For the 35th anniversary of the Air Jordan 6, Awake NY and Jordan Brand are focusing on a story that goes beyond basketball: the narrative of the bootleg. Angelo Baque draws inspiration from memories of an era when luxury seemed unattainable to him, allowing him to reinterpret its codes on a silhouette that is itself an icon.
The Art of Bootlegging Codes
The collaboration intentionally plays with the codes of bootlegging. Prominent color blocking, unusual stitching, and modified branding initially give the pair an almost unofficial appearance, despite being constructed using premium materials and refined finishing techniques.
Midnight Navy and Light Blue appear across the leather panels, complemented by nubuck Game Royal. Touches of Sail and Infrared 23 complete this highly contrasted palette, while the Awake NY crown is integrated with characteristic Air Jordan 6 elements.
Reimagining Luxury and Imitation
This conceptual approach originates in Angelo Baque’s personal memories. When he was younger, the bootleg represented a way to access the codes of luxury that were out of his reach. Awake NY takes this concept further by questioning the boundary between imitation and creation—at a time when codes once associated with street markets have found their place in high fashion.
While the design embraces an unauthorized aesthetic, it retains many recognizable features. The Air Jordan 6 keeps several familiar construction elements, notably its lace pocket, speed hooks, and Nike Air cushioning in both the heel and forefoot. By utilizing a historic Jordan Brand silhouette, the collaboration tells a much more personal story about accessing luxury and reinterpreting what that word means today.
