I Have a Lot of Feelings About the Air Jordan 1 Elevate High
Jordan Brand’s most controversial AJ1 just got controversial-er.
November 2021 marked the first time the world was introduced to the Jordan 1 Elevate, a platform take on the historic sneaker reimagined with minimal branding and an exaggerated midsole.
Since then, the Elevate or “LV8” has donned “Bred,” “University Blue” and “UNLV” colorways among others. A few even came with Jumpman anklets — a clear indicator of the silhouette’s push to enter the women’s-centric lifestyle sneaker arena.
Purists were quick to discount Jordan Brand for redesigning one of the world’s most recognizable sneakers, but by all accounts, JB has turned a deaf ear to the detractors, taking the Elevate to even higher heights as a platform bootie. As an early adopter in sneaker culture and someone who remembers when women’s exclusives were nearly nonexistent, the Elevate High is a moment. Whether you like it or not.
Trends are cyclical and the platform sneaker of today is merely the reimagination of the sneaker heel from the early aughts. Many people are quick to associate the sneaker heel with bootlegs, but OGs remember the Nike Dunk Sky High — an actual sneaker wedge crafted by the Swoosh.
So far the AJ1 Elevate High is available in Black/White, “Desert/Sail” and “Varsity Red/ Summit White” colorways. And most likely, there will be more. Fingers crossed that the sneaker community embraces the design, if nothing else as a marker of change — though this editor sees the potential… with a cropped, wide leg pant specifically.
