Heads up sneakerheads, the latest collaboration of Union LA x Air Jordan comes in full retro regalia. Controversial in the making till its official release, a new grail of Jordan lovers dropped last August 2020 incorporated with more creative juices of Union LA owner -Chris Gibbs.
First up, the “Off Noir” collab swerved away from the classic Air Jordan 4’s silhouette, featuring a slightly different shape creating what Gibbs would say a “dope look” on its vamp and a more balanced suede to mesh ratio. The quirky sneakers are assembled with complementary suedes, nylon, and mesh materials in black, white, and blue colors. The semi-translucent wing at the sides is also fully paneled to the red eyelets, matching with the Air Jordan branding at the padded tongue and a Nike Air + Swoosh combo on the heels. The vintage vibes are also reverberated by the yellow midsoles.
Yet, the fun does not stop there. Another factor that made buyers and collectors think twice before copping these Union Jordans is its tongue. Some unofficial low-quality photos were circulating showing the tongues folded, which buzzed up the internet, and with the pair eventually falling on cold eyes. Not long after, Gibbs announced the launching officially with more insights and versatile #fitspirations of the sneakers. He also revealed that the tongue is a taste of both worlds, with photos of a fully unfurled tongue featuring the Jumpman logo.
Well, it might have had a bumpy start, but despite the controversies that surrounded the collaboration, the hype was bound to happen. The “Off Noir” retailed initially for $225, but its resale price skyrocketed to about $687 to $850 in the following months that you might forget that people took time to warm up to the shoes in the beginning.