Jumpman Unleash Wear-Away Magic With Air Jordan 1 'Self-Expression'

are adding some serious personality to their 40th anniversary lineup with the High OG ‘Self Expression’. Dropping next month, this pair takes the term ‘wear and tear’ and twists it into a design feature. At first glance you’ll spot a clean, black leather upper paired with a classic white midsole and black outsole. But the real magic happens over time.

This isn’t just another blacked-out Air Jordan 1. The upper is actually made up of layered paint that wears away with use, gradually revealing a multicolour middle coat and finally, a crisp white base. So the more you thrash them, the more your sneakers tell your personal story – and no two pairs will end up looking the same.

It’s a clever callback to the 2014 x Air Jordan 1 collaboration, a cult classic that flipped the script on sneaker customisation. That project, led by skate legend Lance Mountain, hid mismatched ‘Royal’ and ‘Bred’ colourways beneath either black or white paint overlays. As skaters shredded the uppers, those iconic hues peeked through the scuffs and scrapes, turning every pair into a one-of-one masterpiece.

Of course, the sneaker keeps it classic where it counts: high-top cut, Swoosh on the side, Wings logo on the collar – everything you expect from a Jordan 1 icon. At $180, this pair is set to hit Nike and select retailers in adult and grade school sizes.

For more on the Jumpman, make sure check out taking flight this year.