Year of the IV

It’s now 2019 and we have officially entered the year of the Air Jordan 4! The 30th year to be exact, and just like its predecessors, the IV will see a plethora of releases. We will see both classic and new colorways alike. so prepare yourselves for “The Good”, “The Bad”, and “The What the Heck were you Thinking”. I’ve personally have been waiting for this year because the IV is my favorite silhouette, second only to the Air Jordan 1. I’m excited to see what Jordan Brand has in store for the models 30th birthday. Needless to say, I am on pins and needles in anticipation of the May release of the “Bred” colorway. Especially since I passed on theses in 2012 in order to get the “Raptor” VIIs ( I know, poor decision making). The Air Jordan 4 has always been able to attract sneakerheads of all ages with its timeless styling. Of course, the classics such as the “White Cement”, “Fire Red”, and my personal favorite, “Military Blue” have always garnered the most attention because they are OG colorways. But, let’s not forget some of the most sought-after non-OG colors that have been more than well received by the sneaker community: The “Fear”, “Cavs”, and most recently the Levi and Travis Scott collaborations. Just think, the Jordan IV could actually be considered the most sought after sneaker ever in its “UNDFTD” colorway.

But as always, I have my reservations about these releases. As anyone who follows Jordan Brand knows, these concerns are legitimate. We all know that when the brand starts pumping out colorways, it looks like anything goes. The women’s “Hot Punch” colorway for example. Instead of wasting materials on some bright colorway that will most likely sit on shelves, why not focus that effort on producing more classic colors and making them available in a wider range of men and women’s sizes. Seems pretty simple right? But, that’s not even what worries me the most. My greatest concern lies with the amount of Jordan VIs releasing in 2019. And it’s not just any VI releasing, its the black and infrared color, maybe the most iconic color of this model. Of course Jordan Brand will release other models and not solely focus on the Air Jordan 4, but the amount of VIs, along with others such as the rumored Travis Scott 1s releasing seems a bit ridiculous. The brand could at least limit the amount of the VIs considering the sneaker will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in only two years. Again, I say, why not focus those efforts on making sure the quality and quantity of the IV are up to an at least above average standard. The VI will have its time to shine again in due time, and we can all agree that they can keep some of the forced sneakers they are putting out (who really needs the “Melo” Jordan 19) Regardless, I’m ecstatic to be getting so many options for one of my favorite sneakers.

If you enjoyed this post, check out these Michael Jordan Photos.