One of the most revered soccer clubs in the world, Paris-Saint Germain, continues their exclusivity in the sneaker game with their brand partnership with the Jordan Family. This time, they brought an all new Air Jordan 4 “PSG,” a shoe paying tribute to the French franchise.
Men’s
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The club originally received a customized Air Jordan 5 and 6 after sparking a groundbreaking partnership with the Jordan brand in 2018, they're back again with a fashionable collection. This Air Jordan 4 boasts a white-based color scheme and is influenced by the French region of Bordeaux, enhancing the sneaker with a red-wine color and purple-ish hues to numerous components around the shoe.
To better understand this sneaker, you first must understand its history. During the 1989 NBA Eastern Conference First Round playoff series, Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls were dead locked in a 2-2 draw against Mark Price's Cleveland Cavaliers at the Richfield Coliseum. With the Cavaliers leading the game by one point, it was time for MJ to get to work. Jordan received the inbound pass from Brad Sellers, threw it up just inside the 3-point line, and wahla, like magic, the Bulls stunned the Cavaliers at the buzzer in a 101-100 nail-biter to advance to the next round of the playoffs.
As the crowd grew completely silent, the joy of victory was what engulfed Jordan and the Chicago Bulls bench. The madness settled, and the television cameras focused on MJ's feet; behold he was wearing a pair of Air Jordan 4's. Before the season, Tinker Hatfield, the head of creative design for Jordan Brand, wanted to further their innovation in performance rather than the same silhouette used on the previous three models. The Air Jordan 4's were the genesis line of sneakers featuring an over-molded mesh. The reason behind this was for the buyer to think the composition of the sneaker was cheap; so Hatfield dipped the mesh in a soft plastic and blew air through it, to clear out the plastic in between.
Upon its release, sneakerheads didn't particularly favor the shoe, alluding to its non-traditional makeup, with some even calling it “very ugly.” Although as time progressed, fans grew appreciation of the sneaker, due to its various lace patterns, letting people style it to their liking.
In September of 2018, PSG became the first professional soccer club to have a sponsorship deal with Jordan brand and the first soccer team to have the Jumpman logo as the licensing sponsor on their uniforms. As some soccer fans will question their partnership, Jordan's mission for the brand to be internationally recognized was made clear to reach the populations of those who weren't so familiar with it. PSG's President Naseer Al-Khelafi, cited the importance of both brands in terms of partnership, as the club is reported to generate over €200 million in annual revenue.
The Air Jordan 4 “Paris Saint-Germain” features a white, black and bordeaux color scheme. These purple components contrast with a luxurious white leather foundation, which is overlaid on the toe with “Neutral Gray” suede and black detailing all over. The Jumpman signature logo and the word “Flight” are embroidered on the tongue tag, while the back is finished with the circular logo of “PSG” which houses another Jumpman figure.
The AJ4 “PSG” is set to release sometime in September for $225 at select retail stores. I would style these sneakers with the Nike Sportswear Joggers pants. These bottoms provide a sporty sleek look, while keeping you comfortable. On top, I'd throw on the Nike Sportswear Club Hoodie. This piece features an all black solid appeal, would match perfectly with the black and grey accents on the side of the shoes. This hoodie with adjustable drawstrings is sure to keep you prepared for all-seasons.
