Hear ye, hear ye. Nike's most royal sneaker is back again. This time the Swoosh is bringing the Royal AJ1 back in all its original glory.

Where previous re-iterations of the sneaker reimagined the blue AF1's glory through suede configurations or vintage-inspired compositions, this take on the sneaker channels the classic leather upper of the OG. No frills, just the same off-court essence as the original.

This is part of what makes the sneaker so iconic. Unlike the "Bred" Air Jordan 1 that has quite the on-court history, the Royal AJ1 was never worn by Michael Jordan during an actual NBA game.

It got its shine purely through commercials and ads, marking a new era for the Jordan brand. This sneaker was one of the first Jordans to take on a life of its own outside the perimeter of the basketball court.

The Royal Air Jordan 1 didn't come with the same basketball-heavy lore, but this mystique actually worked to its advantage. This proved that Air Jordan 1 sneakers could hold their own without relying on athletic associations.

Since the Royal colorway didn't come with the same on-court backstory, the shoe became the first AJ1 to become a major hallmark of lifestyle footwear, laying the groundwork for the current sneaker zeitgeist that doesn't rely on actual sport moments to determine whether or not a shoe is culturally relevant.

In any other circumstance, we'd advise against beating a dead horse, but when it comes to any iteration of the Air Jordan 1, exceptions are made.

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