The 2021 Air Jordan 5 "Moonlight," style CT4838-011, revisits the black-and-white Oreo formula from 2013 while giving the colorway an official name tied to the night sky.
Released on September 25, 2021, the shoe uses an all-black suede upper above a white midsole. Black shark teeth are scattered with white speckles, and an icy translucent outsole completes the design. The palette is simple enough to read instantly, but its details connect directly to the Air Jordan 5's history: fighter-plane graphics, visible Air, molded mesh and the franchise's first translucent signature outsole.
From Tinker Hatfield's 1990 design to the Oreo idea
The Air Jordan 5 debuted in 1990, when Michael Jordan was producing some of the most forceful scoring seasons of his career. Tinker Hatfield looked to World War II fighter aircraft for the jagged midsole teeth, using graphics to suggest aggression and forward movement. A reflective tongue increased visibility, clear netting added depth and molded lace locks gave the shoe a technical finish. Underfoot, visible heel Air and translucent rubber pushed the series into a more futuristic visual language.
The Oreo colorway first appeared in 2013 as a non-original black-and-white interpretation. It removed the Bulls red that usually anchors a Jordan release and let material and contrast take over. The black suede created a deep continuous field, while the white midsole outlined the silhouette. Speckled teeth turned the nickname into a visual cue without requiring literal cookie graphics.
What the 2021 Moonlight retro emphasized
For the 2021 return, Nike used Moonlight as the official story. Its SNKRS description compares the black suede upper and speckled teeth to a night sky and stars. The icy outsole then becomes moonlit ground, while also referencing the AJ5's place as the first Jordan signature to use translucent rubber. That explanation gives the familiar Oreo nickname a design narrative tied to the model itself.
Cool Grey branding and clear mesh provide small tonal changes within the black upper. The white midsole remains the strongest contrast, and the speckled black teeth cut back into it. This push and pull keeps a two-color shoe from becoming flat. CT4838-011 is therefore best understood as a refined retro of the 2013 concept, not as an original 1990 Michael Jordan game colorway.
Release record and aging considerations
The 2021 pair launched at a recorded $190 retail price in Black, White and Cool Grey. Several regions received the shoe through Nike SNKRS, and restock pages may display different calendar dates. September 25 is the widely documented United States launch. Using the SKU prevents confusion with the 2013 edition, whose materials, shape and production date create a different product record.
Black suede can show dust, pressure and brushing direction, while clear rubber naturally changes color with age and exposure. Those changes are part of evaluating condition rather than evidence that every pair is defective. For collectors, the release links a popular 2013 general release to a more formal Moonlight narrative. For wearers, it remains one of the easiest Air Jordan 5 colorways to style because the upper carries almost no competing color.
How to verify this exact release
Similar Jordan colorways often appear in several size categories, regions or production years, so the style code is the most dependable starting point. For this product, that identifier is CT4838-011. A reliable listing should connect that code with the model name, the documented color sequence and the correct size category. Informal nicknames are useful for conversation, but they can be reused; a box label and SKU provide a much more precise record.
Product photographs can then be checked panel by panel against the documented construction: upper material, placement of the main colors, tongue and heel branding, midsole treatment and outsole finish. Original retail prices in this article are historical launch references, not promises about today’s market. The linked Loryxen Shoes product page supplies the current image, available sizes and live price for this exact item, while the cited release archives support its historical context.
Release details at a glance
- Model: Air Jordan 5 Retro Moonlight, also known as Oreo
- Style code: CT4838-011
- Colorway: Black / White / Cool Grey
- Release date: September 25, 2021
- Original retail price: $190
- Upper: Black suede with translucent netting
- Heritage feature: Visible heel Air and translucent outsole
Moonlight works because it turns a popular nickname into a story rooted in the AJ5. Black suede supplies the night, speckled shark teeth suggest stars, and the icy outsole recalls the translucent innovation that made Hatfield's fifth Jordan look futuristic in 1990.
Research note: This original article was prepared from the verified product record and the historical sources below. Regional launch dates can differ, and current product availability and pricing may change. Sources: Nike SNKRS: official Moonlight product story; Sneaker News: CT4838-011 release history.
