AJKO stands for “Air Jordan 1 Knock Off”. As the name suggests, the Air Jordan 1 KO was made to be a look-alike while being a more affordable and accessible version of the AJ1.
We know that the AJKO was released in July of 1985. However, the history as to why the AJKO exists is still shrouded in mystery, with sources having different explanations as to why Nike created them.
Some say that they were made to get ahead of other brands, as Nike anticipated them to make knock-offs of the Air Jordan 1, given the AJ1’s impressive sales after their release in 1985. Nike’s forward thinking meant they could release their knock-offs before other brands could, catering to consumers who were looking for cheaper alternatives to the iconic AJ1.
Others claim that the AJKO was released to cover their losses from the AJ1s, which didn’t sell as well as Nike had expected. By reusing the soles from the Nike Vandal, it allowed them to save on costs for the KO, increasing their profit margins so that they could still earn from the AJ1. For comparison, the KOs went for $34.99 while the AJ1s retailed at $64.99 in the 80s.
– Material of the upper: The upper of the AJKO is made with mostly canvas while the AJ1’s upper is built with leather. Hence, the surface of the KOs are much coarser.
– Proportion of panels: The Air Jordan 1 KO has a lower toe guard, wider midfoot straps and no heel caps.
– Cutting: The look-alike has a shorter cut than the OGs, it is almost like a mid-cut shoe, and the approximately 1 inch difference can be easily spotted when the two are placed side-by-side.
– Logo: The collar of the AJKO says just that on the familiar ball and wings logo, instead of “Air Jordan” on the AJ1.
– Soles: Both shoes feature concentric circles and a star-like pattern on the front of the sole, while the Air Jordan 1 KO features a similar back half, the Air Jordan shows a block pattern.
Though they had retro releases from 2014 to 2016, the AJKO didn’t get as much attention as there wasn’t much hype around the Air Jordan 1. However, when the KOs were released again in 2021, the AJ1 was at the height of its popularity, hence, garnered much more attention. Releases like the Air Jordan 1 KO “Chicago” offered a similar look and colorways similar to highly sought after Air Jordan 1 retros. From 2021, the Air Jordan 1 KO has also had collaborative releases with Billie Eilish and Union, increasing its lifestyle appeal to consumers.
Overall, the Air Jordan 1 KO is a great alternative to the AJ1 as they look almost identical from afar while having a much lower price point. Scroll down to shop some of the most iconic AJKOs!
Model: Air Jordan 1 KO ‘Chicago’ 2021
Price: S$282.42 (US9)
Shop here: GOAT
Model: Air Jordan 1 KO Low ‘Black White’
Price: S$102 (US9)
Shop here: Flight Club
Model: Air Jordan 1 KO Low ‘Bred’
Price: S$1026 (US9)
Shop here: Flight Club
Model: Air Jordan 1 KO Low ‘Shadow’
Price: S$135 (US9)
Shop here: Flight Club
Model: Air Jordan 1 KO Low ‘Kentucky’
Price: S$110 (US9)
Shop here: Flight Club