With the NBA set to complete the season from the bubble, many fans might prefer to wax nostalgic for “the good ol’ days.” For many  Jordan 4 Bleu  sneakerheads, that evokes one word: Jordan. With that in mind, Nike and Jordan Brand are releasing yet another retro from His Airness’ signature line.

The Air Jordan 12 “Stone Blue” drops summer 2020, over twenty years after their initial run. The Jordan 12 was the shoe on the court for championship number five in the Bulls’ dynastic reign, and the “Stone Blue” is the latest in a long line of fitting tributes.

The canvas of the Jordan 12 is inspired by the national flag of Japan, notable for its striking contrast of red and white. The “Stone Blue” 12 takes the tonal variance and matches several hues of indigo against the cleanest, brightest white Nike can offer.

One prominent feature of the J12s is the stitching across the sides of the uppers, meant to resemble the rays of the sun as displayed on the Japanese naval flag. Here these ray-like streaks reflect the metallic sheen of the leather in a deeply cool tone.



The indigo-dyed leather is where the shoe’s other nickname originates; it is one of the oldest dyes used in textiles in recorded history. The remaining leather on the shoe’s mid-area is vivid, almost beaming white.

The view from the front of the shoe gives a perfect yin-yang-like division of indigo and snowy blankness. To look at this shoe is to love this shoe.


The blues continue in lighter shades as highlights on the overall shoe body, most notably the interior, heel and tag, and of course, the undersole. The top of the tongue is emblazoned with the Jumpman logo in Nike ‘legend blue,’ a lighter hue, but vivid nonetheless.

The laces appear to be more of a Carolina blue, and silver matte lace hoops add a sparkle. The shoe’s heel is a sight to behold, bringing every color of the sneaker together in harmony. The stitching is exquisite, both bold and minutely detailed, it reads: “Quality Inspired By The Greatest Player Ever.”

The larger script simply reads, “JORDAN,” as if there was any other ‘greatest player ever.’ One of the most daring features on the heel is the embossed ‘23,’ a simple but effective accent for the visually stunning rear. However, the undersole may be the most spectacular

Element for the eyes, crisscrossing and zig-zagging obsidian blue and white abounding. Looming largely at the bottom of the shoe’s  Jordan 4 Bleu  toe is another grand vision of the ‘Jumpman,’ again in the lighter ‘legend blue,’ peeking over onto the toe’s front side. Top to bottom, this is a stunning rendition of one of the most beloved entries in the franchise.