Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 "Sail" Releases May 9

In early 2025, Nigel Sylvester and Jordan Brand officially launched the label’s 40th-anniversary campaign with an intimate “Brick By Brick” dinner in New York, unveiling their collaborative Air Jordan 4 alongside a tightly curated apparel capsule. The project quickly established itself as one of the year’s most deliberate sneaker releases, blending Sylvester’s BMX roots with heritage basketball DNA under the Swoosh banner.

While the orange-based “Brick By Brick” pair dominated headlines — earning multiple Sneaker of the Year nods — the evening delivered a quieter reveal. Beneath Sylvester’s oversized denim, there was a first look at an alternate Air Jordan 4 Retro colorway. That pair is now confirmed: the Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 “Sail” releases May 9, 2026.

The new iteration leans into classic Air Jordan 4 Retro language. It mirrors the iconic “Fire Red” layout but swaps traditional Bulls-red hits for brick-inspired Cinnabar tones. Creamy Sail leather covers the upper, matched with neutral netting and TPU wings for structural balance. A navy-black accent wraps the midsole, adding contrast without overpowering the palette. On the forefoot, a mini Swoosh returns — a detail that has become a defining signature of Sylvester’s recent Jordan 4 collaboration projects.

The heel tab delivers the most distinctive branding cue. Instead of traditional Nike Air, the Sail panel features bold “BIKE AIR” lettering in orange, a direct nod to Sylvester’s cycling identity. It’s a subtle but effective twist that distinguishes the sneaker from standard Retro OG executions.

Interest surged during All-Star Weekend when Michael Jordan was spotted wearing the unreleased “Sail/Cinnabar” pair, hangtag intact—a rare public endorsement that immediately elevated the sneaker’s visibility.

This marks Sylvester’s second Air Jordan 4 effort, following his growing pattern of revisiting select models. Beyond doubling up on the Jordan 4 RM, he has also returned to the Air Jordan 1 in multiple releases — reinforcing a focused design partnership rather than one-off collabs.

The Nigel Sylvester Air Jordan 4 “Sail” has a release date of May 9, 2026, via Nike SNKRS and select retailers. A retail price has not been disclosed.

It lands during a massive year for the Air Jordan 4, which is scheduled for over 15 releases, while the Air Jordan 3 is set to see 16 new releases of its own — underscoring the continued dominance of Jordan Brand’s core.

Keep your eyes firmly planted on our real-time Jordan Release Dates calendar for updates.