The year is 1989. Tinker Hatfield drops the Air Jordan 4 – mesh panels, plastic wings, visible Air, and a windmill slam of attitude. And the colourways? They didn’t arrive quietly. Dropping in ‘Black/Cement Grey’, ‘White/Cement Grey’, ‘White/Fire Red’, and ‘White/Military Blue’, the originals hit the hardwood – and the streets – with an impact that still echoes today. Backed by buzzer-beaters, Spike Lee commercials, and MJ in full flight, these colourways didn’t just debut – they made history. They're still stitched into the fabric of sneaker culture, so here’s everything you need to know about the first iconic colour combos.

‘Black/Cement Grey’ – ‘BRED’

• First Drop: 1989
• Worn by MJ: Hell, yes – most famously during The Shot
• AKA: ‘Bred’ (A portmanteau of 'Black' and 'Red', if you’re new around here)

The Vibe

Aggressive. Blacked out. Mean. With hits of fire red and that speckled 'Cement Grey', the Breds looked like they came straight from the battlefield – and on MJ’s feet, they were weapons.

The Moment

Game 5, ‘89 Playoffs. MJ rises, fades, and hits The Shot over Craig Ehlo. Crowd dead. MJ airborne. Breds immortal.

Retros

1999, 2008, 2012, 2019.

'White/Cement Grey' – ‘White Cement’

• First Drop: 1989
• Worn by MJ: Yes
• Cameo: Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing (1989)

The Vibe

Clean. Classic. Lethal in silence. Speckled grey overlays on crisp white leather gave this pair a cooler, more casual aesthetic – but still punched hard on the hardwood.

The Moment

Forget the court – these were Brooklyn street-certified the second they popped up in Do the Right Thing. A scuff on these? Fighting words.

Retro Rundown

1999, 2012, 2016, 2025.

'White/Fire Red' – ‘Fire Red’

• First Drop: 1989
• Worn by MJ: Yep – during select games
• Sleeper OG: Always under the radar, never undercooked

The Vibe

Loud and lethal. White leather upper with blazing 'Fire Red' hits and a black midsole, cut sharp like MJ’s fadeaway. It was the Bulls’ colour palette dialled up to 100.

The Legacy

Never got the same love as the 'Bred', but ask any purist – this pair is essential Jordan history. Pure heat, no hype.

Retro Rundown

2006, 2012, 2020.

'White/Military Blue' – ’Military Blue’

• First Drop: 1989
• Worn by MJ: Never
• Outlier Energy: Arguably the cleanest OG in the deck

The Vibe

Ice cold. White leather, grey suede mudguard, ’Military Blue’ accents. This was the one that said, 'I don’t need to match the Bulls to turn heads'.

The Legacy

MJ didn't once lace them up in a game, but that's never mattered. These became cult classics – loved by collectors, fashion heads, and anyone who knew how to flex different.

Retro Rundown

2006, 2012, 2024.