AIR JORDAN 4 x OFF-WHITE - SAIL MUSLIN

1. I Cut Jordan 4 Off White Out of My Life. Here’s What Happened Let’s set aside the fact that the Nike Dunk holds so much sway over proceeding basketball sneakers, the influence we’re talking about here is bigger than that. 15 or so years after it’sfirst release, in the early ’00s, we saw the Nike Dunk take on its SB form and gave modern sneaker culture its pivotal reference point. From wild colors, textures, and collaborations, SB Dunks had people lining up — even camping out, looking for release dates, and wearing stuffed tongues in ways that had never been popular before. But the ugly side came out, too. Riots, resale prices, and killings all started to surface as sneaker culture grew into a beast. And while the Dunk transitioned from the court jordan 4 off whiteto the streets to the deck to the streets again, it’s never lost its way. Some of those colorways from early last decade, like Jeff Staple’s Pidgeon, are still the ultimate statement of clout. They say great design never dies. This is a perfect example. It started as a staple basketball sneaker, has now become one of the most recognizable sneakers of all time. The Converse Chuck Taylor All Star is the most versatile sneaker to ever exist. I mean you can wear these things to the gym, or with a suit. It’s spotted in hardcore moshs to high fashion shoes and it’s not once questioned about it’s place.

2. Every company has knocked it off, even cartoons do. Which makes us ask the question — was the Chuck itself responsible for its popularity? or was it the replication that grew the legend? Either way, it’s got to where it is because of what it is. Technically advanced and bulky high-tops were the culmination of sneakers before them. But when the Air Force 1 release in 1982, everything that followed in terms of basketball footwear owed some debt to Bruce Kilgore’s 1982 magnum opus. And while advancements in tech did eventually make the sneaker obsolete on the hardwood, it still didn’t die —and it probably never will. In fact, it’s become Nike’s biggest seller year after year. So how did it go from on-court powerhouse to finding new life in the culture? Well, big brands will never admit it, but drug dealers and hustlers were the true style influencers of the era. The crack epidemic that tore apart East Coast inner cities from roughly 1984 to 1993 was the catalyst for the Air Force 1. For the dealers, there was plenty of expendable cash on hand that needed to be spent. Chains, pagers, and rides were always the focus, but it jordan 4 off whitewas the shoes that became a symbol of status — for they were the most attainable adornment for your every day G. That culture grew and blended with hip-hop, then with fashion. It’s remained a constant in an ever- changing landscape, and will likely stay that way for the remainder of our lifetime.