The Virgil Abloh Archive and Jordan Brand announced the release of the Air Jordan 1 High OG X V.A.A., a special edition of the classic silhouette created from an original design by Virgil Abloh. The project marks the first global product drawn from the Virgil Abloh Archive, a collection that holds more than 20,000 objects connected to Abloh’s creative practice. The release also continues the design partnership between Nike and Virgil Abloh that began in 2017.
SNEAKERS
The Virgil Abloh Archive preserves objects, concepts, and projects that reflect Abloh’s creative output across fashion, design, and culture. Shannon Abloh founded the Archive and leads its development. She described the mission of the institution as an effort to maintain the visibility of Virgil Abloh’s ideas while sharing them with new audiences. The Air Jordan 1 played a key role in Abloh’s creative life. As a teenager near Chicago, he viewed Michael Jordan as a larger-than-life figure and saw the shoes worn on the court as symbols of transformation.
Abloh often spoke about the impact of the Air Jordan 1 on his early interest in design. The silhouette encouraged him to examine how objects reveal their construction. His design approach frequently exposed structural elements that traditional footwear design often concealed. When Nike invited Abloh to reinterpret the Air Jordan 1 for the 2017 project known as The Ten, he approached the shoe with curiosity about its internal structure. During an early meeting at Nike, he questioned the location of the air unit inside the sole and cut into the midsole with an X-Acto knife to examine it. This act reflected his method of investigation and experimentation.
Revealing hidden construction elements became a recurring feature of Abloh’s design language. The Air Jordan 1 High OG X V.A.A. incorporates details associated with his earlier reinterpretation of the model. The sneaker features an exposed tongue, an orange tab attached to the Swoosh, and black “AIR” lettering printed directly over the midsole air unit. These elements reference Abloh’s approach to footwear design and his interest in visible construction.
The Virgil Abloh Archive also introduced a free public membership program earlier this month. The initiative invites audiences to engage with the Archive and its programming. Members may apply for participation in the Toolkit program designed for students, emerging creatives, and independent learners. Applicants submit a short overview of their work and a recent project. The first one hundred Toolkit participants will receive a pair of the Air Jordan 1 High OG X V.A.A.
The release connects with a broader series of cultural programs titled the V.A.A. World’s Fair. The Archive organizes these events in cities that played important roles in Abloh’s life and career, including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. The program continues an initiative that began in Paris last September.
The first activation takes place at Architecture in Los Angeles on March 14 and March 15. The program includes artist talks, screenings, and workshops that examine Abloh’s work in design, graphics, and publishing. Visitors will also see selections from Abloh’s publications, including rare and unpublished zines. Elements from the Virgil Abloh: The Codes exhibition, such as the Media Lab and Theatre, will appear as part of the installation.
The Air Jordan 1 High OG X V.A.A. will be available through a digital raffle system powered by EQL during the Los Angeles activation. Participants must enter online, and winners will receive email notifications with collection details. The sneaker will retail for $230 and remain available through V.A.A. events and the Canary Yellow online store throughout March. A global launch will follow on April 3, 2026 through Nike.com and selected retailers.
