Jordan Brand Wings Unveils Air Jordan I Mid Subway, Celebrating NYC's MTA Crews

In an inspiring leap forward, the Jordan Brand Wings initiative, which kicked off in 2015, continues its mission to dismantle the obstacles that prevent young individuals from accessing education. Among its significant global contributions, the Design Program stands out, created in collaboration with the Jordan Brand Design team to ignite and nurture students' creative sparks.

According to a press release, this innovative program is tailored for students with a passion for design and assists them in their journeys—whether that entails pursuing design school, establishing their own brands, or developing products that drive social change in their communities.

A Tribute to New York City's Unsung Heroes

The latest achievement of this program is the introduction of the Air Jordan I Mid Subway sneaker, a homage to the unsung heroes of New York City—the diligent staff of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), operating North America's largest public transit system. Over a six-week period, more than 130 high school students from across the country, hailing from various Jordan Brand Wings partner organizations, collaborated with the Jordan Brand product-creation team.

Their project was to fashion an Air Jordan I, embodying the theme of "role models." Delving into their personal stories, these young creators designed sneakers that paid tribute to local heroes who have supported their aspirations.

From Design Concept to Reality

GQ reported that students from major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and others were given the opportunity to present their unique designs to a selection of Jordan Brand employees. The winning design chosen to be produced was New York City's own Air Jordan 1 Mid Subway.

This limited-edition sneaker is a gratitude gesture to the MTA crews for their unwavering support in helping New Yorkers achieve their daily goals. The shoe features motivational phrases like "Always Go Forward" and "Thank You For All You Do" alongside design elements reminiscent of the iconic MTA branding.

Oscar Chun, a student designer from New York City, expressed his pride and excitement, likening his joy to musicians hearing their songs on the radio for the first time. The Air Jordan I Mid Subway will be released on May 15 in various sizes on nike.com and will be available at the Nike House of Innovation NYC and Nike Soho.

The Jordan Brand Wings initiative continues to soar, using creativity and design to connect young people with their dreams, proving that a simple idea can indeed move cities.

Photo: Nike Newsroom