On February 17, 2024, Michael Jordan's birthday, the Air Jordan 4 'Bred Reimagined' drops. The 'Bred' is perhaps one of the most iconic colorways to appear on the Jordan. The colorway combines the colours of basketball team the Chicago Bulls, the team Michael Jordan played for during the introduction of the Jordan line.
Over forty years after Michael signed with Nike, the 'Bred' colorway makes its comeback - this time on the Air Jordan 4.
'Bred' colorway
It is the year 1985; Michael Jordan is in his rookie year with the Chicago Bulls and playing the stars. As one of the youngest players on the field, Jordan is angling for a deal with Nike - a collaboration that years later would be crowned as one of the most successful collabs in the sports world.
The first sneaker to emerge from this collaboration was the Air Jordan 1 High. The model first appeared in 1985 in the colorway 'Bred', a variation that combined black and red, the colors of the Chicago Bulls uniform. The pair arrived in a black upper dressed in red overlays.
The 'banned' Jordan
One color that was missing from the sneaker was the color white - something the NBA felt was a must for basketball shoes worn during competition. The sneaker in question went against league rules and did not conform to the uniform policy in place at the time.
The NBA was so strict that every game that Michael wore the sneakers, he had to pay the NBA a $5,000 fee.
This did not stop Michael, and game after game the basketball player appeared in the sneaker, knowing full well that he could expect hefty fines. The Air Jordan 1 High 'Bred' was nicknamed 'banned', a nickname still linked to the red and black colorway some forty years later. It later became clear that this story was about the Nike Air Ship, the predecessor of the Air Jordan 1 High.
Still, this publicity stunt was a good marketing ploy by Nike. The sneaker's rebellious image contributed to the popularity of the Air Jordan 1 High 'Bred,' a colorway that remains one of the most iconic colorways to this day.
Air Jordan 4 'Bred Reimagined' l FV5029-006
Now we see the 'Bred' colorway appearing on the Air Jordan 4. Unlike the Air Jordan 4 'Bred' released in 2019, the 'Bred Reimagined' comes with a nubuck leather upper. Unlike the mesh panels on the classic Air Jordan 4s, this pair comes with a full leather upper.
The sneaker has grey and red details. The heel features the Nike Air logo in a light grey colour. The midsole comes with light grey elements that contrast nicely with the red outsole. On the tongue, we see the red Jumpman logo. On the heel is placed an enlarged tag made of rubber.
The sneaker celebrates the 35th anniversary of the Air Jordan 4, reminiscent of the original pair released in '89. The 'Reimagined' series is known for their unique retake of classic colorways and this release is a good example of that. The sneaker arrives in full-family sizing.
Where to cop?
The Air Jordan 4 'Bred Reimagined' drops on Saturday, February 17, 2024, also Michael Jordan's birthday. The sneaker arrives in regular, GS, PS, and TD sizing. The pair drops at various retailers at 9 a.m. dot. Check out the full list of retailers to the right.
The sneaker is also available in various raffles. Raffles at the retailers in the Sneakerjagers release calendar are already open. Sign up soon! Again, the sneaker drops on February 17, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. sharp.
Interested in more releases from 2024? Then check out the Sneakerjagers release calendar and stay up-to-date on the latest drops.