The Legendary UNDEFEATED Air Jordan 4 Returns this Week

One of the most sought-after Jordan releases from the mid-2000s makes its grand return this week, signifying a 20-year journey from ultra-limited boutique grail to an accessible slice of true sneaker history.

First released in 2005, the Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 was an early glimpse at the future of our beloved culture, marking the first time that Jordan Brand released a collaborative edition separate to its special commissions for its roster of star athletes and artists.

The Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 marked an unprecedented instance of synergy between Undefeated, the then–3-year-old L.A. streetwear boutique-turned-brand, and head Nike honchos Mark Parker and Tinker Hatfield, who invited Undefeated founders Eddie Cruz and James Bond to Nike HQ in 2004, marking the first time that Jordan Brand opened its doors to work with one of the retailers peddling its products.

As the story goes, Cruz and Bond went into the meeting with the idea of creating a BlackBerry mobile-inspired colourway; however, halfway through, the team pivoted to a richer reference point, looking to the iconic MA-1 flying jacket as their muse, tying together a never-before-done “Olive green” colour palette with Undefeated’s utilitarian aesthetic and the synonymous wider cultural impact shared between Michael Jordan–endorsed kicks and the adoption of military apparel within the context of daily wear.

It’s rumoured that only 72 pairs were made available when the Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 dropped in ‘05. Most were gifted to friends & family, while the remaining quantities were sold via a physical raffle system at the original Undefeated hideout in L.A. Since its release, the shoe has achieved record-breaking sales on the aftermarket — most notably in 2024, when Sotheby’s auctioned off a deadstock example for $50K USD (pictured above).

Following suit with Nike’s recent proclivity for rehashing the classics, as evidenced with the retro‘ing of icons like the Patta Air Max 1 “Chlorophyll” and 2006’s Stash “Blue Pack”, Jordan and Undefeated are making their legendary release available to a new generation of footwear enjoyers.

Undefeated has tapped Chris Gibbs, the Union L.A. founder who knows a thing or two about delivering successful sneaker collaborations, to oversee the re-release, which brings individual updates without compromising the deep lore surrounding the OG version.

The signature MA‑1–inspired olive and orange palette remains intact, with standout changes coming via new material selections and the addition of Nike Air branding on the heel.

In Gibbs’ own words:

“What we came up with is a shoe that, at first glance, everyone will recognize as the shoe from 20 years ago. But with some tight inspection, you’re going to see that it’s a different shoe.”

“We’re really proud of where we’ve landed with it. It feels like a good balance to strike.”

The Undefeated Air Jordan 4 is dropping via various physical and in-store raffle systems headed up by the brand between July 25 and July 30 — visit Undefeated’s website for more information.

The shoe will then release on first-come, first-serve basis on Saturday, August 2 via Undefeated.com.

Retail price is $230 USD.