The Air Jordan 11 holds a special place in the sneaker realm for what Jordan did wearing the shoe and the one of a kind look that they had when he debuted them on May 7th, 1995 in a game against the Orlando Magic. As the years have come and gone, the love and demand for the Retro 11 has become bigger than anything Tinker Hatfield or Michael Jordan could have imagined. Now, Jordan Brand is honoring those who accomplish graduating high-school with this premium take on the ’96 classic hoops model that is perfect for formal events that fall near the end of the school year in mind. JB is also giving graduates first dibs through a special SNKRs release that has never been done before.
What started as a sample in the ‘Blackout’ Collection back in 2011 has finally come full circle to be released after sneakerheads have been begging for years. Since 2011, this pair has accumulated numerous nicknames like ‘Blackout’, ‘Prom Night’ and others but Jordan Brand has dubbed these ‘Cap and Gown’ 11s. The all-black pair sports suede panels in place of the usual ballistic mesh, tonal branding hits, a metal Jumpman on the lateral heel in place of the usual stitched interpretation, a smokey outsole, and the model’s signature high-cut patent leather. To add to this pair’s theme, the black laces are made to resemble the cords worn by students on graduation day. Thanks to its shiny patent leather detailing resembling a dress shoe, the 11 has been re-purposed over the years by some as an “acceptable” compliment to formal wear.
