Here at Fortress Entertainment, and most notably at Sneaker Fortress, we thrive on pondering the bold possibilities of design. Consider, for instance, the potential intrigue of inverting the exceptionally appealing design of the Air Jordan 1 Mid “Fearless” colourway. What might be the outcome? Of course, none of our intriguing thoughts stay in the realm of hypotheticals for very long, as our reliable design team is always ready to delve into creative opportunities, as illustrated by this proposed design of the CLOT x Air Jordan 1 Mid “Fearless Inverted.”
As mentioned before, this concept design owes its inspiration to the 2019 CLOT x Air Jordan 1 Mid “Fearless.” As part of the intriguing Fearless Ones collection, it revitalised Michael Jordan’s beloved first silhouette in a way that honoured its influence and legacy.
The original design drew its inspiration from the Eastern philosophy of yin and yang. This theme is emphasised by the striking white “Royale Silk” upper, complemented with black accents on the tongue and embroidered fadeaway Swoosh logos. But, with our interpretation, we introduced more elements of yin and subdued the yang, thereby inverting the colour palette of the sneaker to form an entirely different look.
This concept design retains CLOT’s classic “Silk Royale” material throughout the shoe’s upper. Yet, contrary to the pristine white that the sneaker is traditionally known for, our concept design introduces a mesmerising pitch black. Despite the deeper and darker hue, the gorgeous pattern embedded in the silk design remains visible.
The pattern is punctuated by white embroidered Swoosh logos on the mid-panel and a tonal Wings logo on the collar flaps. We’ve accessorised the design further with coordinated white laces, increasing the contrast against the black silk upper and white Swoosh details. The end result is an aura of elegance and sophistication that permeates the overall aesthetics of the shoe.
An important traditional detail we’ve retained is the Chinese coin attached to the laces. Not only is it an interesting design feature, but it’s also a branding element, as the Chinese inscription translates to “Jordan.”
The yin and yang storyline comes in full circle with an off-white rubber midsole, stylishly contrasted by the bold red outsole. This authentic replica of the original outsole design serves as a homage; after all, why tamper with perfection?
We envisioned a predominantly black version of the CLOT x Air Jordan 1 Mid “Fearless,” and the result is precisely what we yearned for. This in no way diminishes our admiration for the original, but it adds to it.
Although we wholeheartedly respect and admire the original CLOT design, adding the “Fearless Inversed” edition to our collection wouldn’t go amiss. In fact, coupling these two designs could result in the perfect yin and yang balance when worn as a distinctive mismatched duo.
The CLOT x Air Jordan 1 Mid “Fearless” remains a concept at this stage. However, keep your eyes peeled, as this exciting idea could very well go from concept to tangible reality in no time—provided we can secure another CLOT pair, of course. Until then, keep following us for more custom sneakers and exciting concept prospects like this.
What’s your take on the CLOT x Air Jordan 1 Mid “Fearless Inversed”? How would you feel about a mixed-pair option?
