Nigel Sylvester’s Footwear News Cover Story August 2025

Nigel Sylvester stays true to one guiding principle: Embrace your individuality. “Self expression is such a beautiful thing. I think we should all lean into it. That’s what makes us special and unique,” the BMX star said during FN’s cover shoot in late July.

For Sylvester, who has always done things his own way, fashion has become another layer of his ever-growing repertoire. The athlete walked his bike into Penske Media’s Fifth Avenue Studio wearing a black T-shirt, shorts and New Era cap while carrying a Saint Laurent Rive Gauche tote bag in, of course, all black. It’s something of a uniform for the consummate New Yorker. His dark attire is offset by a pair of Michael Jordan sneakers — not one of Sylvester’s wildly popular collaborations, but instead the pair that started it all: the Air Jordan 1 Lost and Found in its original Chicago Bulls-themed palette of red, white and black. The shoe immediately made an impact after its 1985 debut and has only become more appreciated in the decades since. 

The idiom “better with time” is often associated with things like antique watches, fine wines and vintage clothing. For Sylvester, it’s the theme of his latest sneaker collaboration, a retelling of his first project with the Jordan Brand. He’s applying the same pre-distressed, scuffed-out-of-the-box look seen on his pre-yellowed 2018 Air Jordan 1 High, this time to a black Air Jordan 1 Low designed to appear as if it’s been put through the wear and tear of repeated bike rides. 

“Some things don’t fade, they deepen. Time doesn’t wear them down. Instead, it weaves them into something more meaningful. What we cherish grows with every season. Their marks aren’t flaws, but proof of life, love and growth. Adding character and soul. There’s something sacred about what lasts and gets better with time,” reads the official marketing for the Better With Time sneaker, which lit up Nike’s billboard near Penn Station in early July. 

Sylvester’s career trajectory has similarly evolved, opening up more doors, opportunities and brand deals as he continues to level up. Now 37, the Queens, N.Y.-born bike rider went pro in 2005, choosing street riding over competitions and races. There were doubters early on; Sylvester says people told him that not biking competitively would put limitations on his career, a notion that he’s completely dismantled. “When I turned pro at 18, I set out on a path to be one of the greatest to ever do it. That’s still something that I’m pursuing. It looks a little different now than it probably did then. It’s evolved and it’s grown,” Sylvester said a few weeks before the shoot.

To say things look a little different speaks to Sylvester’s self-assured yet humble demeanor. In 2005, there were no high-profile BMX sneaker collaborations. Even Nike’s SB category, formally launched in 2002, was still in its infancy. For Sylvester, this meant aligning with the Beaverton, Ore.-based sportswear company’s short-lived Nike 6.0 action-sports division, one of his first sponsors. And though he now calls Jordan Brand home, he’s stuck with Nike ever since. He’s also racked up ambassador deals with Mercedes-Benz, Moncler and Oakley, just to name a few. Days before this story went to print, Sylvester announced a new partnership with McDonald’s. 

“Look at the Jay-Zs of the world and the Pharrells of the world and the things they’ve been able to do outside of music,” Sylvester said. “What they’ve accomplished has inspired and motivated me so much.”

His fondness for both artists is well documented, and it plays out in real time at FN’s offices, where Sylvester soaks up the all-Jay-Z-everything playlist during his shoot. Included is a 2017 remix of Frank Ocean’s “Biking,” which sees the Jordan Brand collaborator receive a shout-out from Jay-Z himself (“Nigel Sylvester with these bike flips”). 

To give some perspective, when Jay-Z rapped those lyrics in 2017, Sylvester hadn’t yet released a shoe with Jordan. Less than a decade later, he’s one of the brand’s hottest names and responsible for what many are calling an early contender for the best sneaker of the year: the Air Jordan 4 Brick by Brick. Yet despite already having a top drop of 2025 under his belt, he’s not getting complacent. 

“[The new sneaker] is something that people have been asking for for years now, so I’m happy that we’re finally delivering on that and get to dive back into this AJ1 story that started my journey with Jordan Brand,” he said.

Set to be released on Aug. 16 for $160, the Air Jordan 1 Low Better With Time is not only a full circle moment for Sylvester but part of Jordan Brand’s anniversary festivities. 

“As we continue celebrating 40 years of greatness, highlighted by the AJ1, it is only fitting to launch the Better With Time project now,” said Samantha Baker, Jordan Brand global communications director. “The campaign is a tribute to the journey of growth, resilience and evolution. Hardships and struggles shape both individuals and brands, but with time and the grit to keep pushing forward, we all emerge stronger, refined and better with time. Nigel’s billboard near Penn Station perfectly captures the essence of this moment.”

While 2025 has been a banner year for Sylvester’s Jordan Brand partnership, 2024 was filled with firsts of its own. He was selected to introduce the Air Jordan 4 RM, a lower-cut, more durable version of Jordan’s classic fourth signature sneaker intended for bike riding — or just everyday wear. Its heel branding replaced the original shoe’s classic, closely guarded Nike Air heel branding with a new “Bike Air” emblem. Jordan Brand told FN the Bike Air branding takes the label to new places and helps it serve communities by tapping into the global culture of bicycle riding. 

One of the first versions of the shoe was a forest green Grandma’s Driveway collaboration with Sylvester, followed by a second in gray. Tied to the colors of the home where he learned the disciplines of biking and accompanied by a campaign starring “Family Matters” actress Jo Marie Payton, the shoes were an immediate sellout, driving up interest in dozens of non-collaboration, in-line versions of the Air Jordan 4 RM. 

