Air Jordan IV | Designer : Tinker Hatfield | Released : 1989

Following the success of the Air Jordan III, designer Tinker Hatfield delivered one of the more comfortable Air Jordans in the series, the Air Jordan IV.

The Jumpman logo made its second appearance on the tongue but with the word “Flight” added below it.

Carrying over from the AJ III were the sculpted midsole and the visible Air unit and padded tongue and collar.

The sneaker world was introduced to nubuck with the upper of the Air Jordan IV. The AJ IV featured mesh for the first time, increasing breathability. Multiple areas of the AJ IV featured plastic. A lean triangular plastic piece attached to the nubuck heel was connected to a hard plastic lace holder. The lace holder at the forefoot added lockdown.

A plastic heel tab that read “Nike Air” was similar to that of the AJ III. Also on the upper, a plastic grid pattern that lay over the breathable mesh and behind the triangular piece.

Mars Blackmon returned to the ad campaign marketing the shoe, continuing a relationship that has continued – to varying degrees – well into the 21st century.

Ten years after its original release, Nike retro’d the AJ IV in 1999; it sold out immediately.

Wearing the AJ IV, MJ was voted to his fifth consecutive All-Star game and won the league scoring title for the third consecutive year. One of the most memorable AJ IV moments was when Michael hit the series-clinching, hanging jumper over Cleveland’s Craig Ehlo in the first round of the playoffs – better known as “The Shot”

Link: Air Jordan IV