words_Nick Engvall

Although Michael Jordan already had a couple Air Jordan models before the Air Jordan 3 and the Air Jordan 4, for many sneakerheads, these were the shoes that revolutionized sneakers. Sure, Michael had already been fined for his “outrageous” Air Jordan 1 models, then followed that up by displaying the Air Jordan 2 on the biggest stage possible, the 1987 Slam Dunk Contest. However, the Air Jordan 3 model launched the iconic Jumpman logo as well as introduced one of the most memorable and popular print patterns to ever grace a sneaker, elephant print. The minimalistic design of the Air Jordan 3 kept it very clean, which accentuated the elephant print and new Jumpman logo even more. Not to mention, the Air Jordan 3 was the first to receive a visible Air unit, which back in the day was nothing less than mesmerizing.

Following up the ground breaking Air Jordan 3 was a difficult task, but Nike seemed to handle it perfectly. The mesh detailing on the side panels of the Air Jordan 4 had never been seen before. Add to that the triangular detailing that seemed to float on the side of the shoe, while simultaneously tying the lace stays to the body of the shoe, and it seemed that the Air Jordan 4 was designed to take flight. Nike, realizing this, used the Air Jordan 4 to launch the scripted Flight logo below the Jumpman on the tongue, which once again become an unforgettable icon in the sneaker world. Unlike its predecessor, the Air Jordan 4 was a bold and groundbreaking design due to its use of materials that created a visually stunning sneaker with an array of elements, that essentially defined the term neck-breaking.

This Saturday, March 27th, the Air Jordan 3 and Air Jordan 4 will return again, this time as part of the 25th Anniversary Collection for Jordan Brand. The Silver Anniversary will be celebrated with a series of white colorways featuring silver detailing. You can pick up your piece of sneaker history beginning when the clock strikes 12AM Eastern Standard Time Saturday at Eastbay.com