Jordan Brands' longtime collaboration with Los Angeles-based skate shop Union L.A. has left sneakerheads salivating for almost every new release since they dropped the now much-coveted Union Jordan 1 Highs.
But their latest offerings have been pretty polarizing, with some releases selling out instantly and others taking a bit of time before they get scooped up. Cases in point: the Union x Nike Dunk Passport Pack collaboration did very well, with resell prices still going at almost double the retail figures for the more coveted pieces. Then there were the Union x Jordan 2 and Union x Cortez drops, which got critical praise and had some sneakerheads grabbing multiple pairs but were passed on by others.
Now comes the Union x Jordan 1 low AJKO Collaboration. What do we think of these kicks?
Materials
Okay, for those who are not too familiar with the Jordan line—these are AJKO, and are a bit different from the standard Air Jordan 1 in terms of materials used, although they retain the overall design. It's still an OG model though, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Now the textured coated canvas used for most parts of the sneaker are a definite notch above those used for most canvas sneakers, and the suede on the swoosh and tongue is the same used in more luxurious kicks. The advantage of canvas is that it doesn't crease. The disadvantage is, well, it doesn't crease (for those who like this aesthetic). And let’s face it - canvas doesn't feel as nice to the touch. Nitpicking a bit, the velcro used for the detachable swoosh could be better but there’s nothing inherently wrong with this. Overall, great materials, that is if canvas doesn’t bother you. Rating: A-
Design
If I’m not mistaken, this is the very first AJKO collab, and Union is a worthy partner. I personally love the detachable swooshes, and infinitely prefer the light blue to the light gray one. And if you get tired of both, you can wear it without either and show everyone who knows that this is a Union collab. The hints of yellow, particularly the Union tab, are just enough for a bit of pop. The exposed foam on the tongue has Off-White vibes but the novelty of this has worn off for many. I would have preferred more colors but maybe Union wanted a more universal design more people could get behind. Rating: A-
Wearability
You can look at this two ways: Being a very predominantly white sneaker, you can wear this with anything. It would particularly look good with preppy outfits, even though it has a slight skater vibe to it due to the materials. However, being a predominantly white sneaker, made of canvas, this would attract dirt and stains like a fly to shhh—uhhhh, honey. And I feel it's not the type of sneaker that would benefit from being less than crisp. Sorry, minus points for that.
Rating: B+
Price
At P8,395 retail, it’s not cheap given the materials. It costs more than other J lows using much more leather and suede, but then you're paying for the name. You can still grab it in smaller and ladies sizes from the SNKRS Philippine site. Just an added note: if you're big footed, resale value isn't too high.
Rating: B+
Final word
In Rhobeelicious parlance, this would be a 4-Cheese Pizza, a nice combo that appeals to practically everyone. The Union name is the Honey that has been poured over it, but they could have put in some chili in the Honey that would have made it stand out even more. Still, I wouldn't turn down a slice. Tasty.
[An old school sneaker enthusiast, Rhobee Pilares enjoys street fashion, toys, cars, food and the excitement of busy, bustling cities. You can often catch him at coffee shops reading on the latest media trends. IG @rhobeelicious.]
Photos by Rhobee Pilares