How the Jordan 4s Came To Be by Malika Malik

No other sneaker brand has the cult following like the Air Jordan brand, Jordan for short. Michael Jordan radically changed streetwear culture and fashion with the introduction of his trademark sneakers. The first Jordan’s were released in 1984 by Nike: the Air Jordan 1. The rest is history; the shoes instantly became a best seller for Nike and sell millions of dollars worth of pairs. Jordans also became an icon of pop culture. The nostalgia tied to the brand reminds people of the times Jordan played in the same shoes. The Jordan brand released a new pair of shoes for the remainder of Jordan’s career on an approximately annual basis. The most famous Jordan sneakers are the Jordan 1 through the Jordan 11 sneakers. Tinker Hatfield, a designer at Nike, is credited with designing most of the original Jordan sneakers that remain popular to this day. Of all the sneakers, the Jordan 4 is arguably the most iconic because of its distinct design and mesh paneling.

The Jordan 4 sneaker is known for its timeless design, created to be worn on the court. However, it was hijacked by sneakerheads who rock the Jordan 4 with everyday outfits. First introduced in 1989, the Jordan 4 is another masterpiece by Tinker Hatfield. A key differentiator of the Jordan 4’s style is its sleek silhouette and mesh paneling throughout the shoe, which provides breathability. It features a Nike air sole, pull tabs for easy access, and an improved lacing design to make it easier to tie shoes on and off the court. Original Jordan 4’s feature the iconic Nike Air logo on the back of the sneakers, but non-retro sneakers feature just the Jordan logo. Cult sneakerheads swear by only buying Jordan 4’s with the Nike Air logo on the back of the shoe because that is a feature of the original design. Although the Jordan 4 did not radically introduce any new sneaker technology, Hatfield’s inclusion of the mesh paneling provided a crucial element needed for basketball: breathability.

Basketball is an extremely intense sport with players running across different sides of the court to pass and shoot. Thus, breathability is crucial when it comes to performance because sweat-wicking technology allows players to move better and lose fewer electrolytes from perspiration. This mesh paneling helps differentiate the Jordan 4. Also, The Jordan 4 originally came out with a leather upper but modern Jordan 4’s have come out in materials such as nubuck, suede, and even Levi’s denim. It is one of the most versatile pairs of Jordans because it can be dressed up and dressed down; people have even worn the Jordan 4 with a suit!

One of the most famous Jordan 4’s is the White Cement Jordan 4’s originally released in 1989. In 2020, Off-White released a pair of Jordan 4’s designed by Virgil Abloh, the Creative Director of Off-White, that instantly sold out. It has been thirty-two years since the original release, yet it remains a popular shoe today amongst basketball players and sneakerheads alike. The Jordan 4 continues to be a wildly popular sneaker and the resale value consistently rises. Simply put, the Jordan 4 is a stylish, iconic shoe that will remain popular for years and years to come. This icon status comes from Nike’s persistence and strategy to design a shoe with Michael Jordan and to utilize Nike sneaker designer Tinker Hatfield to create such an aesthetically pleasing sneaker. You can now find the Jordan 4 in all types of colorways, including pastel and neon colors, while maintaining its timeless look. No other Jordan is as versatile as the Jordan 4 and that is why the Jordan 4 is the icon of the Air Jordan brand!