Air Jordan 6 'Reverse Infrared Salesman': A 1999 Sample Made Real

The Air Jordan 6 Retro 'Reverse Infrared Salesman' is the first public release of a 1999 salesman sample that Jordan Brand never put on shelves. Style code CT8529-001 in Black and Light Crimson, it flips the Infrared scheme so the red takes over the midsole. It launched on 14 February 2026, in the AJ6's 35th-anniversary year.

The Air Jordan 6 Retro 'Reverse Infrared Salesman' (2026) sits alongside the wider Air Jordan range at PUSHAS, and every pair is authenticated by hand. For collectors who have only ever seen this colourway in old sample photos, this is the version you can actually lace up.

The salesman sample story

Before a shoe reaches stores, brands build samples to show buyers and retailers what is coming. Most of those colourways go into production. Some do not. This one comes from a 1999 Air Jordan 6 sample that was shelved, and for decades the community knew it by the name it earned among collectors: the 'Reverse Infrared'.

Jordan Brand leans into that history rather than hiding it. The inner collar carries sample-style text, and the pair ships with a sample-style tag and packaging designed to echo how prototypes were once delivered to buyers for review. The official name, 'Infrared Salesman', points straight back to that origin. It is a retail shoe dressed as the sample it was based on.

How it reverses the Infrared scheme

The original Black/Infrared Air Jordan 6 from 1991 used red as an accent: black nubuck, a black-led midsole and small hits of Infrared. The Salesman turns that balance around. Light Crimson now fills most of the midsole.

The upper stays in black nubuck, and a visible Air unit in the heel completes the familiar AJ6 base. The result reads as the same shoe everyone knows, with the colour weight shifted down for sharper contrast.

Built closer to 1991

The 2026 pair was not simply a recolour of an existing retro. Jordan Brand reworked the build to sit closer to the shoe Michael Jordan wore on court. The toe box shape was adjusted, the tongue height was brought in line with his game-worn pairs, and the internal bootie construction was revised.

These changes are small on paper, but they bring the profile closer to the pair Jordan wore in 1991.

AJ6 lineage: Tinker Hatfield and the first title

Tinker Hatfield designed the Air Jordan 6, and it debuted in 1991. It is the shoe Michael Jordan wore as the Chicago Bulls won their first championship. Hatfield's design featured a translucent rubber sole and visible Air, details that still define the model more than three decades later.

The model launched in five colourways in 1991, with Black/Infrared among them. That makes Infrared part of the AJ6's founding identity, which is exactly why a reversed version carries so much weight with collectors. The 'Reverse Infrared' is not a new idea bolted on. It is an alternate path for one of the AJ6's defining colourways, finally made real.

How it fits and wears

Most wearers report that the Air Jordan 6 runs true to size, and that the shape feels roomier than many other Jordans. Because it feels roomy, some wearers go down half a size. If you are unsure and cannot try a pair on first, your usual size is the safer call. Check the Air Jordan size guide before you choose.

On foot, the AJ6 wears as a structured mid-top, and the revised internal bootie on this pair was reworked with fit in mind.

How to style it

The Salesman is a black shoe with a loud base, so let the midsole do the talking. Black or charcoal denim with a slight crop keeps the red sole visible. Relaxed black cargos and a heavyweight grey hoodie give it a clean, archive-sportswear feel. For a nod to 1991, pair it with a vintage Bulls tee or a red-and-black varsity jacket. Keep the rest of the outfit quiet and the colour block carries the look.

Who it is built for

If you want	Built for	Wear it with
A piece of unreleased Jordan history	Collectors who know the 1999 sample story	The sample-style tag and packaging kept intact
The AJ6 shape closer to 1991	Purists who care about toe box and tongue height	Cropped black denim that shows the full profile
A bold black-and-red everyday shoe	Anyone who wants the Infrared DNA with more colour	Black cargos and a grey heavyweight hoodie
A Bulls-era reference piece	Fans of the first championship run	A vintage Bulls tee or varsity jacket

Live now at PUSHAS

Stock as of 28 September 2026. 21 US men's sizes are live, from US M 4 to US M 15.

Every pair is authenticated by hand, so you can shop with confidence. The live listing shows the current price. Find your size on the Air Jordan 6 Retro 'Reverse Infrared Salesman' (2026) page.

Want more from the Jordan catalogue beyond the usual suspects? Read our pick of the top six underrated Jordans, or revisit the Air Jordan 1 and Air Jordan 4.

FAQ

Does the Air Jordan 6 Reverse Infrared Salesman fit true to size?

Most wearers report that the Air Jordan 6 runs true to size with a roomier feel than many other Jordans. Because it feels roomy, some wearers go down half a size, but your usual size is the safer call if you cannot try a pair on.

When did the Air Jordan 6 Infrared Salesman release?

The Air Jordan 6 Retro 'Infrared Salesman', style code CT8529-001, released on 14 February 2026, in the AJ6's 35th-anniversary year.

Why is it called the Air Jordan 6 Salesman?

It is based on a 1999 Air Jordan 6 salesman sample, a pair built to show buyers and retailers, that was never released. Collectors called it the 'Reverse Infrared', and the 2026 pair carries sample-style text on the inner collar and a sample-style tag.

What is the difference between the Air Jordan 6 Infrared and Reverse Infrared?

The original Black/Infrared uses red as an accent. The Reverse Infrared fills most of the midsole with Light Crimson, over a black nubuck upper.

What material is the Air Jordan 6 Reverse Infrared made of?

The upper is black nubuck, sitting on a Light Crimson midsole with a visible Air unit in the heel.