UPDATE JUNE 26: Nigel Sylvester has officially announced July 24 as the release date for his Air Jordan 4 RM.
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UPDATE MAY 16: A “Canyon Rust” colorway of the Air Jordan 4 RM has surfaced online and is expected to release this summer.
UPDATE APRIL 30: A new colorway of the Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 RM has emerged in green.
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Rumors have been swirling on the internet about a Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan collaboration since last year. The professional BMX rider delivered one of the best sneakers of 2019 with his pre-aged Air Jordan 1 and has since signed an official long-term deal with Jordan Brand in 2021. The new model in question is the Air Jordan 4 RM, which leaked last year and is a takedown of the iconic 1989 design. RM stands for RestoMod, which is defined as “a combination of restoration and modification.”
Image: elden monitors
The pair Nigel teased today appears to have the same shape, but it is unclear if the upper construction is the same. The teaser video shows Nigel performing on his bike, so getting a clear shot of the shoe is difficult. Jordan Brand often rolls out a new product with a high heat collaboration, so the Nigel pair could be the preheat for the inline AJ4 RM model. The colorway he’s wearing looks like the “Fear” AJ4 version that is also rumored to be released later this year in its OG form.
This new AJ4 model is intriguing for many reasons. First, Jordan Brand has had success in “Re-Imagining” iconic models in the past few years, and this could fall into that category since there was never an OG AJ4 low. Secondly, the AJ4 has been gaining mainstream momentum in recent years following the success of the Air Jordan 1 franchise. The rise in popularity of the AJ1 Low, mid, and newer takes like CMFT and women’s models have turned the classic sneaker into the most popular sneaker in the world and a billion-dollar business on its own. If Jordan Brand wants to replicate that success with the AJ4, it’ll have to find a way to bring down its premium $215 price tag. A takedown model like the RM has the potential to be the perfect solution.
