Sneakers Release – Air Jordan 11 25th Anniversary “Jubilee” Full Family Release

Twenty-five years ago, Tinker Hatfield set out to create a shoe that went where no other sneaker in the Air Jordan lineup had yet dared to tread. A tall order, to be sure, given that Hatfield was — pardon the pun — old hat at creating groundbreaking sneakers for the Jumpman line.

Ever the innovator, though, Hatfield delivered. Now, two-and-a-half decades in, the Air Jordan 11 stands out as a shining example of the brand. Now just in time for the holidays, Jordan Brand is rolling out a special anniversary Jordan 11 colorway. On Dec. 12, the Air Jordan 11 Retro will launch in “Jubilee,” a sleek black and silver sneaker in infant and toddler, preschool kids’, grade school kids’, women’s and men’s editions.

For years, Michael Jordan was interested in a “shiny” shoe, but a performance shoe that used patent, rather than nubuck leather, was practically unheard of at the time. That is until Hatfield stumbled upon a custom Japanese cleat that utilized patent leather in its design. From there, Hatfield pieced together a sneaker with a patent leather rand and cloth body. Traditionally rubber that wraps around the sneaker, the rand serves as an overlay designed to bolster a shoe’s durability.

With countless hours of practice and games he would put in while wearing the Jordan 11s, Michael Jordan demanded sneakers with quality materials that would last, and the patent leather rand was a stroke of genius. Not only did it fulfill the flash MJ envisioned, but it also contributed to the shoe’s stability and resilience. Plus, Hatfield liked that it looked like the body of a sports car, and it was easy to clean. When it came to the rest of the upper, Hatfield continued with the automobile aesthetic, relying on a ballistic nylon upper used in rugged camping gear that imitated the soft top of a convertible.

While not as prominently featured as the patent leather, the Air Jordan 11 was also the first shoe in the line to implement a carbon fiber shank plate. Players need that on-court flexibility, but Hatfield noticed that many bball shoes veered into the “too flexible” territory. He course-corrected with a full-length plate and combined it with a full-length Air unit for a perfect balance of stability, flexibility and game-long comfort.

Like a timeless convertible car, the AJ 11s quickly cemented their status as an effortlessly cool shoe both on the hardcourt and in the streets. The kicks made their on-screen debut in the Looney Tunes-MJ movie “Space Jam,” and the shoes complemented Will Smith’s flat top in the “Fresh Prince” series finale. Boy bands sported them in 1990s music videos. A pre-couch-jumping Tom Cruise rocked a pair of the 11s on daytime TV, and the Air Jordan 11 “Concords” quickly became grails. Other coveted colorways include the “Bred,” “Space Jam,” “Columbia,” “DMP” and the “72-10.”

The Air Jordan 11 “Jubilee” sneaker is every bit as luxe as the original sneaker. Black patent leather outlines the shoe’s upper, providing a tonal look against the black ballistic nylon and cable lacing system. Jordan gets spelled out along the eye stays, while a metallic Jumpman logo and No. 23 on the heel are befitting of a 25th-anniversary celebration. A crisp white midsole, milky translucent outsole and silver carbon plate add to the “Jubilee” aesthetic.

Sharing in the Celebration with Sole Schools

To further honor this legendary sneaker, Hibbett | City Gear is sharing in the Jordan 11 25h anniversary celebration by gifting nine lucky student-athletes across the eastern US with a pair of Jordan 11 “Jubliee” sneakers of their own!

As part of Hibbett’s Sole Schools program, which fosters relationships between local Hibbett |City Gear stores and high schools to provide athletic equipment, mentorship and employment opportunities, school sports coaches selected nine seniors to receive the special edition “Jubilee” Jordan 11.

High schools selected to participate in this shared celebration include:

• Sharpstown High School (Texas)
• Provine High School (Mississippi)
• Woodlawn High School (Alabama)
• George Washington Carver High School (Alabama)
• Provine High School (Mississippi)
• North Forest High School (Texas)
• Jennings High School (Missouri)
• Woodward High School (Ohio)
• North Springs High School (Georgia)

The Air Jordan 11 Retros are a gem of a sneaker backed by 25 years of Jumpman heritage. Forget matching PJs this holiday season. Beginning Dec. 12, enjoy the full-family release of the AJ 11 Retro “Jubilee” in infant, toddler, preschool, grade school, women’s and men’s sizes. Shop the shoe online and in-stores at Hibbett | City Gear.