Collabs are nothing new in the sneaker world, but with Air Jordan they’ve always hit differently. Each one tells a story about where sneaker culture was at the time. From early exclusives that shaped the idea of grails, to luxury putting Jumpman on the runway, to artists who blurred the line between sneakers and art.
Some pushed design in new directions, others showed just how big the Jordan brand could get outside of basketball. Looking back, a handful of collabs stand out as true turning points. Here are the 10 Air Jordan collabs that changed sneaker culture forever, ranked from 10 down to 1.
10. Levi’s x Air Jordan 4
When Levi’s and Jordan Brand linked up in 2018, the idea of a denim-covered Jordan sounded wild. But once images surfaced, sneakerheads were hooked. The Levi’s x Air Jordan 4 came in indigo, black, and white denim, complete with Levi’s tags stitched into the design.
It was one of the first collabs that truly blurred the line between sneakers and fashion, pushing Jordans into lifestyle territory in a new way. On SNKRS, they sold out instantly, and resale hit high numbers for what some thought was just a “novelty.”
Years later, the denim 4s still spark debate, but they proved Jordans could work outside their basketball roots, influencing the wave of fashion-heavy collabs that followed.
9. Supreme x Air Jordan 5
By 2015, Supreme had already mastered collabs in the streetwear world, but its take on the Air Jordan 5 felt like a new chapter. Dropping in camo, black, and white colorways, each pair featured bold Supreme branding behind the mesh panels.
The release created chaos online and at Supreme stores, with resellers flooding the market and fans arguing over whether the collab went too far. What can’t be denied is the impact as it showed how a streetwear label could take one of Jordan Brand’s most iconic models and spark a frenzy.
The Supreme 5s weren’t for everyone, but they marked the moment when streetwear officially became a permanent part of sneaker culture.
8. Eminem x Carhartt x Air Jordan 4
Some collabs are defined by hype, others by rarity. The Eminem x Carhartt x Air Jordan 4 had both. Dropping in 2015 as a friends-and-family style release with only 10 pairs auctioned for charity, it became instantly unattainable for almost everyone.
The black Carhartt canvas gave the shoe a rugged feel, while Eminem branding on the heel tied it directly to hip-hop royalty. This collab showed how exclusivity could define grail status, with pairs reselling for tens of thousands.
For sneakerheads, the Carhartt 4 wasn’t about wearing it, it was about knowing it existed, and that almost nobody had one. It proved Jordans weren’t just sneakers anymore.
7. Dior x Air Jordan 1
The Dior x Air Jordan 1 was a cultural moment bigger than sneakers. Limited to just 8,500 pairs globally, the luxury collab launched in both High and Low versions, retailing at $2,000 and immediately reselling for ten times that.
The grey and white leather, Dior monogram Swoosh, and Italian craftsmanship turned the AJ1 into a runway-ready piece of fashion history. For the first time, a Jordan collab was competing directly with luxury handbags and watches.
It showed how far sneakers had come, from the hardwood to haute couture. The Dior 1s weren’t just shoes they were proof that Jordans had crossed fully into the luxury world.
6. Undefeated x Air Jordan 4
Back in 2005, before collabs were everywhere, the UNDFTD x Air Jordan 4 set the standard for exclusivity. Limited to just 72 pairs and never releasing at retail, it was handed out to friends and family of the LA boutique.
The olive nubuck, orange accents, and velcro tongue patch gave it a military-inspired look unlike anything else at the time. It instantly became a grail, with resale hitting record highs years before StockX even existed.
The UNDFTD 4 proved that Jordans could exist in a new space: ultra-limited collabs that were as much about community and status as they were about sneakers.
5. Union LA x Air Jordan 1
Union LA’s Air Jordan 1 collab arrived at the perfect time. Vintage culture was booming, and the design blended two classic AJ1 colorways with exposed stitching to look like a DIY mash-up.
The result was a sneaker that felt both old and new, instantly resonating with collectors and younger sneakerheads alike. The release brought storytelling and craftsmanship to the forefront, sparking a wave of collabs that aimed for more than just a new colorway.
Union showed that collabs could honor the past while reimagining it, making their AJ1s some of the most respected pairs of the last decade.
4. A Ma Maniere x Air Jordan 3
A Ma Maniere’s Air Jordan 3 wasn’t just a sneaker, it was a statement. Designed with premium materials and a muted color palette, it also carried a powerful narrative about women’s influence on culture.
The campaign video and storytelling elevated the collab beyond sneakers, showing how Jordans could be used to spark conversation and honor community. On feet, the pair looked clean and timeless, but the cultural impact is what made it unforgettable.
The A Ma Maniere 3 proved that collabs didn’t just have to be about hype they could stand for something bigger.
3. Fragment x Air Jordan 1
Hiroshi Fujiwara’s Fragment x Air Jordan 1 feels almost understated compared to the chaos of modern collabs, but that’s exactly why it mattered. With a simple blue, black, and white color scheme, it tapped into Jordan 1 heritage while still bringing something new.
Released in 2014, it became one of the first Jordans to spark huge resale prices and global demand, foreshadowing the collab boom that was about to take over sneakers.
The Fragment 1 is evidence that a collab didn’t have to be loud to shake up the culture, sometimes all it needed was the right name and the right timing.
2. Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1
The Travis Scott Air Jordan 1 might be the most recognizable collab of the 2010s. With its backward Swoosh and hidden stash pocket, it redefined what hype looked like on SNKRS.
Millions entered the draw, almost everyone took an L, and resale skyrocketed overnight. But beyond the hype, this collab made Travis Scott one of the most important figures in sneaker culture.
His AJ1 wasn’t just a sneaker release, it was an event that blurred the lines between music, fashion, and footwear. For many sneakerheads, the Travis 1 is the ultimate modern grail.
1. Off-White x Air Jordan 1 “Chicago”
Virgil Abloh’s Off-White Air Jordan 1 “Chicago” didn’t just change Jordans, it changed sneakers forever. Part of “The Ten” collection, it deconstructed the iconic Chicago colorway with exposed stitching, a floating Swoosh, and bold text branding.
It turned design into storytelling and pushed sneaker collabs into the world of contemporary art. On release, it became almost impossible to get, and resale hit thousands immediately.
More importantly, it reshaped the way brands approach collaborations. Virgil’s AJ1 wasn’t just a sneaker; it was the start of a new era, where collabs defined sneaker culture as much as the originals.
