Some collaborations are remembered for one detail. The KAWS x Air Jordan 4 is remembered for all of them: the grey suede, the hand-drawn artwork pressed into every panel and a sole that glowed in the dark. Ten years later, it is coming back.
KAWS and Jordan Brand are reuniting on the Air Jordan 4 for a release in summer 2027, exactly a decade after the original. Here is what we know so far.
The 2017 KAWS x Air Jordan 4
The first KAWS x Air Jordan 4 released in 2017 in an all-grey suede upper. Instead of printing his work on top of the shoe, KAWS had his hand artwork etched subtly into the suede, so it only really shows up in the light. A glow-in-the-dark outsole carried the idea underneath, and the box and details were covered in his familiar motifs.
A black version followed later the same year, and both pairs quickly became two of the most collected Jordan 4s of the decade. They are still the reference point for how an artist collaboration on a retro can look.
| Air Jordan 4 Retro x KAWS 'Grey' (2017) | Air Jordan x KAWS 4 Retro 'Black' (2017) |
What We Know About the 2027 Pair
The official colourway of the new pair is Dark Grey/Dark Grey. The 2017 original was Cool Grey and its follow-up went fully black, so Dark Grey sits right between the two. Whether the new pair recreates the etched artwork and glowing sole or takes the Air Jordan 4 somewhere new has not been confirmed yet.
The timing matters too. Nike has announced it will cut back Air Jordan retros from 2027 and produce fewer pairs, while keeping its biggest collaborations coming. A KAWS Jordan 4 in that environment is likely to be one of the hardest pairs of the year to get at retail.
KAWS x Air Jordan 4 2027 Release
The KAWS x Air Jordan 4 is expected in summer 2027, ten years after the original. The style code is JU4624-002 and the official colourway is Dark Grey/Dark Grey. There is no exact release date or European price yet.
The KAWS x Air Jordan 4 will be available on KLEKT soon. Until then, you can find the original 2017 pairs on KLEKT and browse the full Air Jordan 4 range.
Check out the KAWS x Air Jordan 4 on KLEKT.
Images: Nike / Jordan Brand / KLEKT
