Back in 2022, Zion Williamson gave fans of Naruto a happy assortment of performance-focused sneakers based on characters from the popular anime series. Yet it turns out there could have been a Kakashi Hatake-inspired Air Jordan 1 High included in the mix as well.
Images of the 1985 silhouette wearing a combination of olive green, navy blue, and black canvas, glossy leather, suede, and mesh materials were released online over the weekend, and the style immediately brings to mind the one-eyed legend himself.
Fans of the anime will find it especially distinctive, given the subtle nods to Kakashi’s characteristic style, including the stash pockets at the sides and heel, as well as the Konohagakure metal plate on the heel that references the Hidden Leaf Village headband.
Other show-related branding elements can be seen on the tongue, ankle flap, insole, and beneath the heel’s stash pocket, hitting all the right notes for fans of the series.
There’s no doubt that this could have been one of the most sought-after releases of the entire Naruto x Zion Williamson x Jordan collection. In fact, fans are quite livid that Jordan Brand decided not to go ahead and release these.
One Instagram user wrote, “NOT releasing these is a terrible idea,” while another commented, “@nike @us.air.jordan y’all gotta release these.”
But while Nike and Jordan Brand may have missed the chance to release these impressive kicks, the sneaker artists at Bull Airs are snatching up the opportunity to give fans what they want to see—a Naruto x Jordan 1 High sneaker.
Jordan Brand’s unreleased samples may have served as inspiration for Bull Air’s custom design, but the design team has still made sure to include some tweaks to elevate the look. Think reflective strips on the medial mud flaps and lateral forefoot that pay homage to the bandages Kakashi uses on his trousers, as well as orange pops on the ankle flaps in place of Zion Williamson’s signature logo.
The distinctive and striking AJ1 design will be available for purchase on the Bulls Air website on June 12th for $450 USD. The kicker is that only individuals who join Bull Air’s “Secret Sneaker Society” Facebook group will be able to access the password, and there will only be 50 pairs of these custom sneakers available. Don’t pass up this opportunity; it might be the only one sneakerheads will ever have to own the stunning Naruto AJ1.
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Image Credit: @davidsgrails
