspired by the city's gothic architecture. The result is a subtle and elegant mix of earthy tones like tan and gray, with a leather MLN tag that adds a touch of refined Italian craftsmanship.
Sneaker culture and tastes are constantly evolving, which is what makes it exciting, and we don't know what the next big thing might be. The important thing is to always remember why you started collecting sneakers in the first place and simply get what you love. Enjoy collecting or wearing what you truly desire, which is what makes the money spent worthwhile in the end. And who knows, if you're a secret Air Jordan 1 Mid collector, one day it could be the next big thing.
