Awake NY’s Blue Snakeskin ‘Pre-Jordan’ Sneaker Drops This Weekend
Awake NY and Jordan Brand are transitioning into their blue period.
More than six months after the launch of their red colorway, the Awake NY x Jordan Air Ship “Game Blue” will complete the capsule this weekend. The arrangement for the sneaker remains the same, with the majority of the upper appearing in white leather and the sole unit taking on a heavily aged look. The swap from blue to red comes on the faux snakeskin collar, as well as the trim for the silver leather Swoosh. Awake’s “A” logo is once again stitched onto the mudguard, and the tongue takes on a faint pink hue.
Both versions of the sneaker serve to celebrate Michael Jordan’s birthplace of Brooklyn, and a second clothing capsule continues the color swap with a varsity jacket, sweatpants, hoodie, T-shirt and shorts.
Long before it moved over the Jordan Banner, the Nike Air Ship made its debut in 1984 and was designed by Bruce Kilgore, who’s also responsible for the Air Force 1. Jordan wore the sneaker early in his NBA career before the Air Jordan 1 was ready, and it was actually the Air Ship that drew fines from the league.
Nike looked past this detail and ran with a marketing strategy highlighting the NBA’s disapproval of Jordan’s black and red sneakers, thus creating the long-enduring myth that his shoes were “banned.” Only in recent years has the Air Ship been pulled out of obscurity and rebranded to help tell the story of the “Pre-Jordans.”
The Awake NY x Jordan Air Ship “Game Blue” will release Saturday, November 2, exclusively through Awake NY’s website and New York City store. The streetwear label is also opening a digital raffle Thursday, October 31, and a wider release will follow November 16 through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $150.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.