Air Jordan 5 Grape
Read more about the Air Jordan 5 Alternate Grape sneaker, its features, and its design elements.
As the Air Jordan 5 turned 30, fans saw the return of original styling and collaborative fashion. Various OG sneakers received highlights from Virgil Abloh and his trademark DIY delivery. The original Grape of 1990 received an overhaul, with an amplified purple Pantone all over the upper.
Since its first attempt in 2006, the Grape 5 Jordan has received many retros. This retro was an extension of the 1990 original version with a white upper, purple on the tongue, and midsole with accents of emerald green.
Air Jordan 5 Retro Grape
The 2010 Air Jordan 5 Fusion Grape was among the boldest sneakers to bring back the Grape colorway. This sneaker was a fusion design, combining the Air Jordan 5 Grape upper and Air Force 1 midsole. This fusion started with Marc Dolce when he brought together the DNA of Air Force 1s and that of Dolce. The Jordan Retro Grape in 2013 gave sneakerheads a chance to acquire a pair if they missed the 2006 retro run.
The Jordan brand released the Black Grape in the same year, flipping the white upper with black suede. This mature rendition performed well on the market because of its newness and the nostalgic reaction of customers. The upper exuded toughness and felt more like a Fresh Prince impersonation. At this time, new takes on the colorway were performing better than the time-tested originals. The brand released other Grape retros in 2015, 2018, and 2020.
Air Jordan 5 Retro Alternate Grape
Originally, the Air Jordan 5 Grape was a regular sneaker in white with emerald and purple accents. The Alternate Grape was bold enough to go where the original did not dare. The retro replaced the white upper with a vibrant purple Grape Ice color. The Alternate Grape 5s featured a note of black, clear, and New Emerald on the tongue, midsole, and outsole.
The purple suede treatment on this sneaker’s upper created a textural masterpiece, which added depth to a shoe already brimming with it. The black accents flow through the throat, the oversized tongue, eyestays, sock liner, and the entire lacing system. The lighter New Emerald treatment appears on the Jumpman branding at the tongue, insole, and lace toggles. The Air Jordan 5 signature side cutouts include a gray mesh, while the shark tooth-like pattern along the midsole takes the New Emerald hue.
This sneaker reflected the original design by Tinker Hatfield and included various technology features, like the foam midsole with a visible Air sole unit. The icy translucent outsole with traction-enhancing rubber completed the sneaker's design. On the lacing system are lace locks, helping to prevent the laces from loosening. It has a clear casing to complement the translucent outsole.
Every sneaker by the Jordan brand on eBay has specific branding elements, such as the Jumpman logo. In the Alternate Grape, the Jumpman logo appears on the tongue of the sneaker in emerald green. On the back heel tab and the outsole, the Jumpman logo beneath the clear material comes in black. On the inside of the tongue is an Air Jordan banner embroidered upside down.