Beginner's Guide to Air Jordan 11s

History of Air Jordan 11s

The Air Jordan 11 was designed by Tinker Hatfield for Michael Jordan during the 1995-1996 season. The silhouette arrived after the Hall of Famer returned to the NBA following a 13-month spell in Minor League Baseball. Aware that Jordan possessed the unique ability to roll his foot on hard cuts when playing, the legendary designer wanted to construct a shoe that aided these demanding movements. Nearly 30 years since the sneaker’s debut, the AJ11 is considered an icon and said to be both Jordan and Hatfield’s favorite Air Jordan design ever.

The Air Jordan 11 features glossy patent leather detailing that wraps around the foot. In addition to men’s dress shoes, Hatfield claimed he wanted the rand to resemble the body of a sports car: aerodynamic, shiny and easy to clean. The unique exterior also serves a practical purpose, with patent leather providing more support than other materials. Reinforced ballistic nylon—the kind typically found on outdoor gear—offers additional reinforcement, while a carbon-fiber shank in the outsole was the first of its kind and developed specifically for the silhouette. 

Although the Air Jordan 11 was engineered for performance, Hatfield’s “dressy” references mean it has eclipsed its athletic intent to become synonymous with formalwear such as suiting and tuxedos. The shoe retains a strong cultural significance in sneaker history thanks to its unique build and materials, often cited as one of the most pivotal basketball releases of all time.

Re-releases (or retros) have become commonplace over the years, generally arriving with subtle material or color tweaks. During the holiday season, typically on December 11, it has become an annual tradition for Jordan Brand to re-release the AJ11 in a new or retro colorway.

Different iterations of the Air Jordan 11

Although known primarily as a high-top, the Air Jordan 11 debuted as a Low during the 1995-96 season in Player Exclusive versions for Michael Jordan. The AJ11 Low was made available to the public in 2001 during the first Jordan 11 Retro run of releases.

A CMFT (comfort) version of the silhouette has also been released, providing the wearer with additional cushioning and support. Baby (CB), toddler (TD), grade school (GS) and pre-school (PS) sizes are available for little Air Jordan fans.

Best Air Jordan 11 colorways

72-10 – Jordan Brand initially released the Air Jordan 11 ‘72-10’ in 2015 to commemorate the Chicago Bulls’ 1995-96 season in which Michael Jordan was named MVP, All-Star MVP and Finals MVP—in addition to securing his fourth championship ring. Revisited in 2022, the colorway employs a mix of black tumbled leather and patent leather throughout the upper, supplemented with crimson Jumpman logos on the tongue and heel. A tonal white midsole adds a contrasting finish.

Concord – The Air Jordan 11 ‘Concord’ is the most iconic colorway in the entire AJ11 lineup. Despite being warned the silhouette wasn’t quite ready for the court, MJ loved the shoe so much that he wore a ‘Concord’ prototype during the 1995 NBA Playoffs. Billed as a “Tuxedo for your feet,” the ‘Concord’ is defined by a sharp white and black upper, completed with an icy blue outsole. It caused a frenzy upon release one year later and remains a most-wanted retro.

Space Jam –The Air Jordan 11 ‘Space Jam,’ commonly associated with the 1996 live-action/animated sports-comedy film of the same name, was debuted by MJ on the NBA court more than a year prior. Many fans were intrigued by the mysterious silhouette, with it being referred to as a fourth OG alongside ‘Concord,’ ‘Legend Blue’ and ‘Bred.’ Curiously, Nike did not release it to the public until four years later as a retro. The design attaches a black mesh and patent leather upper to a white midsole. The translucent outsole varies in tone depending on the retro, from off-white to icy blue. The 2011 version led to riots across the U.S., while Nike labeled its 2016 edition as one of the brand’s biggest-ever releases.

Bred – Joining ‘Concord’ and ‘Legend Blue’ as one of the OG releases, ‘Bred’ (black and red) first appeared on an AJ11 in 1996. Inspired by the colors of the Chicago Bulls, the colorway was worn by Jordan during the season’s championship playoff run. The silhouette’s black upper is combined with a white midsole, offset by a ‘True Red’ outsole and Jumpman logos.

