The Light Fusion Red is one of the latest in the long line of Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG sneakers. The vibrant colorway of Light Fusion Red, Laser Orange, and some white in between is the brand’s answer to getting your feet ready for summer.

But for a pair sporting a modern look, the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Light Fusion Red remains faithful to its predecessors. It still carries most of the features that defined the Air Jordan 1 line since it first entered the scene in 1985. Whether you grew up with the OGs or just fancy retro style, it’s good news either way.

Here’s a list of the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Light Fusion Red’s features that may trigger some nostalgia.

1. The Signature Body Design

As part of its push to establish the Jordan brand, Nike made the first Air Jordan for the famed baller to wear in 1984, just in time for the 39th NBA season. However, these sneakers didn’t initially earn fame for their design. Instead, it attracted attention because of the USD$ 5,000 fine Michael Jordan allegedly had to pay every time he’d wear them to his games because the colors are against the league’s rules with uniforms. Nike’s response was an ad that made these Jordans sell like hotcakes, as one story goes.

The Air Jordan 1 High OG “Light Fusion Red” is a modern redesign of the OG pair, although the changes, apart from the colorway, are mostly subtle. According to Sneaker News, compared to the OG 1985 pair, the Retro High OG has a downward-stance ankle cut and a narrower tab by the heel area. But in plain sight, the Retro High OG’s design stays true to the original.

2. The Air Cushion

It’s not an Air Jordan without Nike’s Air cushioning system. It’s as much of a household name as the Jordan brand itself.
First introduced in the Nike Tailwind in 1978, the Air technology is a standard for any sneaker bearing the name alongside the model (i.e., Air Jordan). It uses a polyurethane bag filled with a pressurized gas like nitrogen (to prevent leakage) placed in the midsole. The bag is tough enough to handle the weight while moving and even helps runners and other athlete wearers to spend less energy.
Usually, you can see the Air pouch through a transparent slit below the heel area. The Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG doesn’t come with the slit, similar to the OG 1985. However, as Air is standard in every Nike pair in one form or another, you can be sure the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Light Fusion Red has one.

3. The Iconic Logos

Both the Retro High OG and its 1985 predecessor feature two prominent logos: the Air Jordan and Swoosh brandings. Here’s a breakdown of just how significant they are.

Air Jordan Wings

The Air Jordan Wings logo is around the collar, which Peter Moore designed alongside the Air Jordan 1 itself. The inspiration behind it, Moore recounts in an interview with SLAM, can’t be any simpler: a pair of captain’s wings he saw while flying back home. The wings were an excellent fit for Jordan’s image—taking flight to win.

By the time of the Air Jordan 3, the wings gave way to the iconic Jumpman silhouette, only to return with the introduction of the Air Jordan XXXII. It just goes to show that classic icons are difficult to kill off.

Swoosh

The check-like Swoosh logo has been associated with the sneaker giant since 1972, so it’s only natural to see it in every Nike pair. This icon is placed in a reverse pattern in both the Retro High OG and OG 1985, sans the thinning end. Instead, the icon runs around the other side, where it connects to another reverse-pattern Swoosh.

The meaning behind it is as simple as its name: the sound one makes when moving at high speed or ‘swoosh.’ Like the Air Jordan Wings logo, the Swoosh fits Jordan’s image, always in motion and never giving his opponents any opening.

4. Jordan’s Legacy

Air Jordans like the Light Fusion Red will remain a hot topic among sneakerheads through the years. After all, you can’t make a shoe line last for over 30 years without an influential factor behind it.

Despite the features and styles that the OG pioneered, the entire line’s fame is attributed to Jordan himself. Throughout his career, he was the de facto face of basketball in general, due in no small part to his skills. Anything he wears, including sneakers, will fetch a good price long after retiring from sports. In the same way, anything that’s based on what he wore, including sneakers, will also be valuable.

Conclusion

Just like its predecessors, the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Light Fusion Red carries features that made the entire sneaker line a historic success. While not the exact shoes His Airness wore, they’ll easily remind anyone of his undying legacy.