AIR JORDAN 5 ‘GRAPE’ OG. A CLASSIC COMES FULL CIRCLE
There are retros, and then there are icons.
The Air Jordan 5 ‘Grape’ falls firmly in the second camp. First dropped back in 1990, the ‘Grape’ colourway broke the mould with its clean white upper, bold purple accents, and emerald green hits. Now, 35 years later, the OG is back and it’s more faithful than ever.
This 2025 release brings back everything that made the original legendary: the shape, the details, and most importantly, the “Nike Air” branding on the heel something we haven’t seen on a ‘Grape’ since the very first drop.
What You’re Getting:
Upper: White leather with that signature translucent mesh on the sides and tongue – no shortcuts here.
Midsole: A crisp mix of black, white, Grape Purple and New Emerald, just like you remember.
Tongue & Heel: Reflective purple tongue, Emerald Jumpman, and finally – the OG “Nike Air” on the heel is back.
Outsole: That icy translucent sole – a must for any proper AJ5.
Packaging: Comes in the OG-style box, a nice touch for those who keep their kicks fresh in storage.
But this release also brings a few subtle upgrades: a sleeker toe box, thinner padding around the ankle, and an overall sharper shape all aimed at getting closer to the original 1990 design. If you know your Jordans, you’ll feel the difference.
Why It Matters:
The ‘Grape’ isn’t just another colourway. It’s a piece of pop culture history.
Michael Jordan may not have worn it much on court, but it still made waves from magazine covers to TV screens. The real breakout moment? Will Smith rocking them (lace-free) on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. That’s when the ‘Grape’ shifted from basketball sneaker to streetwear staple.
Since then, we’ve seen a few re-releases – in 2006, 2013, and the 2018 “Fresh Prince” edition – but none of them hit quite like this one. This is the first proper return of the OG since the original, and it’s dropping at a time when sneaker culture is once again looking back to move forward.
Where and When:
In-Store at Shellife. 21 June 2025
Cape Town – Live raffle from 9:00AM
Joburg – Live raffle from 9:30AM
Online at Lemkus
Raffle opens Wednesday, 21 June 2025
