Jordan 11 Retro Low

This Jordan 11 Retro Low is simply brimming with elegance thanks to its sophisticated styling and graceful use of colour. Its base is provided by a rubber outsole whose main body is partially see-through, thus revealing the supportive carbon fibre plate behind it. This is decorated with a grid pattern forged by alternating squares of dark grey and Legend Blue, and a white Jumpman resides in its centre. Then, at each end of the foot, black pods bring a visual solidity to the outsole, each one marked with herringbone tread patterns for high levels of grip. Meanwhile, the blue-infused translucent part of the outsole extends upwards over the toe of the midsole, which itself is white. This Phylon foam structure has a full-length bed of Nike Air encased inside it, supplying the wearer with a comfortable softness underfoot.

The upper continues this classy colouration, its glossy patent leather mudguard, traditional leather quarter panels and ballistic mesh tongue all coming in pristine white. A webbed lacing system both holds the laces in place via its bands of white fabric, each of which has a looped eyelet at its end, and creates an intriguing aesthetic along the flanks. White laces with a rope-like build make use of this system, and a Legend Blue branding patch has been sewn across the centre of the tongue. Woven through it in quirky black lettering are the words “Jordan” and “Jumpman”, which can only be read as such when observed from a particular angle, alongside a miniature white Jumpman logo.

The back of the tongue contains another patch, this one black with a Legend Blue Jumpman in its centre, the compelling shade of teal referencing Michael Jordan’s time at the University of North Carolina. More plush black fabric coats the rest of the inner, from the walls to the insole, which hosts a dynamic white motif in two parts. One half of it is a Jumpman silhouette, and the other is the number 25 in stylistic parallel lines. This element honours the fact that the sneaker follows in the footsteps of the Columbia colourway released 25 years earlier. Where the inner extends onto the heel to create a small black tab over the top of the white leather overlay, more of this angular white text appears, this time showing the famous digits from Jordan’s basketball jersey: 23. Just below this is the final colourful design detail to be found on this classic low-top – a diminutive Jumpman deftly embroidered into the heel panel in Legend Blue thread.