As the custom sneaker world grows and certain customizers focus on a niche skill the amount of collaborations will only increase. An often seen custom is that of a colorswap, but instead of just a color change @ammoskunk and SewnUpSoles went a bit further to be filed under the “hybrid” classification. Titled “Air Yeezy IV Revelation” this retro Air Jordan IV has been mashed up with that of an Nike Air Yeezy II. What started out as a Jordan IV retro in the military blue colorway now has the look of the Yeezy II’s black/solar red colorway starting with an all black upper. The signature parts of the Yeezy II were placed upon the AJ IV: the heels, netting replaced by the textured snakeskin + embossed Swoosh panel, a tongue switch and the addition of the forefoot velcro straps. A solar red lining and glow in the dark soles finish off the transformation.
PorT: How did this project come about?
ammoskunk: My first pair of Jordans were the bred 4’s in 89. Wanting to imitate number 23 & the 13 season in Chicago changed my life. Changed my life, changed the world, changed the game both on the court & off. He is the reason for shoe game. Without MJ, I wouldn’t restore or sole swap making OG’s wearable, there wouldn’t be a Yeezy & I find it fitting to unveil this project that is called Air Yeezy Revelation on 4/23/13.
ammoskunk: A month ago I was about to do a custom solar 2 made famous by Noldo Customs for myself. I had just went thru someone taking my artwork on a shoe & half a year later gets attention for it so I wanted to make sure the next one I did set the bar a little higher to where it would be hard to copy. I approached Rob Cruz of @sewnsupsoles to see if he wanted to collab on this project I had only dreamed about but knew if it was a possibility it was with his skills & talent alongside mine to create a masterpiece. Rob used his skills & sewed it together. I finished the custom & heel tab fabrication after. He is equal partner in it & needs equal recognition.
PorT: The “Yeezy color swap custom” is something we often see recreated in the custom world. How did you make these take a step forward from just a color change?
ammoskunk: When seeing the Yeezy 2 I knew I had to incorporate a heel tab into the air Jordan 4. The strap, side paneling & tongue would all be replaced on the shoes to give it one of the dopest combination of heat & perfect balance of air Jordan 4 with Yeezy. On the heel tab at the top was so iconic to keep because that is an air Jordan 4. We turned vision into reality. Rob & I are more than satisfied with this project.
PorT: So did you cut up your $2000+ Yeezy’s or were they from a fake pair?
ammoskunk: They were fake Yeezy parts. I don’t think many would pay 3k for the custom.
SewnUpSoles: The parts of the Yeezy that were used were fake. We DO NOT support the use of fakes in any way, shape or form but for economical purposes and it being a prototype we decided it’ll be the best route at the moment.
PorT: Cool. I doubt I’d tear apart my Yeezy’s either(if I had them). A lot of customizers went the other way taking fake tongues and parts of Jordans to add to Dunks and AF1s in the mid 2000s. It’s not like you are selling the fake Yeezy..just using resources to make an authentic Jordan a bit more unique.
SewnUpSoles: It was an absolute pleasure doing this project. We encourage everyone to open their minds and creativity and give us the opportunity to make them into reality!
SewnUpSoles and ammoskunk are taking orders for these for a limited time. You can find the contact info for each on Instagram: @SewnUpSoles and @ammoskunk. Be sure to follow both on Twitter too: @SewnUpSoles & @ammoskunk
