If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It

The Air Jordan IV (4) was released in 1989 and it was once again designed by Tinker Hatfield. The Air Jordan IV became the first Air Jordan shoe released to the global market. Air Jordans were now a well-known brand and were selling very well. Due to the success of the Air Jordan III, the design of the Air Jordan IV was not as revolutionary. In fact, many of the key features of the Air Jordan 3 were reused for the Air Jordan IV. This however did not stop the Air Jordan IV from becoming an International bestseller.

The Performance Sneaker

The Air Jordan IV was designed by Tinker Hatfield to be a performance shoe rather than a pretty design. It was lightweight and fluid with an amazing cushioning sole. The IV’s also featured breathable mesh inserts, super-steady stabilization straps and ultra-cushioned soles. Even with the emphasis on performance, the Air Jordan IV gave the user the ability to lace the sneaker in 18 different patterns.

A love/hate relationship

When the Air Jordan IV first came out, many fans were did not like the shoe. Some fans even said thought that the over-molded mesh made the shoe look cheap. Over time, the Air Jordan IV grew on a lot of people. When Nike tried to release a retro version without the mesh, fans were outraged that the mesh was removed from the Air Jordan IV. This version, known as the Retro+ did not sell well because it messed with the design of the original Air Jordan IV.

More Mike and Mars

The Mars and Mike commercials featuring Spike Lee as Mars Blackmon and Michael Jordan as himself continued to help the sales of the Air Jordan IV. Spike Lee was such a fan of the Air Jordan IV that he featured it in his movie Do The Right Thing

Air Jordan IV In The Media

Air Jordan IV Commercial – Can/Can’t

Air Jordan IV Commercial – Do You Understand?