Awake NY is back with Jordan Brand for what’s shaping up to be one of 2025’s defining sneaker moments. Following the buzz of the popular Air Ship, the streetwear label returns with a two-colorway Air Jordan 5 collaboration, paired with a “Boro” apparel capsule that fuses New York streetwear attitude with workwear-inspired craftsmanship and elevated detailing. The drop has been on our radar since it leaked and is so considered that it has details for both long-time collectors and newcomers in sneaker culture.
The Capsule
The “Boro” collection channels Awake NY’s signature ability to blend urban grit with functional, timeless staples. The lineup includes thermals, graphic tees, hoodies, denim, and beanies, each thoughtfully designed to carry the brand’s aesthetic from the streets to everyday wear. The capsule launches Monday, August 18th at 9AM EST, both in-store and online. The visual storytelling is central to the collection, with campaign imagery shot by Elissa Salas, featuring custom leather jackets crafted in collaboration with Vanson, a nod to the elevated authentic feel Awake NY consistently delivers. Every piece in the capsule reinforces the city’s ethos, balancing practicality with statement!
A Neighborhood Cameo Worth Watching
The lookbook puts the spotlight where it belongs: on the people and places that give the Lower East Side its grit and charm. A lineup of local legends, captured against storefronts like LAAMS, Scarr’s Pizza, Ron David Studio, and Las’ Lap, gives the collection a sense of belonging. These portraits are a creative ecosystem that’s as much a part of the Awake NY story as they are to the wider community around it.
With the mantra “Community builds immunity“, the campaign does more than show off new sneakers. It taps into the idea that a strong local scene amplifies global impact. Awake isn’t chasing any hype here, it doesn’t need to, it’s elevating the people and the place that have supported the brand’s journey. Awake NY’s Jordan V Boro doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s part of a broader movement where streetwear brands are doubling down on authenticity, crafting releases that resonate with their core audience first before letting the rest of the world in. It’s a reminder that the best ideas still come from the ground up, and that a sneaker are more than just a style, its the embodiment of people and stories.
The Sneakers
First teased during Paris Fashion Week, a 1-on-1 experience allowed 12 winners to walk away with pairs of the AWAKE x Jordan 5, offering sneaker enthusiasts their first chance to own the Air Jordan 5 ‘Arctic Pink’ and ‘Racer Blue.’ Each colourway reimagines the AJ5 silhouette while carrying its own cultural significance and limited-edition appeal
- “Bubblegum” (Arctic Pink) – Features a striking pink leather upper offset with grey reflective tongues and Fire Red 5-inspired hits. Limited to 7,000 individually numbered pairs, exclusive to the Awake NY store, the colorway’s bold pink references a little-known WWII history: reconnaissance Supermarine Spitfires were painted pink to blend with the sky at dawn and dusk, an influence that designer Tinker Hatfield has acknowledged in the AJ5’s original fighter plane inspiration.
- “Black/Racer Blue” – Featuring a sleek black leather base contrasted with Awake NY’s signature blue detailing, this colorway embodies the energy and vibrancy of New York City after dark. Subtle branding accents and tonal finishes highlight Awake NY’s design ethos. Limited to 13,000 pairs, the ‘Black/Racer Blue’ is set to drop via SNRKS, giving a slightly broader access.
Both iterations feature a groundbreaking design tweak: Awake’s “A” logo is seamlessly integrated into the AJ5’s side netting, while the traditional “23” is swapped out for “NY” on the heel. These changes required direct collaboration with Jordan Brand and approval from Michael Jordan himself. Co-branding extends to the reflective tongue and under the translucent outsole, cementing the collab as an iconic addition to both brands’ legacies.
When discussing the collaboration, Angelo said:
“The inspiration came directly from our first project with the Airships, where we were able to incorporate our classic “A,” which at this point has become an icon for the brand. I felt like it was a major win to get our branding on the shoe, so I wanted to continue that same design language in this iteration of the Jordan 5. We were spitballing ideas and came up with the “A” in the cage, and the rest is history.
After that, it was literally about convincing the Jordan designers, then convincing the engineers, because they have to maintain quality control from a size 4 all the way to 16, making sure that “A” doesn’t get wonky, and that it holds a certain level of quality that makes both Jordan Brand and myself happy. There were 4-5 samples in total before we nailed it.
Once we hyped up and convinced the engineers to take on the project, which wasn’t easy, it had to be approved through the entire Jordan hierarchy, right up until MJ himself had to sign off on it. So yeah, it’s not easy, but it’s also rewarding and immensely humbling to know that everyone in that building, including the man himself, was down for this design.”
Release Timeline
- Aug. 17 – EQL raffle for both colorways via Awake NY (in-store + online).
- Aug. 18 – “Bubblegum” in-store EQL pick-up at Awake NY + apparel capsule release.
- Aug. 30 – Wider “Black/Racer Blue” release via Nike SNKRS & select retailers.
Retail price: $230 USD
With Awake NY’s Air Ship capsule still fresh in memory, this sequel raises the stakes: bolder colourways, richer storytelling, and design execution that literally rewrote Jordan Brand’s production playbook. It’s a project that exemplifies how cultural relevance, craftsmanship, and bold design can converge into a sneaker drop that transcends hype, becoming a true collector’s moment.
