SoleGRIND
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The Air Jordan 1 Low “Dark Team Red” is not trying to be subtle. The entire upper is covered in shaggy suede. Every panel. The toe box, the side panels, the eyestay, the collar, the heel. Full suede from top to bottom in a deep, rich dark team red. When I first saw the photos, I had to look twice. Jordan Brand does not usually go all-in on suede like this on the AJ1 Low.
The style code is IO2047-600. The colorway is officially listed as Dark Team Red/Gum Medium Brown/Black. It released on September 7, 2026, and the retail price is $18,700 JPY in Japan, which translates to roughly $130 USD stateside. The gum sole underneath completes the look. This is a shoe that was designed to be felt as much as worn.
What makes this release interesting is the material choice. The standard AJ1 Low usually features leather or a mix of leather and synthetic. Going full suede changes the entire personality of the shoe. It looks more premium. It looks more intentional. The dark team red has a warmth to it that leather would not capture the same way. Suede absorbs light differently. It has depth.
The gum medium brown sole is the right call here. A white sole would have created too much contrast and killed the premium vibe. A black sole would have been too aggressive. The gum brown sits underneath the red suede like it was always supposed to be there. It is the same combination that made the Foot Patrol AJ1 and certain SB Dunks look so good. Red upper, gum sole. Classic formula.
Black hits show up on the laces, the tongue label, and the Jumpman on the heel. Just enough darkness to frame the red without competing with it. The Swoosh is also done in the same dark team red suede, which creates a tonal look rather than a contrast Swoosh. Some people will want a white or black Swoosh to break things up. I think the tonal execution is cleaner. It lets the material do the talking.
One thing to keep in mind with full suede shoes is maintenance. Suede is not forgiving. It stains. It scuffs. It shows wear. If you are the type who wants their shoes to look pristine after six months, this is not the pair for you. But if you like shoes that develop character, that look better as they break in and pick up the story of where they have been, the Dark Team Red suede is going to age beautifully.
The AJ1 Low SE designation means this is a special edition, not a mainline colorway. That usually means a shorter production run and less restock potential. If you see these and want them, the window is probably narrow. The September 7 release date put these out in the wild already, so check Nike.com and select retailers for remaining sizes.
I keep thinking about how this shoe fits into the broader AJ1 Low rotation for 2026. We have seen the Light British Tan with its pinstripes. We have seen the Midnight Spruce. And now the Dark Team Red in full suede. Jordan Brand is clearly using the Low as a testing ground for material experiments this year. The High gets the heritage colorways. The Low gets the creative material plays. That division makes sense.
The dark team red itself is a color worth discussing. It is not bright red. It is not burgundy. It sits somewhere in between, with enough saturation to feel bold but enough darkness to feel sophisticated. In certain light it reads almost maroon. In direct sun it looks more like a true red. That color-shifting quality is something you only get with suede. Leather looks the same from every angle. Suede changes.
For $130, this is a lot of shoe. The materials alone justify the price. Full suede uppers are not cheap to produce, and the gum sole adds another layer of tooling cost. You are getting a premium build at a standard retail price. That is the kind of value proposition that makes me actually want to buy a shoe instead of just writing about it.
The Air Jordan 1 Low “Dark Team Red” is a material flex. It proves that the AJ1 Low platform can handle premium treatments without losing its identity. It is still a Jordan 1. You still recognize the silhouette instantly. But the suede transforms it into something that feels closer to a high-end fashion sneaker than a basketball shoe. That is the sweet spot.
If you are into the shoe, do not wait. Suede AJ1 Lows do not restock often, and the special edition tag means this is likely a one-and-done release. Grab them while you can find them at retail. Once they are gone, the resale on these is going to climb. Full suede colorways have a way of becoming cult favorites.
Dark team red, full suede, gum sole. Sometimes the simplest formula makes the best shoe. This is one of those times.
