In the spirit of Easter, we felt it necessary to introduce you to a pair of Jandals (Jesus sandals) inspired by the humble carpenter himself. Naturally, we opted for a Jordan variant because let’s be honest – who doesn’t love a touch of Jumpman charm? No doubt, these Air Bethlehem Jordan sandals by Chase Shiel are the perfect summer accessory, especially since this decades-old footwear seems to be making its way back into mainstream fashion.
The Inspiration Behind the Design
Now, let’s sideline discussions about the historical origins of Jandals and hopefully avoid any heated debates over whether Jesus actually wore sandals like these- although, I will admit to finding some of it rather intriguing. Instead, we’ll cut to the chase and discuss the creative spark that motivated Shiel to craft this unique pair of footwear.
In the words of the sneaker craftsman based in Melbourne, the concept for these extraordinary Jordan sandals sprang from a meme graffiti artwork known as ‘Air Bethlehem’. He spotted this back in 2018 while strolling through the vibrant streets of his hometown. The mural, crafted by Melbourne’s famous meme graffiti maestro Lushsux, presented a pair of classic leather lace-ups sporting the instantly recognisable Nike swoosh on the side.
From that point, the desire to transform this illustrated joke into a tangible fashion accessory gripped Shiel. Embracing the challenge, he reached out to the very creator of the art piece to secure permission to bring the meme to life. After that, the rest was history; now we have this one-of-a-kind pair of Jordan sandals to stop and marvel at.
So, let’s take a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship that went into the Air Bethlehems. But before that, let’s have a bit of fun—what name would you have chosen for these remarkable sandals? We’ll give you a moment to think while we run over the design details.
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The Jordan Sandal Design
Let me draw your focus to the remarkable choice of material for this shoe’s upper. Shiel made a wonderful selection by opting for a Chestnut Chromexcel pull-up leather provided by @horweenleather. This choice couldn’t have been more perfect for these sandals, as it creates a desirable worn-in effect that immediately makes them feel like they’ve been your cherished pair for ages. Straps, eye stays, the emblematic Nike Swoosh, and even the Air Bethlehem Jordan sandal’s leather laces have been crafted using this precious leather.
Shiel mentioned that he initially toyed with the idea of incorporating the conventional Jordan sole unit onto the design, but Lush suggested the Birkenstock sole would resonate more with his own style. Thus, these charming Jandals feature the distinctive Birkenstock blend of natural cork, natural latex, jute, and a superior suede footbed.
Honestly, this design has my curiosity piqued. I’d like to see it with the Air sole unit and more of the Jordan-inspired details, like the ankle flaps and mudguard flap, intact. The iconic wings logo could have even been burned into the leather to give it that classic Jordan touch.
Other than that, these certainly put a chic spin on the classic Jandals. They’re definitely an upgrade to the timeless summer footwear staple worn by almost every dad out there.
How to Get Your Own Pair of Air Bethlehem Jandals
If you need a pair of these sandals or something similar for your stylish summer endeavours, you can reach out to the custom sneaker artist via his Instagram page or his official website.
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While this pair was created back in 2022, we see no indication that he has stopped creating unique and stylish footwear, so don’t hesitate to inquire about getting your own pair of Jandals. In the meantime, you can follow us here at Sneaker Fortress for more footwear customs and concepts with unusual but welcomed twists.
Would you wear these Jesus sandals inspired by the Air Jordan 1?
