Air Jordan 1 Low "Howard" Finally Gets Official School Branding

BY Ben Atkinson
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Image via Nike

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The Air Jordan 1 Retro Low OG "Howard" releases October 1st for $155, now with official Howard Bison branding.

The Air Jordan 1 Retro Low OG "Howard" releases October 1st for $155. The style code is IX8478-410.

This drop looks different from the last Howard-inspired Jordan 1. That 2024 release skipped any actual school branding, sticking to color cues alone. This one goes further, adding "Howard Bison" text and the Wings logo directly on the heel.

A navy leather upper covers most of the shoe, giving it a clean, sturdy base. The Swoosh comes in a textured red material with a white outline, adding some depth against the smooth navy panels. White detailing runs through the tongue and midsole, keeping the look balanced.

Also there is a navy rubber outsole finishes things off, matching the upper instead of breaking up the color scheme. Overall, it is a subtle choice that keeps the shoe from feeling too busy.

Given the branding upgrade, this pair should land as one of the more significant Howard releases yet. Longtime supporters of the partnership finally get a shoe that says it out loud.

Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Howard University”

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Image via Nike

Jordan Brand and Howard University signed their partnership back in 2022. It made Howard the first HBCU with Jordan Brand as its official athletic outfitter, in a deal set to run 20 years.

Since then, Howard athletes have worn exclusive Jordan Brand PEs across several models. The Air Jordan 4 and Air Jordan 6 have both gotten Howard-specific versions over the years. Most of those never made it past campus.

Retail releases tied to Howard have stayed rare by comparison. The 2024 Air Jordan 1 Low OG leaned on color alone, without any real school branding attached. This new pair changes that approach entirely.

Adding the Bison name and Wings logo signals Jordan Brand treating Howard less like inspiration and more like an actual collaborator. For Bison alumni and Jordan Brand collectors alike, this is shaping up to be the standout release of the ongoing relationship.

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Image via Nike
About The Author
Benjamin Atkinson is a sneaker content writer at HotNewHipHop, where he has been covering the latest sneaker releases and industry news since 2023. With a deep understanding of the sneaker market, Ben regularly reports on exclusive sneaker drops, collaborations, and trends shaping the footwear world. From covering the return of top Nike releases to writing about Travis Scott's famous Air Jordan collaboration, Ben delivers in-depth content for the sneakerhead community. He also brings valuable insights from his former sneaker reselling business, Midwest Soles, which sharpens his expertise on the market.

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