A closer look is finally out for Union LA's "UNC/Royal" Air Jordan 1 High OG SP sample. The pair first surfaced back in February 2025 and remains unconfirmed for retail.
Blue covers the lower half of the shoe, while a deeper Royal Blue takes over the upper portion. Union's signature exposed stitching connects both halves, giving the design that familiar mash-up look the brand has built its reputation on.
Bright yellow laces add contrast against all that blue, while an aged sail midsole ties the whole build together. Wings branding and Jordan tags remain intact, keeping the shoe recognizable despite the reworked color-blocking.
This is Union's third project blending original 1985 Air Jordan 1 colorways into one hybrid design. Since it's still labeled a sample, there's no confirmed release date or price attached to this specific pair.
Sample sightings like this one are honestly some of the most fun stories to cover in this space. There's something very exciting about seeing a shoe that was never meant to leave a design studio, especially from a brand like Union.
Union LA x Air Jordan 1 High OG SP “UNC/Royal” Samples
Union LA has built a strong reputation around this exact concept, merging two OG colorways into a single cohesive shoe. That approach first gained traction through the brand's "Shadow/Chicago" release, later expanding into other combinations.
This "UNC/Royal" sample follows that same blueprint, pairing two blue-based colorways instead of contrasting tones. It debuted alongside Union's "I'm Back" release and a separate triple collaboration with Fragment Design, keeping the brand's Jordan 1 output moving quickly during that stretch.
Samples like this one often generate plenty of buzz even without a confirmed release attached. Part of that comes down to rarity. Most collectors will never own a pair like this, so photos are often the closest anyone gets.
That scarcity is exactly what makes these sightings feel special. It's a rare, unfiltered look into the creative process behind a collaboration, long before marketing and mass production ever get involved.
