A Closer Look at Maison Château Rouge's Collaborative Air Jordan 1 Mid

As part of Jordan Brand‘s FW19 Air Jordan 1 “Fearless Ones” collection, French brand Maison Château Rouge has been tapped to design an Air Jordan 1 Mid. Exploring the story of MCR founder and designer Youssouf Fofana — who first met the Jordan team at the Quai 54 streetball tournament in Paris — and saluting both African and Parisian craftsmanship, this Air Jordan 1 provides a bold combination of styles, cultures and colors.

Fofana wanted to reinterpret the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “UNC,” so he took its hallmark powder blue hue and added his brand’s signature yellows in both pastel and bright shades, plus reddish-brown accents for a nod to Africa. Texture is just as important as tone on the design, with various debossed patterns across the upper, acknowledging the gathering of multiple cultures in Paris’s Château Rouge neighborhood.

This detailing swathes the shoe in eye-catching fashion: powder blue hits the heel, mudguard and collar flaps, brown is the name of the game on the forefoot and eyestays, and the duo of yellows serve as the base layer on the quarter, toebox and collar. All these tones and textures come together to make a patchwork-style design, representative of life in Paris’s diverse neighborhoods and providing a standout style. The look is completed by thick red stitching on the tongue and heel for a final nod to artisanal craftsmanship.

The Maison Château Rouge x Air Jordan 1 Mid will release via Nike SNKRS in select countries on November 30. The MSRP is set at $130 USD.

For more Air Jordan 1 news, check out shots of the entire “Fearless” lineup from Jordan Brand’s official launch event.