Clean, pristine, and unlike anything you've ever seen. A reflection on one of the original Air Jordan 4 colourways.

Words by Adam Cheung @adamhycheung
Images by Tommy Carmichael @carmichaelgram

I very clearly remember the first time that I laid my eyes on the Air Jordan 4. I was probably around 11 at the time, and I was exploring Hong Kong’s Mongkok district. Famously known for its claustrophobic architecture and enclosed spaces, this particular part of Hong Kong literally had a surprise around every corner. I recall that on this particular day it was raining extremely heavily, so to get away from it all I decided to hunker down in a particularly shady building that didn’t even have working air conditioning (a death sentence especially during typhoon season).

While I waited for the torrential downpour to pass, I decided to walk around. Stuffed with hundreds and hundreds of businesses crammed into tiny spaces, I suddenly came face to face with a sneaker store. I pushed the beaded door curtain aside, and what I saw before me was a shockingly clean boutique that sold some of the most exclusive sneakers ever made. I was like Charlie in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, excitedly hopping from one glass display case to the next. But what made me stop in my tracks was the Air Jordan 4 'Military Blue'.

Clean, pristine, and unlike anything that I had ever seen, even though I knew next to nothing about trainers at this moment in time, I knew straight away that these were something special.

One of the original Air Jordan 4 colourways that released back in 1989 alongside the 'Bred' and the 'White Cement', this basketball model has helped shape the culture in more ways than one. The brainchild of the legendary Tinker Hatfield, he was tasked to design a sequel to the beloved Air Jordan 3 which was introduced one year prior. While this was nothing if not near-impossible, the creative genius embodied Nike’s 'Just Do It' mantra and unleashed a beast that took the competition and tore it completely to shreds. Fast forward to today, and colourways like the upcoming Air Jordan 4 Black Light Steel continue to play a massive role in the sneaker game.

The first thing that I noticed when I held the “Black Canvas” in-hand was the insanely premium canvas construction. Supple suede panels wrap around the front of the shoe, while classic TPU elements hit the caging system, giving it that rugged look that we all know and love. “Light Steel” accents adorn the eyelets for a subtle pop of contrast, and this extends towards the Nike Air midsole underfoot.

Of course, I can’t talk about the 'Black' without mentioning the iconic Jumpman insignias that can be found on the tongue and heel. You honestly need to see these in person to be able to grasp how good they look.

While the 'Black Canvas' is a basketball shoe through and through, the ankle collar is placed slightly lower when compared to traditional b-ball silhouettes like the Air Jordan 1 High and the Dunk High. This gives me the chance to rock these with a wider array of bottoms. Working impeccably well with basketball jerseys and shorts alike, I personally wear my J4s with an oversized hoodie and a pair of corduroy cargo pants, preferably in a lush olive hue. While the bottom hem will most likely slightly cover the sneaker’s collar, I would definitely make sure to purposely place the tongue in full view so that everyone walking past can check out the signature 'Fire Red' Flight text.

Even after 33 years in the market, it’s clear to me that the heart and soul of the AJ4 is still very much alive in the Jordan 4 – Black and Light Steel. If you’re unsure about whether or not to cop, I beg you to please follow your gut and grab this colourway the first chance that you get. Extremely versatile and impeccably made, maybe one day an 11-year-old kid will see these on your feet and get inspired, just like how I was back in the day.