This unreleased Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 1 High OG “Better With Time” Sample from 2023 has resurfaced for sneakerheads to gaze at in awe. Posted by @davidsgrails on Instagram, this rare high-top would’ve preceded the 2025 Air Jordan 1 Low “Better With Time” but never saw the light of day as just a sample.
The high-top is constructed with a distressed black leather upper, off-white distressed Swooshes, and antiqued midsoles, which are perched on a maroon outsole. Small embroidered Swooshes are placed on both sides of the lateral toe boxes. On the collar, there is an inside embroidery referencing Sylvester’s cycling history which reads, “Jordan Biking Co. Est. 2017.” The bumps, creases, scuffs, and bleached panels further continue the narrative of Nigel’s “lived in” aesthetic.
In stark contrast to the 2018 “Sail” release, this pair swaps the colorway – exchanging white for black with a similar distressed look. Finding a sweet spot between the 2018 high and 2025 low, it begs the question if Jordan Brand erred by shelving this release.
For the time being at least, the sample will have to be just that – a historical artifact of sneaker culture – evidence that Nigel Sylvester’s collaboration with Jordan Brand is only growing in stature, just like his signature style of storytelling: “Better With Time.”
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