Many basketball fans, particularly those who were fans before the turn of the millennium, still regard Michael Jordan as the GOAT. Jordan’s legacy has been immortalized by the success of the Jordan brand, which has made the sporting legend one of the most famous names in all of sports.
The Air Jordan 11s, which happens to be Michael Jordan’s favorite model, is one of the most highly loved and coveted sneakers in the Jumpman repertoire.
In honor of Jordan Brand’s 20th anniversary, the Air Jordan 11 Retro ‘Cool Grey’ will make its highly anticipated return as part of the 2021 Holiday lineup. The latest edition for 2021 will include a higher-cut patent leather upper, White Jumpman, laces, and midsole, as well as an icy translucent outsole.
The 20th anniversary of the original launch, the mid-top build is faithful to the original, featuring a nubuck upper with tonal webbing lace loops and a shiny patent leather overlay, all rendered in tones of Medium and Cool Grey. A white Jumpman logo is embroidered on the lateral ankle, while a stylized ‘23’ decorates the heel notch. Lightweight cushioning is provided by a full-length Air-sole unit housed within a white Phylon midsole. Underfoot, a translucent outsole reveals a carbon fiber spring plate for enhanced on-court responsiveness. – from GOAT.
History
Tinker Hatfield designed The Jordan 11, like he did the most of the classic Jordan models. He started designing them while Jordan was away playing baseball, but he always imagined Jordan returning and seeing his masterpiece on the court.
When Jordan decided to return to the NBA in 1995, the sneakers were only samples. Hatfield and Nike tried to persuade Jordan not to play in them, but once they were produced, he couldn’t resist.
The ‘Cool Grey’ colorway of the Air Jordan 11s was released in 2001 and immediately became popular. They were Michael Jordan’s first release after returning from retirement, and he needed to show that he was not only capable of causing the same kind of uproar on the court, but also capable of designing the same high-quality designs that captivated his followers from all over the world. As a result of the ‘Cool Grey’ elevens’ popularity, Jordan Brand quickly adopted the cool gray color scheme onto other popular silhouettes, such as the cool gray nines, cool grey threes, and cool gray fours, and they would reissue them almost ten years later with a 2010 version as a testament to their popularity.
Outside of “Chicago” motifs, “Cool Grey” could be argued to be the most influential colorway in the Air Jordan retro range.
Though there hasn’t been a release of the “Cool Grey” in over a decade, alternate versions like the Air Jordan 11 Low “Cool Grey” and even the golf-themed Air Jordan 11 Low G “Cool Grey” have kept the design alive. However, neither of these releases had the same level of prestige as its predecessor, which makes the comeback of the original “Cool Greys” a very welcome one.
Air Jordan 11 Retro ‘Cool Grey’ 2021 Release
For the 2021 release, the Air Jordan 11’s trademark patent leather mudguard and toebox are done up in “Medium Grey,” and the uppers are made of signature “Cool Grey” nubuck. Thick white rope laces and a white Jumpman emblem on the lateral side of the collar contrast with the two-tone grey combination. The heel parts are also “Medium Grey,” with Michael Jordan’s #23 insignia added, and a fabric Air Jordan tag takes the usual spot on the throat. White Zoom Air-filled midsoles and icy blue outsoles complete the aesthetic on the lower portion of the shoe.
Unlike many recent Air Jordan 11 releases, which have a polyurethane insole, the new Air Jordan 11 Retro ‘Cool Grey’ features a regular foam insole with a grey colored finish on the top and a Jumpman emblem stamped on the heel.
Release Date and Price
Retailing for $225, The Air Jordan 11 Retro ‘Cool Grey’ is now expected to release on December 12th at Fight Club and GOAT. Keep up with other recent Air Jordan releases.
