The year in athletic footwear was one full of variety. Fusion models like sneaker loafers kept their momentum in 2025, while performance basketball and running shoes crossed over into lifestyle territory more than they have in decades. All the while, retro designs dominated as consumers continued to favor models from the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s. This puts Nike Inc.’s Jordan Brand at the forefront, as there is perhaps no brand better suited to represent sneaker nostalgia than Michael Jordan’s namesake label.
As usual, Air Jordans were some of the year’s most sought-after sneakers. The brand’s roaring retro business made up many of its top releases, but there were also new models of note in the mix, including one of the most well-received flagship models in recent memory. From Nigel Sylvester’s near-unanimous crowd — and industry —favorite to rereleases fans thought they’d never see materialize, these were the Air Jordans that mattered most in 2025.
The Las Vegas-centric Mojave style was one of nine Air Jordan 11 holiday releases this year, the most the brand has ever issued in a single season. There were many great pairs, and fans could argue ad nauseam about their favorites, but it was the Mojave look that impressed us most.
Getting rid of the Air Jordan 11’s defining feature, its patent leather mudguard, is never done without risk. But the tonal, washed-out purple nubuck seen on the Mojave gives the model a renewed lifestyle appeal that looks like it could’ve been part of Jordan Brand’s ultra-luxe Bin 23 line. It’s colorful and unique without being too brash, and subtle details like gold and pink on the outsole and a reflective, stamped Jumpman logo give the pair some added flair.
To really tie the theme together, Nascar driver Tyler Reddick drove a matching 23XI Racing car during an October race in Las Vegas.
Awake NY x Air Jordan 5 Retro OG SP Boro
Awake NY’s second Jordan Brand project was its best yet. The collaboration included two Air Jordan 5s: a bubblegum pink with red detailing and a contrasting black-based style with blue accents.
The pink pair is New York to the core, bringing back street style memories of rappers like Cam’ron in the 2000s. According to Awake NY founder Angelo Baque, the black pair took inspiration from the infamous all-black Nike Air Force 1 and was intended to offer a more toned-down option for those who weren’t into the bolder pink colorway.
Not only is the collaboration an exercise in color story, but also in tasteful branding. The mid-panel ventilation cutouts have been reshaped as an “A,” and the reflective tongue’s Jumpman logo is juxtaposed with an Awake logo. On the lateral side of each right shoe, “NY” embroidery replaces the more traditional 23 stitching seen on the left.
A tribute to the five boroughs of New York, the “Boro” Awake x Air Jordan 5’s packaging includes nods to Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island and Queens. And the love letter to New York wasn’t limited to the product; in August, Awake NY threw a Park Jam event to celebrate the collaboration, complete with DJs, a blow-up slide and family fun.
With high-profile collaborations from the likes of Nigel Sylvester and Undefeated, the Air Jordan 4 was arguably the biggest model of the year. But its 1990 successor, the Air Jordan 5, had an equally impressive run, releasing in new and familiar color-ups including a Japan-exclusive style many sneaker enthusiasts thought would never come back.
A bold yellow upper makes the Tokyo Air Jordan 5 stand out immediately, whether it’s on someone’s feet or on a store shelf from across the room. But the biggest part of their appeal is the “if you know, you know” element of their history. If you see someone wearing these, you can be confident they’re well-read when it comes to Air Jordans.
Air Jordan 40
Retros will inevitably hog most of the “shoe of the year” discussions, but there were plenty of brand new sneakers worth acknowledging, too. The best previously unreleased Air Jordan was the latest and greatest flagship model, the Air Jordan 40.
There was a lot of pressure for Jordan Brand to deliver with the Air Jordan 40. Earlier in the year, the brand had gone all-out with marketing for its 40th anniversary, a campaign that was set to lead up to the eventual reveal of the 40. If the shoe was a bust, it would make much of the effort futile.
Thankfully, the shoe delivered, combining wearable modern styling with today’s top performance tech. Only time will tell if it becomes a future classic, but for now, the brand managed to deliver the most interesting Air Jordan flagship model in years.
Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 Retro OG SP Brick by Brick
You knew this pair would be here. There was perhaps no Air Jordan as talked about in ’25 than Nigel Sylvester’s Bike Air-branded Brick by Brick Air Jordan 4. The brick theme managed to breathe new life to a model that’s seen countless variations of red in the decades since its debut. With the appearance — and in the case of the mudguard, texture — of a brick, Sylvester’s sneaker brought a fresh aesthetic to the 36-year-old Air Jordan 4 design.
Months later, Sylvester would deliver yet another acclaimed collaboration in the Better With Time Air Jordan 1 Low. And next, he’s expected to release another spin on the Air Jordan 4, although the details behind that pair have not been confirmed.
Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 Retro OG SP
Like the Tokyo Air Jordan 5, Undefeated’s Air Jordan 4 is the sort of reissue that seemed like it would never actually happen. However, while both pairs were elusive, the Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 sits in a whole different category of collaboration.
Originally released in 2005, it was Jordan Brand’s first time working with a partner on an Air Jordan, and would go on to become one of the most elusive. With under 100 pairs produced in the original iteration, pairs would frequently resell for five figures. Then, this year, Undefeated and Jordan Brand did what some considered the unthinkable and brought the shoe back in mass numbers.
In terms of “opening up the vault,” as Nike’s habit of reissuing sought-after sneakers has been dubbed, it’s going to be hard to outdo this one.
There’s been a growing consensus among sneaker fans that Travis Scott’s Air Jordans have cooled off a bit. That there are only so many combinations of black, brown and olive that can be released before the partnership loses its magic. Enter Fragment Design founder Hiroshi Fujiwara, who linked with Jordan Brand and the Cactus Jack rapper for the third time on a new Air Jordan 1 Low.
The latest style doesn’t reinvent the wheel. It features the same premium leather, black and blue accenting, and pre-yellowed details seen on the trio’s previous work. But a few modifications — dashes of pink here, the addition of a braided shoelace charm there — and hyper-limited availability were enough to make this one of the year’s most coveted collaborations.
Miami retailer SoleFly is no stranger to the Air Jordan 3. SoleFly’s ultra-coveted friends-and-family Lotto Air Jordan 3 collaboration was created for the store’s third anniversary in 2014, setting the bar high for any potential future wider releases. That moment came over a decade later with the Fruits of Our Labor Air Jordan 3, which was released in December.
A tribute to the 305, SoleFly’s Air Jordan 3 takes on the white, orange and green colors of the Miami Hurricanes. To debut the sneaker, SoleFly gifted the pair to Hurricanes legends including Ed Reed, Edgerrin James and Andre Johnson ahead of the team’s season opener.
Despite not having any official ties to the Hurricanes, there’s no question what SoleFly’s Fruits of Our Labor Air Jordan 3 is representing, a testament to its powerful storytelling and product design.
Air Jordan Mule
Far from a typical Air Jordan, the women’s-exclusive Air Jordan Mule was a pair that our readers couldn’t get enough of in 2025. From pony hair cow-print looks to smooth, shiny leathers, there were plenty of styles to choose from in the platform loafer design.
The Air Jordan Mule is an example of Jordan Brand identifying a trend and doing it in its own way. Rather than merely launch another sneaker loafer in an already populated market, the brand leaned into femininity and delivered a mule that can stand toe-to-toe with some pricier designer options.
It’s not for everyone, but with near-perfect reviews on nike.com, it’s clear the Air Jordan Mule has a devoted fan base.
