The year was 1985. Nike was betting the farm on a rookie from North Carolina with a vertical that defied physics. Most people remember the "Bred" colorway—the one the NBA supposedly banned because it didn't have enough white on it. But if you talk to the purists, the real ones, they’ll point you toward the Jordan Retro 1 Royal Blue. It’s the moody, sophisticated sibling to the Chicago reds. It didn't need a ban to be cool. It just was.
Honestly, it’s kinda weird how a simple color swap can change the entire energy of a shoe. While the red and black versions scream "basketball," the Royal Blue vibe has always felt a bit more editorial, a bit more "New York Fashion Week" than "United Center." It’s the only original colorway that Michael Jordan never actually wore in an NBA game. Think about that for a second. The man who made the shoe famous never laced them up for a tip-off. Yet, decades later, we’re still losing our minds every time a "Retro" version hits the SNKRS app.
The Mystery of the 1985 "Flight" Poster
You’ve probably seen the poster. It’s iconic. MJ is soaring across a sunset-drenched tarmac, tongue out, a pair of Royals hanging around his neck. That single image did more for the Jordan Retro 1 Royal Blue than any triple-double ever could. It established the shoe as a lifestyle piece before "lifestyle" was even a marketing category.
Back then, the blue was deep. It was called "Royal" for a reason. But here’s the thing: Nike hasn't always been consistent with the shade. If you look at the 2001 retro versus the 2013 or the 2017 "OG" versions, the blues shift. Some are vibrant, almost electric. Others are muted and dusty. This inconsistency drives collectors absolutely insane. It’s also why the resale market for these things stays so volatile. People aren't just buying a shoe; they’re buying a specific era’s interpretation of a color.
Why the 2017 Release Changed Everything
For a long time, the 2013 Royal was the gold standard, despite its weirdly smooth, almost plastic-like leather. Then 2017 happened. Nike finally listened to the nerds. They brought back the tumbled leather. They fixed the shape of the "Swoosh."
The 2017 Jordan Retro 1 Royal Blue felt premium. It felt like something you could actually wear every day without the leather cracking like a dry lake bed. It was soft. It was supple. It was, quite frankly, what the shoe should have been all along. When you hold a pair from that run, you notice the grain. You feel the weight. It doesn't feel like a mass-produced sneaker; it feels like a piece of equipment.
✨ Don't miss: Why the Siege of Vienna 1683 Still Echoes in European History Today
But then, of course, the hype machine took over.
Streetwear shifted. High-fashion brands started ripping off the silhouette. Virgil Abloh happened. Suddenly, everyone who had never even seen a clip of MJ playing for the Bulls wanted a pair of Royals. The price on StockX started creeping up. $300. $500. $800. It became a status symbol, which is funny because, at its core, it’s just a high-top leather sneaker based on 40-year-old technology. There’s no Zoom Air. No React foam. Just a thin rubber cupsole and a dream.
Reimagined: The Polarizing Shift to Suede
Fast forward to late 2023. Nike decided to mess with the formula again. They released the "Reimagined" Royal. Instead of that classic, buttery leather we all know and love, they went full suede.
People hated it. Or they loved it. There was basically no middle ground.
- The purists called it a betrayal of the 1985 blueprint.
- The newcomers thought the texture was a fresh take on a stale classic.
- The resellers panicked because they couldn't flip them for three times the retail price.
I’ll be real with you: the "Reimagined" version is actually a great shoe if you stop comparing it to the original. Suede doesn't crease the same way leather does. It develops a patina that’s unique. But in the world of the Jordan Retro 1 Royal Blue, tradition is king. If it’s not leather, a lot of people don’t want to know about it. That’s why the leather retros—specifically those from '85, '01, and '17—remain the "Big Three" of the Royal lineage.
🔗 Read more: Why the Blue Jordan 13 Retro Still Dominates the Streets
How to Spot the Fakes (Because They Are Everywhere)
If you're looking to buy a pair today, you’re walking through a minefield. The "super fakes" coming out of Putian are getting scarily good. They get the hourglass shape of the heel right. They get the "Wings" logo placement perfect.
One thing they often miss? The smell.
I know, it sounds crazy. But real Nike leather from a high-tier retro has a specific, chemically-sweet scent. The fakes often smell like industrial glue or cheap gasoline. Also, check the star pattern on the toe of the outsole. On a real Jordan Retro 1 Royal Blue, those stars are crisp. On a knockoff, they often look like little blobs of melted plastic.
Also, look at the box label. Fake boxes often have slightly off fonts or the "Suggested Retail" perforated tab is missing or poorly aligned. Don't trust a "great deal" on eBay from a seller with three reviews. If the price is too good to be true, you're buying a very expensive paperweight.
Style It Without Looking Like a 2016 Hypebeast
We’ve moved past the era of skinny distressed jeans and extra-long white t-shirts. Thank god.
💡 You might also like: Sleeping With Your Neighbor: Why It Is More Complicated Than You Think
If you’re rocking the Jordan Retro 1 Royal Blue in 2026, you've gotta pivot. Think wider silhouettes. A pair of relaxed-fit selvedge denim that stacks slightly over the collar of the shoe. Or maybe some heavy-weight grey sweatpants for that "running errands in SoHo" look. The blue is loud, so let the rest of the outfit be quiet. A black hoodie. A navy overcoat. Keep it simple.
The biggest mistake people make is trying to match the blue exactly with their shirt. Don't do that. It looks like you're wearing a uniform. Let the shoes be the punctuation mark at the end of the sentence, not the whole paragraph.
The Cultural Weight of the Royal Colorway
It’s more than just a shoe. It’s a bridge.
The Royal Blue connects the world of 80s athleticism to 90s skate culture (remember, skaters loved Jordan 1s because they were cheap and indestructible) to the modern luxury landscape. It’s a shoe that looks just as good beat up and covered in scuffs as it does deadstock in a plastic crate. Maybe better, actually. There’s something soulful about a pair of Royals with yellowed midsoles and faded leather. It shows you’ve actually lived in them.
We see athletes like PJ Tucker and celebrities like Travis Scott frequently paying homage to this specific colorway. Why? Because it represents a specific kind of "cool" that isn't trying too hard. Red is aggressive. Blue is composed.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Collector
If you're ready to add a pair of Jordan Retro 1 Royal Blue sneakers to your rotation, don't just rush into a purchase. The market is shifting constantly.
- Decide on your "Era": If you want the most authentic feel, hunt for a 2017 pair. If you're on a budget and actually like the feel of suede, the 2023 Reimagined pairs are currently trading below retail on many sites.
- Verify, Verify, Verify: Use a service like CheckCheck or go through a platform with a robust authentication process. Never do "Friends and Family" payments on PayPal with a stranger.
- Size Carefully: Jordan 1s generally run true to size, but they are narrow. If you have wide feet, going up half a size will save your pinky toes from a world of pain.
- Storage Matters: If you buy an older pair (like the 2001s), keep them in a cool, dry place. The midsoles on J1s are rubber, not foam, so they won't crumble like Jordan 4s or 5s, but the leather can still dry out and crack if you leave them in a hot attic.
The Jordan Retro 1 Royal Blue isn't going anywhere. It’s escaped the cycle of "trends" and entered the realm of the "permanent collection." Whether you're a hardcore sneakerhead or just someone who wants one good pair of shoes that will look cool ten years from now, this is the one. Just please, for the love of everything, don't put neon green laces in them. Keep it classic. Keep it Royal.