With Tinker Hatfield on design duty for a second time, the Air Jordan 4 had its work cut out for it given the success of its predecessor. It would be untrue to say the sneaker was received as well as the Air Jordan 3 upon releasing. However, the Air Jordan 4’s innovative mix of leather with over-molded mesh on the upper eventually won people over. At the time, Michael Jordan was a top-tier talent in the NBA, but he hadn’t quite figured out how to win in the playoffs. The kicks play a part in this era of his career.

 

The first run of the Air Jordan 4 arrived in 1989, including four colorway options: white and black cement versions, an eye-catching Fire Red shoe, and a Military Blue pair that is the only deviation from the traditional Bulls motif. The Air Jordan 4 had its fair share of memorable moments off the court as well. Director Spike Lee is partially responsible for this, thanks to his entertaining Air Jordan commercials. Additionally, Lee outfitted “Buggin Out,” a character played by Giancarlo Esposito in his acclaimed Academy Award nominated 1989 film ‘Do The Right Thing,’ in a white “Cement” pair; the shoe would be the focal point of one of the flick’s most iconic scenes.

 

Present day, the nuances in the Air Jordan 4’s design make it the perfect canvas for lifestyle retros. That trend began in 2005 with the Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 – a friends and family release, and the first-ever Air Jordan collab. Since then, Jordan Brand has experimented with tonal red colorways, suede construction, and even scaly reptilian-like material on this silhouette. We’ve even seen famed artist KAWS put his spin on a collaborative Air Jordan 4 (released in 2017). Find the full gamut in this curated selection from Stadium Goods.