The term “BREDS” is very familiar among sneakerheads. It is a combination of the colors black and red and is iconic and one of the most commonly used terms among sneakerheads. It is a classic combination able to transcend a combination or fashionable looks. Kicks in these colorways will contrast well with medium shades, complement pastels and most definitely make anyone look chic when sporting the same colors for bottoms and tops.
Behind this colorway is a rich history that merits a look back. The iconic colorway will always be linked to the greatest player and team of our era, respectively Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Michael Jordan put style in the game from the baggy shorts, to the wrist bands, the calf sleeves and of course the sneakers. The Jordan 1s started it all, releasing in 1985, sporting the Bulls colors, it originated the now famous colorway and the “wings” logo we all grew up on. Jordan in 1986, was never really able to rock a Jordan 2 bred colorway due to injuries. Peter Moore and Bruce Kilgore came out with 2 mid and low cut white colorways. With the black laces and soles called “away” and the “home” designed with an all white presentation with red trims. Jordan for the most part still wore the 1s during this season as this edition of his shoes was never really hyped even today. The bred “alternate” colorway of this Jordan edition came out in 2016 rocking all black with red trims and accent sporting the Jordan “wings” logo which was the last we saw in any Jordan edition moving forward.
In 1988 the legendary Tinker Hatfield designed the 3rd edition of Jordan sneakers and the nearest to the bred colorway was the “Black Cement'' sporting the elephant print over tumbled black leather with grey accents and the reds were highlights in the shoelace holes in the front and the lining of the shoes tongue. This will also feature the now prevalent “Jumpman” logo that is the definitive mark of the Jordan brand. This shoe also had a visible “air bubble”, and the pull tab behind that featured the Nike Air logo. Jordan won NBA All Star MVP in front of the Chicago home crowd and soared from the free throw line with these bad boys.
Jordan 4 released in 1989 and still features a “Black Cement” colorway with mainly black contrasted by grey with the red accents in the sole and the Jumpman logo in the tongue. This edition had more visible pull tabs, visible air unit and meshing in its uppers. Jordan was asserting his dominance in the league at this time and Bulls were becoming serious title contenders for the ultimate prize.
Jordan 4 released in 1989 and still features a “Black Cement” colorway with mainly black contrasted by grey with the red accents in the sole and the Jumpman logo in the tongue. This edition had more visible pull tabs, visible air unit and meshing in its uppers. Jordan was asserting his dominance in the league at this time and Bulls were becoming serious title contenders for the ultimate prize.
Released in the 1990s the Jordan 5 was inspired from fighter jets. This Jordan featured the black metallic metalic colorway, a different meshing, visible air bubbles, side panels and the reflective tongue was a great feature. 1991 saw the return of the bred colorway with the Jordan 6 “black infrared” , donned in black this was the defining moment of Tinker Hatfield’s design that took the shoe game by storm. The shoe was black with red accents, with the visible air unit (the last time we see this in any Jordan edition), pull tab,and sleek design lines incorporating hints of the Jordan era. This was the first edition worn by Jordan enroute to winning his first NBA Championship in 1991. Jordan 7 was released in 1992 and the “Raptor” colorway was the nearest we saw to breds. Jordan and the Bulls won a second straight championship. In 1993 the two strapped Jordan 8 came out with 3 colorways with three original colorways, “Aqua '', “Bugs” and “Playoffs”. This edition saw the third straight championship of the Bulls. The closest to bred is the playoffs with black accented by a red pull tab, some red in the soles and lines on the back part that resembles a plate. 1994 saw Jordan retiring from the game and his Jordan 9 edition brought us the charcoal grey as the nearest to the bred colorway. The shoe was all black with red lining, pull tab and logo accenting the sneaker. Jordan 10 was released in 1995 and marked a return to the game by Jordan. There were no bred colorways in this release.
The Jordan 11 was released also in 1995 and is arguably the most iconic and famous of all basketball kicks in history.The Jordan 11 came in patent leather mid cut and low trimmed elephant print dubbed the IE. It will gain its iconic status of this sneaker will be on hold till the next year however when Jordan wins a fourth championship and a first of the second trifecta. Jordan winning the championship on father’s day and an image of him on the floor in tears wearing the bred colorway of this edition was a picture that endeared him to the hearts of his fans. The Jordan 12 came out in1997 and we shall go straight to the “flu game” that defined Jordan’s will and fortitude to succeed despite obstacles. Playing dehydrated and sapped by stomach flu, Jordan willed the Bulls to a 5th championship wearing the bred colorway of this edition. 1998 saw the Jordan 13 with the black cat as the colorway nearest to the bred.It donned black major with red contrast and the hologram ball on the side. He would use this till the last game of the season where he would wear Jordan 14 or as we fondly call it the Last Shot sneaker. The image of Jordan with the goose neck and the ball swishing for the sixth Bulls championship shall forever be ingrained in any basketball or sneakerhead for all time. The bred colorway will be forever immortalized in these championships.
It is these events and releases that paved the way for the popularity of the colorway, the icon that wore it, the events that echoed perseverance and success and the great design innovations contributed to the colorway that many athletes with signature sneakers follow. Regardless of brand the bred colorway can be seen as part of the releases for a majority of sneaker lines. It is timeless, applicable to fashion or play (depending on performance rating), transcends era of style, looks good on all ages and most of all reminds us of a time where we all witnessed greatness.
Jordan Breds a Look Back at the Iconic Colorway
By:Loreto Dingdong Sibayan II
September 15, 2021