Unreleased Off-White x Air Jordan 1 Sample Reveals Another Virgil Abloh Experiment

Nearly a decade after Virgil Abloh reshaped the Air Jordan 1, previously unseen pieces from his design process are still emerging. The latest is an unreleased Off-White x Air Jordan 1 High OG 'Black/Lightning' sample reportedly produced in extremely small numbers in 2018.

According to collector @ryancooper___, only three pairs of the sample were made. More notably, the design was never included in the Virgil Abloh Archive, making its appearance a rare look at an idea that remained largely hidden during Abloh’s early work with Jordan Brand.

The colorway moves away from the mostly white and red Off-White Jordan 1s that reached retail. Black dominates the deconstructed upper, contrasted by Lightning yellow across the ankle, laces, outsole, and oversized Swoosh. White stitching cuts through the darker panels and further exposes the shoe’s reconstructed appearance.

Abloh’s unmistakable design language remains throughout. “AIR” typography appears on the midsole, technical Off-White text covers the medial side, and intentionally exposed construction carries over the industrial aesthetic that became central to his early Nike collaborations.

Several smaller choices make the sample particularly distinctive. The oversized yellow Swoosh is attached using blue stitching, while an orange tab adds another flash of color near the heel. Additional blue, orange, and grey laces were also created for the pair.

Its prototype status is left visible rather than hidden. A “SAMPLE” stamp appears inside the heel, while two sample tags and a separate sample bag accompany the sneaker.

The discovery offers another glimpse into how extensively Abloh experimented before his designs reached stores. Rather than simply presenting an alternate colorway, the 'Black/Lightning' sample documents another direction considered during one of the most influential periods of modern sneaker collaboration.

The Off-White x Air Jordan 1 High OG 'Black/Lightning' Sample is not expected to receive a retail release.