When Sneakers Meet Music Icons: The $100,000 Purple Rain Jordans That Got Away
Y’all won’t believe what I stumbled across this morning while I was sipping my coffee (and, uh, definitely not procrastinating on deadlines). A pair of Air Jordan 11s just sold for a cool $100,000. Nope, that’s not a typo. One hundred thousand dollars. For shoes. But these aren’t just any shoes—they’re the mythical “Purple Rain” Jordans created for Prince himself.
I’ve been covering sneaker culture since the days when we had to physically line up outside stores at 5 AM (remember those days?), but this story genuinely made me spill my coffee. Twice.
When Jordan Brand Met The Purple One
Let me paint you a picture. Imagine the most gorgeous purple you’ve ever seen—not like that tacky purple sweater your aunt got you for Christmas—but a rich, deep purple that screams royalty. That’s what these Jordans look like. They combined suede and velvet in a way that’s so luxurious it makes me feel underdressed just looking at pictures of them.
The velvet mudguard (that’s the shiny part around the bottom of the shoe for you non-sneakerheads) catches the light in a way that reminds me of Prince’s iconic purple coat in the “Purple Rain” film. I swear, if these shoes could play guitar, they’d probably blow our minds with an epic solo.
What really gets me, though, is the attention to detail. The designers replaced the traditional “Jumpman” logo with Prince’s font. AND they added falling rain graphics on the insoles. C’mon now! That’s the kind of detail that makes me geek out after all these years in the business.
The Bittersweet Story Behind The Shoes
Here’s where the story gets a little heartbreaking. These shoes were specifically designed FOR Prince. Not inspired by him—actually meant to grace the man’s feet. But in a twist that feels almost poetic in its sadness, Prince passed away in 2016 before he could ever receive them.
I remember where I was when I heard the news about Prince. I was actually writing a piece about celebrity sneaker collections (ironically enough), and my phone blew up with notifications. The world lost a musical genius that day, and these purple beauties became something of a bittersweet legacy item.
The shoes remained one-of-a-kind. Nobody else has a pair. Not me (despite dropping hints to my contacts at Nike for YEARS), not even the most connected collectors.
$100,000 For Sneakers: Insanity or Investment?
Look, I’ve done some questionable things for sneakers in my life. I once drove six hours through a snowstorm for a release. I’ve eaten ramen for weeks to afford a grail pair. But $100,000? That’s house down payment territory!
Still, I get it. This isn’t just about having fancy footwear. These shoes represent the intersection of basketball greatness and musical genius. They’re a cultural artifact that tells a story about two icons who defined their respective fields.
Would I pay that much if I had the money? Well, my partner is probably reading this, so I’ll say “absolutely not” (wink wink). But between us? I’d consider selling a kidney. Just one though. I’m not crazy.
The Legacy Lives On
What fascinates me most about these Purple Rain Jordans isn’t just the price tag or even the connection to Prince. It’s how they represent something bigger about our culture. We elevate sneakers from mere footwear to art, to collectibles, to pieces of history.
I visited the Brooklyn Museum’s “The Rise of Sneaker Culture” exhibit back in 2015, and I remember thinking how sneakers have become our generation’s most democratic art form. From basketball courts to concert stages, they tell our stories.
These Prince Jordans? They’re telling several stories at once. About music, about sport, about fashion, about loss, about what we value. And apparently, what we value is worth about $100,000.
Final Thoughts
I’ve seen a lot of crazy things in my decade-plus covering sneaker culture, but this one’s special. There’s something almost magical about items created for icons who never got to enjoy them. They become these mystical “what if” artifacts.
What if Prince had received these shoes? Would he have performed in them? Would they have inspired some new musical direction? We’ll never know.
All we know is that somewhere out there, someone now owns a piece of alternate history. A purple piece of what could have been. And honestly? That’s pretty darn cool.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go explain to my partner why I’m looking at our savings account with a thoughtful expression on my face…
