The Mighty 15: Air Jordan IV

The Mighty 15
Air Jordan IV

   In 1989 the Air Jordan IV became the first ever Air Jordan to release into the global market.  Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the Jordan IV carried over many of the aspects that made the Jordan III popular, as well as tweaking many aspects to make it more comfortable, and better to perform in.

 Returning with the patented visible air unit and padded toebox, the Jordan IV introduced nubuck into the basketball sneaker.  The nubuck was featured alone the heel and toebox, as well as a mesh to increase breathability in the shoe.  The Jumpman would return on the tongue with the word flight written underneath, and Nike Air on the back of the shoe, as with the Jordan III.

Along with being voted to his 5th All-Star game, the Jordan 4 was one of Spike Lee's personal favorite shoes.  Lee would use it in his Mars Blackmon commercials, along with his famous movie, Do the Right Thing.  Jordan would later create his own custom shoe reminiscent of the IV dubbed the Spi'zike, to honor Spike Lee in advertising the shoe.