Doctor Funk Sources 50-Year-Old Duck Canvas for an AJ1 Decon Prototype

Doctor Funk took to Instagram to tease a pair of Prototype AJ1 Decon sneakers. Cooked up while he was working with Jordan Brand, and with the Nike Innovation Kitchen, this pair of AJ1 sees the mix of two of Doctor Funk’s most cherished sneakers — the Air Jordan 1 and the Converse Chuck Taylor. Doctor Funk also tied in Michael Jordan‘s brother into the pair of customs, celebrating James Jordan’s 31-year career with the 35th Signal Brigade; as seen in the 50-year-old military canvas uppers, parachute cord laces, and antique copper hardware.

Doctor Funk went on to reveal “There is absolutely nothing else inside this shoe; no backers, no toe reinforcement, no heel counter, no foam, no nothing! All that stuff is so that it looks good on the shelf and holds that foot shape without a foot.” He also divulged that because of the availability of the material and simplicity of the construction, each pair could be sold for roughly $85 USD. Although this canvas version never made it into mass production, it’s still interesting to look at some of the prototypes that were worked on behind closed doors.

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