The Air Jordan 40 is an interesting experiment from Jordan Brand, serving as a sort of blank canvas for special projects. This week, we have an early look at a special player-version for Rui Hachimura, bringing traditional sashiko repair technique to the NBA court.
Jordan Brand’s 40th mainline performance model is one of the most interesting concepts in basketball shoes of recent years. The base model was launched last Summer in a small series of colorways, but has taken a very unique turn in recent month. Jordan Brand has adapted the model to mimic the look of some of their other iconic older silhouettes, borrowing color schemes and design details and applying them to the Air Jordan 40’s simple silhouette. One release applied the AJ16‘s shroud covering to the model, while another simply mimicked the look of the AJ14 “Ferrari“.
Recently, the Air Jordan 4028, which borrows the extra-tall zippered cover of the AJ28, surfaced in its first public release, and now, Jordan athlete Rui Hachimura is getting his own take on the boot-like basketball shoe. Rui is directly referencing his Japanese heritage for this release, bringing traditional sashiko repair techniques to the model’s zippered outer layer. This layer itself is constructed from denim, and the sashiko stitching is presented in an interlocking circular pattern across the entire navy blue upper.
RUI HACHIMURA X AIR JORDAN 4028 “SASHIKO” RELEASE INFORMATION
The next signature release from Rui Hachimura and Jordan Brand does not have a set release date yet, but is expected to arrive later in 2026. The Lakers’ forward’s take on the Air Jordan 4028 brings a sashiko-covered denim shroud to the high-top model, which will likely release from both Nike and select retailers for $205.
Air Jordan 4028 “Rui Hachimura”
Color: College Navy/Sail-Chrome
Style Code: IQ5893-400
Release Date: 2026
Price: $205
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