Back in 2017, Virgil Abloh and Nike launched The Ten, a landmark collaboration that reimagined some of the most iconic sneakers in history through Abloh’s deconstructionist lens. Nearly a decade later and several years after Abloh’s passing, the collection remains a defining moment in modern footwear design. Now, one of its most coveted releases is returning as the Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 “Alaska.”
Originally released in 2018 as a Europe-exclusive follow-up to The Ten’s “Chicago” colorway, the “Alaska” Air Jordan 1 quickly became one of the most sought-after sneakers of its era, with resale prices climbing as high as $7,000. The 2026 Virgil Abloh Archive edition is a near-faithful recreation of the original, preserving its exposed stitching, layered leather construction, and stark white palette accented by icy blue hits on the tongue and zip tie. The primary update is subtle but meaningful, with the medial text now reading “V.A.A. for Nike” instead of “Off-White for Nike.”
The Air Jordan 1 High OG x V.A.A. represents the first global release drawn from the Virgil Abloh Archive, an expansive collection of more than 20,000 objects documenting the late designer’s multidisciplinary body of work. More than a reissue, the project continues the creative dialogue between Nike and Abloh that helped redefine sneaker collaborations over the past decade.
The V.A.A. edition retains the signature elements that defined Abloh’s design philosophy, including the exposed foam tongue, orange tab on the Swoosh, and bold “AIR” text stamped across the midsole to emphasize the shoe’s construction. The white leather upper is paired with blue-tinted synthetic panels, semi-detached layers, and exposed blue stitching, all reinforcing Abloh’s belief in revealing how objects are made rather than concealing their mechanics.
Additional details include off-center orange “Nike Air” branding on the tongue, classic Off-White text along the medial panels, and a set of black, purple, and blue laces alongside the signature blue zip tie. The release also includes a V.A.A. booklet, further tying the shoe to Abloh’s broader creative legacy.
The Air Jordan 1 High OG x V.A.A. began rolling out through V.A.A. World’s Fair activations in major cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Paris, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, as well as online via Canary Yellow, the art platform founded by Abloh. A wider global release followed on April 3 through Jordan Brand and Nike, with the retail price set at $230 USD.