Generating buzz around a new model by leading with high-heat releases is a strategy Nike employs often, but it’s never a surefire win, especially when a beloved model like the Air Jordan 4 is involved. 

“It was an interesting challenge. Introducing a new model when it comes to Nike and Jordan Brand is not an easy task at all,” Sylvester admitted. “I believed that we could introduce something new that people would relate to and gravitate toward. I’m a true believer in the power of storytelling, and I feel like the story that we told was something that people can relate to. When we put the content out featuring Jo Marie Payton, people were hitting my phone, texting me stuff like, ‘Oh, I just shed a thug tear.’ They’re like, ‘I’m missing my grandma right now.’ I feel like that connection led them to want to be a part of this. It was an amazing opportunity. And it allowed me an even bigger runway to do the things that we’re doing now.”

The “bigger runway” Sylvester speaks of began on a literal runway in January at The Standard, High Line, where he and Jordan Brand debuted the Brick by Brick collection. An atypical introduction for a sneaker collaboration, the fashion show featured a full apparel line, including a colorful, graphic-adorned jersey, a waxed nylon biking jacket-and-pant combination and T-shirts. But for footwear enthusiasts, the highlight was the sneaker of the evening: Sylvester’s own Air Jordan 4 Brick by Brick. The shoe was released in March for $225 and currently resells for roughly three times as much. 

With its brick-red color, textured mudguard, reflective underlays and gummy outsole, the Air Jordan 4 Brick by Brick stands out among numerous colorways in what is one of the brand’s most popular retro models. That, coupled with an inspirational story of Sylvester’s ascension, has made it one of the most sought-after sneakers of the year. He told FN he knew the project would be special, but seeing the community’s reaction has made it even more so. 

Although there are still several months left in the year, there’s a growing consensus that the Brick by Brick is one of 2025’s top sneaker drops. Ronnie Fieg, founder, CEO and creative director of Kith, told FN he anticipated as much. “I called it way before the release,” he said. “It’s hands down the best sneaker project of 2025. No question.”

Fieg, who has known Sylvester for 15 years, praised the Jordan collaborator’s ability to establish a lane of his own. “Among our circle, he’s truly seen as a unicorn,” Fieg told FN. “What I admire most is his ability to inspire the next generation and uplift everyone around him. His charisma and energy make him one of the most magnetic people to be around.”

As for what the BMX pro brings to Jordan Brand, Fieg feels Sylvester offers a value boost rooted in authenticity. “He expands the spectrum of what the brand can represent,” Fieg said. “He makes it feel more human, more accessible and more culturally relevant. That’s no slight to anyone else on the roster, but Nigel has this unique ability to speak directly to the youth in an authentic and organic way.”

Being welcomed into the Jordan Brand family is an honor many athletes only dream of. At this point, Sylvester not only has a seat at the table but has been allowed into the inner circle. In July, he was chosen as part of a select group of Jordan athletes and partners to attend the brand’s Board of Greatness summit in Greece. Alongside some of Jordan’s top active signees and alumni, including Jalen Hurts, Luka Doncic, Paolo Banchero and Carmelo Anthony, the group of just over two dozen shared laughs and stories while overlooking the Athens coastline. 

“It was incredible. It’s very rare that you get that many Jordan Brand athletes together in one space,” Sylvester said. “To have an opportunity to just kick back, talk and exchange stories — [with] MJ being there — you’re inspired and grateful to be part of such a tight-knit family.” 

Sylvester keeps charging ahead, too, with his ever-expanding list of side quests. He has his own nonprofit, the Nigel Sylvester Foundation, which aims to help underserved youth through promoting healthy habits and financial literacy. In June, he was named as an ambassador for the MTA and featured in a widespread campaign promoting subway safety.

Additionally, the BMX pro’s sneakers have had a virtual footprint through “Fortnite” cosmetic purchasables, known as Kicks. The Epic Games title, which boasts one of the largest player bases in gaming today, featured the Brick by Brick sneakers for a limited time — not unlike the real-world drop. 

Dennis Todisco, an industry consultant who founded the social media streetwear account Outfitgrid and gaming-focused platform EXP Pack, said it’s important for brands like Jordan to be involved in what he sees as the future of culture. 

“When something hits culturally, it shows up everywhere: on-foot, on-feed and in-game,” said Todisco. “You saw [the Air Jordan 4 Brick by Brick] in ‘Fortnite’ the same way you saw it on Instagram. It started subtle, then suddenly it was everywhere. That quiet popularity, the kind you don’t need to shout about, always travels the furthest.”

Todisco, who met Sylvester in 2012, considers early “sneaker of the year” whispers around the Brick by Brick to be warranted. “There’s real depth to it, from the story to the materials,” Todisco said. “It’s not trying to be loud. It’s built to last. You can tell Nigel approached it with purpose. It doesn’t just look good, it feels considered. That kind of design sticks long after the noise fades.”

Though nearly two decades into his professional career, Sylvester isn’t showing any hints of sluggishness. He’s adding new benchmarks when others might get complacent, speeding up when the competition slows down. So what’s next for the multihyphenate now that he’s released his ninth sneaker? “It’s a very tough question,” Sylvester said. “The world is moving so fast. I would just hope and pray that I’m in a position where I’m doing exactly what it is that I love to do. Creating, living, loving, just enjoying life.”