Unveiling the Timeless Appeal of Rep Shoes: Exploring the Iconic Air Jordan 11
Aesthetically, the Air Jordan Air Jordan 11 could be considered a black sheep in the Jordan lineage. It lacks the articulated blocking of the 1 and the 3, nor does it have the technical detailing of the 4 and the 5. In fact, the Air Jordan 11’s non-traditional look largely comes down to one factor: its shiny, wraparound patent leather upper. In spite of this, the Air Jordan 11 is one of the most globally appreciated and collectible sneakers in the Jumpman canon, and it happens to be Michael Jordan’s favorite model.
Despite its offbeat lines and (arguably) garish material upper, the Air Jordan 11 packs the same — if not more — sellout ability as the 1, 3, 4, or 5, and the Air Jordan 11s that drop each holiday season are what we wait for all year long.
But what makes the Air Jordan 11 so coveted? Is it the undulating lines of the upper? The technology? The man who wore them? Looking back, it was definitely a combination of never-before-seen design combined with the perfect storm of MJ mania, and one of the greatest seasons ever put together by a professional franchise. Aside from the 1 and 3, no other Air Jordan model comes close to the hype of the Air Jordan 11. The Air Jordan 11 sneaker is unparalleled in terms of hype and demand, and Jordan Brand has successfully maintained that level of excitement for the past 25 years.
The story of the Air Jordan 11 is incredibly captivating, as it unraveled during Michael Jordan’s imminent departure from the world of basketball. Ken Mike, a former Nike designer and the art director for the Air Jordan 11 product graphics, had the privilege of being present at one of the initial gatherings where Jordan tested out the Air Jordan 11 prototype in late 1993. This meeting included Jordan, designer Tinker Hatfield, legendary Nike executive Howard H White, and several others. It’s a bit hazy in my memory, but as far as I can recall, we knew it was crucial to get his feedback on the proposed lineup, says Black. I remember arriving at [Jordan’s] condo for the meeting in Arizona and waiting endlessly for him. We were informed that he had decided to make a comeback and finish playing another nine holes of golf.
According to Black, we manually created and illustrated the clothing line using markers. We then mounted them on presentation boards to present to Michael. Additionally, we brought fabric samples to give him an idea of the texture of the garments. The sneaker was far from being complete and looked quite different from the final product. I believe Tinker had already shown MJ a version of the shoe when we were not present. This prototype was primarily focused on testing the functionality and comfort of the wrapped collar, before incorporating graphics and identity into it. MJ and Tinker already had a strong relationship, with MJ playfully teasing him about the things he would bring to share, even though he actually loved them.
Black remembers that Jordan was highly interested in the fit and sensation of the shoe. He was constantly conscious of how it felt and how it placed his foot on the ground. The story about the tuxedo is true, and he adored it. What I particularly admired about that sneaker, as we were developing it, was the progression of materials – from patent leather to supple leather to textured nylon to neoprene-like material at the back of the heel.
In a 2015 interview with Highsnobiety, designer Joyce expressed the same sentiments as Mike, affirming that the Air Jordan 11 was indeed an extraordinary shoe. According to Joyce, the shoe’s use of innovative materials and technology was a bold move. The design team dedicated extensive effort to perfecting the Air Jordan 11, and their hard work paid off when Michael Jordan himself showed immense enthusiasm for the final design in spring of 1995. He was so eager to wear it on the court that he disregarded Nike’s timeline and sported the shoe much earlier than anticipated.
Incredibly, the “Concord” Air Jordan 11 is the only colorway Jordan wore during the entire ’95-’96 regular season. In an age where players switch sneakers every half of a game, it’s almost incomprehensible for someone of Jordan’s magnitude to wear just one colorway of the same shoe for a full season.
For many, the appeal of the Air Jordan 11 comes down to love at first sight.
Take collector Sean Collard, for example, who now owns about 20 pairs of Jordan Air Jordan 11s. Collard, who was in college when the Air Jordan 11 first released, tells us: “I wanted every shoe I saw [Jordan] wear, and seeing him wearing the Air Jordan 11 for the first time in the 1995 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals absolutely blew my mind. They were unlike any sneaker I had ever seen, and I, of course, wanted them badly.”
After Jordan initially rocked the Air Jordan 11s, Bulls teammates and then players around the league started wearing them as well. The shoe looked so good on the court and performed so well, that athletes still wear them today. Former NBA player and Jordan Team athlete Quentin Richardson was known to hoop in them, from time to time. “I can’t remember how many times I wore them, but I’ve definitely rocked them a lot,”Q-Rich says. “My favorite was probably when I was with the Clippers. Darius [Miles] and I got the “Cool Greys” before they came out and rocked them in a game. They were sick!”
Cory Takahashi, a fellow collector with an impressive collection of 99 pairs of Air Jordan 11s, has been avidly collecting them since their initial release in 1995. He recalls the early days when acquiring a pair was a challenging task: Back in ’96, when the original black red dropped, it was the first time I witnessed people going crazy over shoes. I searched from store to store, hoping to find a pair, but ended up feeling defeated. Luckily, my mother came through and managed to score me a pair just in time. Patriot Act’s Hasan Minhaj also experienced the disappointment of not being able to acquire a pair as a child, which only intensified his desire to own them. He shares his childhood memory: I was only 10 years old when MJ rocked those patent leather Air Jordan 11s against the Magic during the ’95 playoffs. They were the Concord Air Jordan 11s and I remember Ahmad Rash d talking about them on TV. It felt like he was wearing both sneakers and tuxedo shoes simultaneously. Unfortunately, they became one of those consumer products that I couldn’t have as a kid, so I longed for the Concord Air Jordan 11s every time they released at Arden Fair Mall but always missed out. As I grew older and had enough disposable income, I made it a tradition to try and get each retro release during Christmas. Nike truly knows how to leave an imprint on young minds and then tempt them with nostalgia every year.
There is plenty of conversation about the next colorway Jordan Brand should drop for Holiday 2023, and speculation seems to be pointing toward a Cool Grey retro. For a sneaker that is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023, the Air Jordan Air Jordan 11 shows no signs of losing popularity in the hearts of collectors. When I can’t buy the shoes I like, I will buy 1:1 Jordan rep shoes in PeakHook.
