Michael Jordan’s ’90s Playoffs Sneaker Is Coming Back as a Women’s Exclusive
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Update: Oct. 9, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. ET:
One of Michael Jordan’s most famous sneakers will officially return to retail this holiday season with an updated twist.
New images of the anticipated “Bred Velvet” Air Jordan 11 Retro have hit social media roughly a month in advance of the shoe’s launch. As expected, the velvet veil is used on the entire upper, replacing both the Air Jordan 11’s signature patent leather mudguard, ballistic nylon underlay and leather heel. The result is a softer, deconstructed-like design which turns an already premium model into something even more luxurious looking.
The latest looks reveal a few new details about this upcoming pair. In addition to the metallic red Jumpman badge at the heel, the tips of the shoelaces are also given a red coating. Meanwhile, the shoe’s rear embroidered “23” branding appears in red — a deviation from the iconic colorway’s usual white logo.
While it’s the first time this concept has appeared on the “Bred” Air Jordan 11, Jordan Brand has previously released the model in other velvet-adorned styles. A 2016 “Heiress” colorway mixed “Night Maroon” nubuck with a velvet mudguard. More recently, 2022’s “Midnight Navy” (aka “Blue Velvet”) Air Jordan 11 took inspiration from the “Heiress” pair with navy blue nubuck and velvet. Each velvet Air Jordan 11 Retro thus far has been a women’s exclusive.
Also on the way for the model this holiday season is the coveted “Columbia Blue” Air Jordan 11 Retro, which will be released in December for the first time since 2014.
After previously applying the velour material to only the shoe’s mudguard, the Air Jordan 11 Retro “Bred Velvet” goes all-in on the theme with a fully velvet build. The women’s exclusive colorway is expected to be released Monday, Nov. 11 for $230. Readers can find the latest look at the pair below.
What We Originally Reported on Sept. 22, 2024
Updating a classic, fan-favorite sneaker can be challenging. Some changes are met with open arms, while others don’t quite connect with consumers the same way the original shoes did. It will be interesting to see how this situation plays out for one of this holiday season’s upcoming Air Jordan 11 releases, which just got its first look.
The Air Jordan 11 “Bred Velvet” reimagines Michael Jordan’s 1996 NBA Playoffs sneakers with a feminine edge. Gone are the model’s traditional patent leather mudguard and ballistic nylon upper, both of which are replaced with a full black velvet construction.
The plush pair retains its red detailing on the translucent outsole, tongue label and heel Jumpman logo, which swaps its usual embroidery for a raised metallic look. Although the shoe looks considerably different without its signature patent leather, the velour-like material is luxurious in its own right, so it’s hard to consider this a downgrade.
Jordan’s eleventh signature sneaker was released throughout 1995 and 1996, with the black-and-red “Bred” style arriving in April of ’96. Sometimes nicknamed “Playoffs,” the “Bred” Air Jordan 11 was worn by Jordan during the Chicago Bulls’ ’96 championship win over the Seattle Supersonics. Since the original, the pair has been rereleased in 2001, 2008 (as part of a two-sneaker “Countdown Pack”), 2012 and 2019.
Other recent Air Jordan reworkings of note include this year’s Air Jordan 4 “Bred Reimagined” and the upcoming Air Jordan 1 High “Black Toe Reimagined.” Both of those pairs have a large amount of fanfare, but not every reimagined style has been as well received. 2021’s “Patent Bred” Air Jordan 1 High can be purchased now for only slightly more than its original price, while the suede-based “Royal Reimagined” Air Jordan 1 High from 2023 is actually available for less than its retail price.
In related news, the Air Jordan 11 Low “Bred,” which was once a player exclusive for Jordan himself, is reportedly being released in 2025.
The Air Jordan 11 “Bred Velvet” will be released exclusively in women’s sizing with an expected launch on Nov. 11 and a retail price of $230. Its SKU is DB5457-061 and its full colorway is “Black/Gym Red/White.”
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