Michael Jordan’s Original Air Jordan 8 ‘Aqua’ Makes a Comeback for the First Time in a Decade

Riley Jones

July 7, 2024 at 12:09 AM·2 min read

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One of Michael Jordan’s most important sneakers is reportedly set for a comeback after a decade-long hiatus.

Last seen in 2015, the Air Jordan 8 “Aqua” will return in 2025 according to industry insiders. The black-based style, which is accented with vibrant tones, was originally released in 1993 as part of the Tinker Hatfield-designed model’s first run. On court, it was worn by Jordan during the ‘93 NBA All-Star Game where he represented the Eastern Conference and faced off against players such as Karl Malone and John Stockton — who ultimately went on to share co-MVP honors.

Original 1993 Air Jordan 8 ‘Aqua’ Promotional Poster. Credit: Nike

The decidedly ‘90s “Aqua” look is packed with a myriad of era-specific details. The shoe boasts Bright Concord purple and Aquatone teal accents, an abstract paint stroke pattern that covers the insole, outsole and midsole and a multicolored chenille Jumpman logo on the tongue. Other features that were seen on early ‘90s sneakers are also present including an inner bootie sleeve and intersecting straps that wrap across the midfoot for stability.

Air Jordan 8 ‘Aqua’ Retro 2015 (Lateral). Credit: Nike

One of three original Air Jordan 8s, the “Aqua” style was unique in that it did not match the colors of the Chicago Bulls. Other original styles included the white “Bugs Bunny” and black “Playoffs” renditions. Due to the NBA’s uniform restrictions at the time, Jordan never wore the “Aqua” sneakers during regular season play and instead opted to lace them up during the All-Star Game. A fan favorite colorway, the “Aqua” Air Jordan 8 has received the retro treatment in 2007 and ’15. The style was repurposed for offshoot models including 2010’s Air Jordan Fusion 8 and 2012’s Jordan 8.0 and was also used on an Air Jordan 6 from 2023.

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After 10 years, the Air Jordan 8 “Aqua” will be rereleased in ’25. The news comes from trusted sources including @zsneakerheadz and Sneaker Files. Retail pricing has not been confirmed, but the “Black/True Red/Iron Grey/Bright Concord/Aquatone” colorway is expected to come in its original form. For now, readers can view detailed images of the ’15 iteration below.