The Nike Jordan Melo 1.5 is inspired by Carmelo Anthony’s “Hoodie Melo” alter ego. Former Jordan Brand designer D’Wayne Edwards designed the Jordan Melo 1.5, mixing the elements from Air Jordan 1 and Air Jordan 2 to create a unique design for Anthony. This new Melo 1.5 SE – which was released in May 1, 2018 – has gotten an upgrade in terms of material, fit and alterations to the Melo logos at the ankle.
The shoe comes with five collectable hangtags that show the inspiration for the design, who is Carmelo himself, and his hoodie. It pays tribute to the nine-time all-star player’s hooded Instagram videos doing his summer workouts.
On the original release date, a triple black Melo 1.5 “Hoodie Melo” emerged, featuring a reverse tech fleece-like material at the heel and a “headband” at the ankle collar representing the interior of a hoodie. It even comes with an “XLT” stamp on each lateral collar as an ode to Melo’s hoodie size.
After a week, the “Hoodie Melo” was decked out in a bright, Oklahoma City Thunder orange, as a tribute to his team at the time of release (he’s in Houston Rockets now, as of August 2018). The sneakers feature an orange mesh upper with a reflective overlay to add a bit of low-light flair. It has a premium orange crocodile skin detailing on the heel, toe cap and collar, while a retro black/white Melo logo can be found on the lateral side of the heel collar. Black Melo branding is placed on the tongue to produce a stark retro contrast. The shoe is further accented with a bright, maize yellow inner tongue, lace holes and small logos on the throat and heel.
This 2018 update to the Melo 1.5 offer more support and comfort, with shoes riding atop a foam midsole, plus full-length encapsulated Air cushioning for minimal bounce and lightweight comfort. It provides great ankle support and is very comfortable to wear while doing sports activities. The synthetic materials make the shoes easy to clean.
The Jordan Melo 1.5 SE is still available on Nike.com in two colorways. You can also buy it from Amazon (see link below). Pricing depends on the seller.