words // Zac Dubasik
We may only be half way through the year 2014, but we've already seen quite a few major retro releases from Jordan Brand. That makes for an exciting second half of the year, considering that as of late, the brand's most hyped releases have fallen between Black Friday and the end of the December.
In the first half of the year though, the brand gave us a good mix of both the old and new. A few originals rightfully fall at the front of our list, but there have also been some strong new colorways released as of late. Check out our list, and let us know what you think about the best retro Air Jordan releases so far in 2014.
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10. Air Jordan 10 Retro 'Cool Grey'
Cool Grey has been a popular non-original colorway for Air Jordan retros dating back to 2001’s Air Jordan 11. But while the shoes have typically been tonal, this version still had a Bulls feel to it. Sometimes the combination of two good things can be too much, but in this case, it was just right.
9. Air Jordan 11 Retro Low 'Black/Infrared'
With three colorways already releasing, it was pretty easy to call this the summer of the Air Jordan 11 low. The black and infrared version may not have been the most anticipated, but it’s as close as we’ve got to a Space Jam low at this point.
8. Air Jordan 1 Retro KO High 'White/Black/Gym Red'
2014 has been a solid year for the AJKO, with the Rivalry Pack releasing for March Madness. A classic is a classic though – and this original colorway still stands out from the crowd.
7. Air Jordan 2 Retro 'White/Red'
There were so few colorways of the Air Jordan 2 originally, that it’s no surprise to see new editions this year. And even though, like the Carmines, the White/Red 2 returned in 2008’s CDP, there was no shortage of fans waiting for this classic original model.
6. Air Jordan 10 Retro 'Powder Blue'
In 2005, Jordan Brand released an LS edition of the 10 known as the Ice Blues. And that was the closest (and it really wasn’t that close) we’d ever seen to a retro of the original Powder Blues. That all changed in February, when the shoe finally received a proper retro.
5. Air Jordan 9 Retro 'Barons'
Michael Jordan’s mid-career sabbatical has been well documented, but this year Jordan Brand chose to honor it with a handful of colorways paying tribute to his baseball days. The highlight, and rightfully so considering it’s the model he wore as a cleat, has been the Barons edition of the Air Jordan 9.
4. Air Jordan 6 Retro 'Infrared 23'
It’s not often an original colorway retro of an Air Jordan is overshadowed by a new one. But as anticipated as the White/Infrared 6s were on All Star Weekend, and as well as they sold, it was the Infrared 23s that had everyone talking.
3. Jordan 1 SB QS 'Lance Mountain'
Painting on a shoe is nothing new. It was done back in the day when Lance Mountain was originally wearing Air Jordans. Maison Martin Margiela has done it for years commercially. And it’s even been collaborated on recently by Converse and MMM. But there’s something about the fact that this was an Air Jordan – a mismatched pair at that, that made these extra special.
2. Air Jordan 6 Retro 'Carmine'
Sure, the Carmines came out as part of the 2008 CDP series, but that didn’t seem to stop anyone from grabbing pairs of one of the most coveted Air Jordans ever. The truth is, if they came out again next year, the result would probably still be the same.
1. Air Jordan 11 Retro Low 'Concord'
The Concord 11s are one of the most popular shoes of all time, and could sell out probably once a month, forever. The low-top edition was more than just a chopped off variation though – it has real history, as the shoe MJ wore for that Championship Parade. Did that fact matter in terms of sales? Of course not, but it makes a great shoe that much better.
