Jordan 11 Retro Black Sneakers: Stylish and Comfortable
The Air Jordan 11 has a shiny look that makes it versatile in many different social settings.
Michael Jordan’s return to the NBA in 1995 was accompanied by the Air Jordan 11 sneaker. Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the Jordan 11s drew inspiration from MJ’s love of sports cars, as Hatfield intended the silhouette of the shoe to resemble a convertible with a shiny body. This was accomplished by using patent leather around the entirety of the shoe.
In addition to being the shoe of choice of Michael Jordan while he won his fourth NBA championship during the 1995-96 NBA season, the Jordan 11s were also featured in the movie Space Jam. This prominent cameo helped propel this sneaker silhouette to the levels of pop culture relevance it still maintains to this day.
Jordan 11 Black Colorways
When the original Jordan 11s were released, there were three versions that used black as either the main color of the shoe or as an accent. However, over the years, through various retro releases, the number of black Jordan 11 options on secondary markets such as eBay has dramatically increased.
Air Jordan 11 Retro Low 72-10
This low-top Jordans 11 Retro black version was released in 2022 and re-introduced a celebratory design from a 2015 release. This design pays homage to the incredible season the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls had when they ran up a record of 72-10. This specific iteration features a black tumbled leather upper with a patent leather mudguard that wraps around the shoe. A red Jumpman logo can be seen on the heel, as well as the tongue in the middle of the laces.
Air Jordan 11 Retro Jubilee
The Jordan 11 Jubilee celebrates the 25th anniversary of this iconic silhouette. The all-black sneaker sports a ballistic mesh upper along with a patent leather mudguard for that shiny look. A 3D metallic Jumpman logo is placed on the side of the heel, while “23” branding is near the collar. A white midsole blends nicely into a translucent rubber outsole.
Air Jordan 11 Retro Space Jam 2016
The 2016 retro release of the Air Jordan 11 Space Jam is a better representation of the original released in 1996 than the other retro Space Jam shoes released in 2000 and 2009. This all-black version uses a ballistic mesh for the upper along with shiny patent leather for the mudguard. A blue Jumpman logo sits on the side of the heel, while a white foam midsole blends into an ice-blue translucent outsole. Jordan’s comeback number 45 is also placed on the heel, a first for an Air Jordan 11 release.
Air Jordan 11 Retro Cap and Gown
This specific Jordans 11 Retro black sneaker was released in 2018 and intended to be worn during more formal occasions such as a graduation. The laces are even inspired by graduation chords. The all-black design uses a nubuck upper along with patent leather for the mudguard, which wraps around the entire shoe. A black midsole helps keep the ice-blue translucent outsole muted, while a black Jumpman logo on the side of the heel blends into the nubuck upper and is hard to notice at first glance.
Air Jordan 11 Retro Gamma Blue
The Gamma Blue Retro Jordan 11 version was released in 2013 as a part of Jordan brand’s holiday release. This sneaker features a traditional black ballistic mesh upper along with a black patent leather mudguard. A bright gamma blue Jumpman logo can be seen on the heel as well as orange “23” branding. A black midsole sits atop an ice-blue translucent outsole with herringbone traction pods for improved grip.