Five years after his last Jordan linkup, BMX legend Nigel Sylvester is back with the Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 RM 'Grandma's Driveway'—the first-ever collab to hit the all-new Air Jordan 4 RM. And boy, was it ever worth the wait.
Born in Queens, Sylvester is probably best known for his film series Go, which offered viewers a first-hand POV as he rode across some of the world's most famous landmarks and locations. Unlike a lot of traditional BMX athletes, he doesn't compete in pro events, but that didn't stop Forbes from including him in the "30 Under 30” list under the sports category in 2017. While he's now known for biking all around the world, he first fell in love with the sport on his grandma's driveway—which is what inspired this special-edition sneaker.
The Air Jordan 4's been around for 35 years, but the Air Jordan 4 RM is the first time that the silhouette's been given a low-top makeover. Decked out in ‘Pro Green’ suede (the same shade of green as the fence surrounding his granny's yard), it's fitted with a rubber caging system that's been designed specifically for this model. Cotton laces tie everything together, and the shoe sits on top of a blacked-out midsole that's infused with Air tech for a bit more comfort and bounce.
A white Swoosh is stitched along the lateral toe, and around the heel, the classic “Nike Air” logo has been replaced with “Bike Air” as a fun nod to Sylvester's BMX roots. Co-branded detailing hits the insoles, and all of it comes packed in an exclusive shoebox with a bunch of lovely stickers and photographs of Sylvester as a kid.
The Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 RM 'Grandma's Driveway' is set to drop on July 20 via Nike, the SNKRS app, and select stockists across the globe for $150. Expect resale prices to be double (or even triple) this.
This story originally appeared on British GQ with the title 'Why Nigel Sylvester's Air Jordan 4 RM 'Grandma's Driveway' is a very big deal'