Why the Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 Matters

21 years ago, Mark Parker, Tinker Hatfield, and Lance Armstrong walked into Undefeated's first-ever flagship location on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles. We're not 100% sure what Lance Armstrong was doing there, but his presence perfectly encapsulates the sneaker industry’s influence on the neighborhood back then. According to Undefeated co-founder James Bond, Parker and Hatfield brought the idea of a collaboration to the Undefeated brand, signaling a shift in sneakers and marking the first collab in the history of the Jordan Brand. Only 72 pairs of the original sneaker were created, and that OG pair went on to become arguably the most iconic collab in Jumpman history—one that would go on to help define the importance and ubiquity of these partnerships.

A who's who of sneaker collectors had pairs of the OGs: archivists like Mayor and The Perfect Pair, or celebrities like Travis Scott and Lil Yachty. Now, twenty years later, Undefeated is bringing back the icon for the very first time and making it available to the masses. It comes at a time in sneakers where this is happening a lot. Nike and Jordan are opening up the vault and bringing back classics that were only pipe dreams for sneakerheads like myself. "Galaxy" Foams, Wu-Tang Dunks, "Shattered Backboard" Jordan 1s, and now Undefeated 4s. Sure, there are going to be the usual suspects hooting, hollering, and gatekeeping, trying to tell you why this is a bad thing. But at the end of the day, how is it a bad thing when more people are getting their hands on some of the greatest sneakers ever created? I'll answer that one for you, it's not.

Without question, the industry wouldn't look like what it does today without a project like the original Undefeated x Air Jordan 4, so let's continue to celebrate it. Below you'll find a detailed look at both the original pair from 2005 as well as the retro from 2025, which releases on Aug. 2 for $230 exclusively through Undefeated. At first glance, they look different, but Bond and Undefeated creative director Chris Gibbs (yes, that Chris Gibbs) made it clear to us that the color is meant to match what the shoe originally looked like 20 years ago. It's a 1-for-1 retro save for a few small differences meant to keep the lore of the OG intact. You'll also find a detailed look at three unseen samples from 2005 as well featuring different materials and slightly different coloring.

How to Buy the 2025 Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 Collab