Cherry – Released as a Low before arriving as a high-top in 2022, the Air Jordan 11 ‘Cherry’ dresses the patent leather mudguard in a vibrant ‘Cherry’ colorway for a statement look. The upper’s white ballistic mesh is complemented by tonal webbing eyelets for a subtle pop, while the iconic icy blue outsole returns underfoot.

Jubilee – Stealthy and subdued, the Air Jordan 11 ‘Jubilee’ combines a black monochromatic upper with a tonal white midsole. Released in 2020 to celebrate 25 years of the silhouette, the silver anniversary theme is enunciated by a metallic Jumpman and matching “23” branding at the heel.

Pure Violet –Thought to be inspired by the Easter holidays, Jordan Brand added to its Air Jordan 11 women’s releases with the ‘Pure Violet’ Low in 2022. The sneaker’s color story is almost pastel-like thanks to a pale purple tone that features on the rand and outsole. 

Cool Grey – A collision of tonal greys dovetail with white and translucent blue on the Air Jordan 11 ‘Cool Grey.’ The design, originally released in 2001, retains an iconic reputation and is one of the most versatile in the Air Jordan 11 lineup. It was released for the holiday season in 2021 to mark the colorway’s 25th anniversary.

Legend Blue – The Air Jordan 11 ‘Legend Blue’ is an OG colorway worn by MJ during the 1996 NBA All-Star Game. One of the cleanest builds in the 11 oeuvre, the mid-top silhouette features a white upper with tonal patent leather accents, riding on a corresponding white midsole and icy blue outsole.

Gamma Blue – Released as an all-new colorway during the 2013 holiday season, the Air Jordan 11 ‘Gamma Blue’ features a tonal black upper and midsole, with hits of ‘Gamma Blue’ and ‘Varsity Maize.’

Midnight Navy – Jordan Brand applied its iconic ‘Midnight Navy’ color scheme to the Air Jordan 11 in 2022, rendering the signature shade across the silhouette’s upper. In a departure from tradition, the patent leather mudguard is swapped for a tonal shade of velvet, while a silver hardware Jumpman completes the unique build.

Win Like 96 – The 'Win Like 96' colorway was inspired by the 1996 Chicago team that broke the regular-season record with 72 wins. The brilliant red colorway defines the silhouette's entire upper. Released in 2017, it became an immediate favorite among Bulls fans. 

Popular Collaborations for Air Jordan 11 

Unlike Air Jordan silhouettes such as the 1 and 4, the Air Jordan 11 has rarely been enlisted as an experimental canvas for outside creative partners. Drake, a perennial Jordan Brand collaborator, has teased unreleased shoes that were designed by his OVO creative engine. These include a high-top with snakeskin colorways in pink and navy, and a high-top with all-over metallic gold. The former silhouette was released in low-top form in 2019.

In 2011, sneaker website Sole Collector released a CMFT version of the 11 inspired by the unique carbon fiber shank. 

Air Jordan 11 As Seen On

The Air Jordan 11 was cemented in pop culture folklore when Michael Jordan wore the ‘Space Jam’ shoes in the live-action/animated sports-comedy film Space Jam. The ‘Concord’ silhouette has eclipsed the hardwood to become a familiar presence on the red carpet, most notably when R&B group Boyz II Men paired it with White Sox baseball caps and tuxedos at the 1996 Grammy Awards. In 2014, MJ followed the same dress code, wearing a low-top pair to his brother-in-law’s wedding.

December AJ11 Releases

Every year, Jordan Brand tees up an Air Jordan 11 release during the holiday season. This tradition, established in 2009, has seen the release of retro colorways as well as new stories such as ‘Gamma Blue’ and ‘72-10.’ It remains one of the biggest footwear dates in the Nike calendar.

Recent holiday releases include ‘Cherry’ and ‘Cool Grey 11,’ both of which assumed immediate icon status among Air Jordan fans.

AJ11 FAQs

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