Jordan 4 Retro x Union LA

The collaboration between apparel brand and sneaker creator has brought about this Jordan 4 Retro x Union LA design, giving it an eye-catching look all of its own. This begins on the sole unit, which has a yellowed appearance that evokes a retro feeling. The creamy, off-white tone covers the entirety of the midsole, whose sloping lines are punctuated by a see-through window below the heel. Plush Air cushioning is revealed by this transparent feature, showing off the comfort on offer. Below this lies an outsole with multidirectional herringbone grip patterns, many of which come in the same color as the midsole. The exceptions to this are the Off Noir section below the forefoot and the Brigade Blue area beneath the arch of the foot. A final splash of Light Fusion Red highlights the Nike branding in the center of the outsole, hinting at the bold colors that are to come on the upper.

A refined, Off Noir suede fills out much of the shoe’s outer, from the forefoot overlay to the eyestay and the panel that wraps low around the heel and along the flanks. A similarly colored mesh lies over the toe box, while the same material forms the collar, this time in Brigade Blue. Broader white mesh stands out against its Off Noir backing on each side of the quarter and behind the laces, which themselves display this compellingly dark hue. At the top and bottom, the laces are secured by a pair of TPU cages, the former Light Fusion Red, the latter white. The uppermost ones join onto translucent triangles of TPU that have been filled in through the middle to provide support down the flanks.

The puffy tongue is coated in a creamy hue, and its underside is sprinkled with Off Noir spots, for an offbeat appearance. A Light Fusion Red rectangular patch with Air Jordan text written on it has been sewn into the peak of the tongue, an element that is normally reserved for its back. Stretching away from this feature to form the inner lining is a soft Brigade Blue fabric. Below it, the insole switches to the darker Off Noir once more, its surface adorned with a Light Fusion Red Jumpman logo. On the sneaker’s heel panel, a similar effect has been achieved as its Off Noir exterior is embossed with Nike Air branding in the aforementioned shade of red. Completing this captivating Air Jordan 4 is a yellow UN/LA tag on the lateral sidewall – a telltale sign of the brand’s inventive collaborations.