The Air Jordan XXXI "Banned" Holds Its Own on and off the Court

Inspired by the simplicity of the insanely popular Air Jordan 1 “Banned,” Jordan Brand returns with a new iteration of the Air Jordan XXXI. The silhouette gets the fan-favorite black and red treatment for its latest release, with previous colorways seen at the Olympics, and having been worn by the likes of Carmelo Anthony during the USA Olympic Team’s run for gold.

The sneaker itself features a minimal and very wearable design. A black synthetic leather heel fades with a gradient to a lightweight red Flyweave toe. A large Jumpman logo sets off the heel, serving as the focal point of the shoe, while the Jordan Brand and Nike logos take a back seat with primarily tonal coloring and only the front of the iconic swoosh visible on the side panel. The sole too, plays off the aesthetic of the classic OG Jordan with the word “BANNED” spelled out on both the left and right sneaker under the translucent red outsole. From a performance perspective, Nike Zoom and Flightspeed tech paired with a foam inner-sleeve create a shoe that is both comfortable and supportive.

Check out the full lookbook above and look for the Air Jordan XXXI “Banned” to launch tomorrow, September 3, at Jordan Brand retailers around the USA and at Nike’s web store.