Sneaker News In the Summer of 2019, Virgil Abloh teamed up with Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art for a full-blown exhibition showcasing the multi-faceted creative’s contribution to music, fashion, and footwear. Sneakerheads were given an unprecedented treat with a complete spread of Off-White x Nike samples that he worked on over the years, with several standouts sparking hype and exciting for the future years of the Off-White x Nike partnership.
One such sneaker was the Off-White x Air Jordan 4 in the iconic “Bred” colorway. Virgil distinct interpretation of the shoe is highlighted by transparent layers and materials, exemplified by the women’s Off-White Jordan 4 “Sail”. There was hope that this black/red rendition would eventually release to the public, and the rumor mill went wild. The sneaker was among the photographed objects of the exhibition – this one captured by Bernie Gross of Extra Butter.
A recent statement from Jordan Brand given to Complex confirms that the Off-White Jordan 4 “Bred” sample was made just for the exhibition at MCA Chicago and currently has no plans to release to the public. In hindsight, it’s clear that Virgil just wanted to share himself with the world as much as possible as he quietly battled an illness that would ultimately take his life late in 2021.
Nike has neither confirmed nor denied future releases of Off-White Nike footwear (such as the Off-White Air Force 1 Mid and Off-White Blazer Low), but we are hopeful the brand will take proper measures to honor the lasting legacy built by Virgil in such a short time.
