# The Union LA x Air Jordan 1 “I’m Back” Collab Has Me Losing Sleep
Alright sneakerheads, I need to talk about something that’s been keeping me up at night. And no, it’s not the usual suspect (my neighbor’s dog with separation anxiety) – it’s the upcoming Union LA x Air Jordan 1 High OG “I’m Back” release that’s got me checking my calendar obsessively.
I still remember my first pair of Jordans. It was 2007, I was fresh out of college, eating ramen for dinner five nights a week, but somehow justified dropping my grocery money on a pair of Air Jordan 1s. My mom nearly disowned me. Fast forward to today, and here I am, a grown man planning my schedule around a sneaker drop. Some things never change.
What’s the Big Deal About This Release?
If you’ve been living under a rock (or just have more important things to worry about – I envy you), Union LA and Jordan Brand are dropping their latest collab on February 27, 2025. The sneaker world is buzzing, and for good reason.
These kicks are basically what would happen if the iconic “Chicago” and “Shadow” colorways had a baby. Picture this: the lower half rocks that classic Chicago red and white, while the ankle collar comes in with Shadow vibes. What holds these two worlds together? Some eye-catching University Blue stitching that gives the whole thing this intentionally unfinished, vintage look.
I got a glimpse of these at a friend’s preview event last week (okay, I wasn’t invited – I just pestered him until he showed me pics), and the leather quality looks ridiculous. The good kind of ridiculous. The kind that makes you want to touch it and then immediately wash your hands because you’re paranoid about oils or whatever. You know what I’m talking about.
The LA County Drama
Here’s where things get interesting – and by interesting, I mean slightly infuriating for those of us not blessed to live in the City of Angels. Union LA held an in-store raffle exclusively for LA County residents. As someone based in Chicago, I felt personally attacked. I literally live in the birthplace of the Chicago colorway, and I can’t even enter the raffle? I briefly considered renting an Airbnb in LA just to qualify, but my wife reminded me that we’re still paying off our kitchen renovation. Marriage: keeping sneaker addiction in check since forever.
For the rest of us normies, there’s the SNKRS release on March 18, 2025. Mark your calendars, set seventeen alarms, maybe hire someone to hit refresh for you. The retail price is set at $200, which honestly feels like a bargain considering what these will go for on the resale market.
Why I’m Losing My Mind Over These
Look, I’ve seen a lot of collabs come and go in my decade-plus of blogging about sneakers. Some are forgettable, some are grails. This one? It’s hitting different.
The mix-and-match lacing options alone are worth geeking out over. I can already see myself spending way too much time switching between laces, taking photos for Instagram that my actual friends will ignore but my sneaker mutuals will appreciate.
And that aged midsole? Chef’s kiss. There’s something about a pre-yellowed midsole that just works. It’s like they’ve given us permission to actually wear these without the anxiety of “ruining” them. Though let’s be real – most pairs will probably sit in their boxes, occasionally being taken out for gentle caressing and photoshoots.
The Union Legacy Continues
This isn’t Union’s first rodeo with Jordan Brand. Their previous collabs have become the stuff of legends, always playing with this idea of deconstructed classics. It’s like they’re saying, “We respect the past, but we’re not afraid to cut it up and stitch it back together.”
I still haven’t fully recovered from missing out on their 2018 drop. I think about those shoes at least once a week, usually while staring sadly at my bank account.
Final Thoughts
Will I get these? Probably not. The SNKRS app and I have a complicated relationship that mostly involves me getting “Unfortunately, you weren’t selected” messages. But that won’t stop me from trying, from setting an alarm for 5:55 AM, from having my credit card details memorized, from praying to the sneaker gods.
Because that’s the thing about being a sneakerhead – it’s not just about the shoes you actually get. It’s about the chase, the community, the shared excitement. And sometimes, it’s about writing 800 words about shoes you’ll probably only ever see on Instagram.
Anyway, who else is going for these? Drop a comment below and let me know your strategy. And if anyone in LA County wants to help a brother out… my DMs are open. Just saying.
