How To Restore Original 1985 Air Jordan 1s with Reshoevn8r Products

In this episode, Vick Almighty is working on a set of legendary pairs as he restores not one but TWO original Air Jordan 1s from 1985 in the "Bred" and "Chicago" colorways.

The Air Jordan 1s belong to two different owners who contacted Vick after watching a previous 1985 Air Jordan 1 restoration video. Despite having two different owners, both pairs have a similar journey as the shoes sat in storage for years.

Vick's mission is to make these look top-tier for display purposes without devaluing the shoe. The "Bred" Air Jordan 1 will need the most love, given the distorted shape and the tears near the midsole.

On the other hand, the "Chicago" pairs aren't as bad but will still need attention due to the creasing. One thing to note is that the pairs were each made in different factories, meaning different materials were used.

To begin the restoration, Vick unlaces both pairs. However, he notices that the laces on the "Chicago" Air Jordan 1 aren't authentic, so he will replace those for the owner. Then, it's time to remove the insoles. The "Bred" Air Jordan 1 insoles are absolutely cooked, whereas the "Chicago" pair didn't have any. With both pairs in storage for years, Vick will be masked up to dry brush and remove dust, dirt, and debris.

Then, with the help of the air compressor, Vick does another thorough pass on the shoe. Now, it's time to clean the midsoles and outsoles. Since the shoes have been sitting for a few years, they will need a good scrubbing to remove all the grime. Vick tackles the midsole with the Reshoevn8r solution and a Brass Bristle brush.

Before cleaning the uppers, Vick restores the "Bred" as the tear on the right shoe is noticeable. Since a Shoe Tree must be inserted, the tears must be fixed; otherwise, the upper will completely come off. Vick then moves onto the upper of the "Chicago" pair and will soften up the leather with the Reshoevn8r solution, Soft Bristle Brush, and Shoe Trees.

Then, Vick cleans the white parts of the shoe with the Medium Bristle Brush. Vick repeats the process for the "Bred" pair. Since the shoes are so old, the goal is to get them as clean as possible and reconditioned. While letting the shoe dry, Vick soaks the laces in solution to get them cleaned up. After drying for a few hours, the "Chicago" and "Bred" colorways are looking a lot better as they regained their shape.

With the "Chicago" is in a lot better condition, Vick shifts his focus to the "Bred" colorway and touches the pair up to make it look better while still maintaining a vintage aesthetic. After Vick does more maintenance on the pair, it's time to focus on the signature on the shoe's heel counter.

The pair is signed by Larry Krystkowiak, who played at the University of Montana in the mid-80s around the time of the original Air Jordan 1 release. He was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1986 and played in the NBA for several years. Krystkowiak is Montana's all-time leading scorer and rebounder and the only player in the university's history to have his jersey retired.

Since some paint came off when the signature was removed, Vick retouched the area with red and the rest of the shoe.

The goal is to make it look natural rather than brand new. Before the restoration is finished, Vick applies thick coats of Mink Oil to both pairs to help them last longer. Now, it's time to lace them up. Both pairs are ready to be displayed.

How did Vick do on the restoration? Do you have a pair of 1985s Vick should restore? If so, email us at Fran@reshoevn8r.com.

Use code "OG20" to save 20% on all Reshoevn8r products, including the ones to restore these 1985s.

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