this is a continuation from the sneaker thread. . . I was looking online at the air-jordans.com site, and I found something interesting and confusing. after searching and looking at all of the previous designs for the air jordans, I discovered that a pair of shoes I own that I have thought for 5 years were jordans actually are not. now I'm wondering what they are. . . I bought them in 1996. they look, to me, exactly like a version of air jordans. they have the jumpman logo on the tongue. they are black shoes. their most distinguishable feature is that the arch of the shoe has this red-and-black checkerboard pattern. I've always thought they almost looked like a jordan marketed toward skaters. also, the part of the shoe just above where your toes are is made out of kind of a meshy black fabric. . . so that, if you wear white socks with these shoes, it looks funny because you can see the white sock through the black mesh. does anyone know the shoe I'm talking about? I even thought I saw mike himself wearing this shoe in the series against the sonics in '96. is this shoe an air jordan? if not, what is it? it certainly cost as much as an air jordan, and come to think of it, the place that sold it acted like it was a jordan. but the air-jordans.com website doesn't have a peep on it about the shoe I have. I'm stumped. anybody?
the shoe I have is the one that Vengeance posted. anybody know whether that shoe is a full-fledged jordan, a semi-jordan, a team jordan, what? I'm really surprised, 5 years later, to find that maybe these aren't jordans after all. but the shoe Vengeance posted is the same shoe I have.
I think I remember those. They were made in the early 90's as an affordable Jordan-style shoe. They aren't counterfeits. They're just fake Jordans that were sold in stores like Payless, Auchaun, Target, etc.
They are real jordans . . . Jordan XI low, Limited Edition Here is the page on <a href="http://www.3.shoetrends.com/jordan11low.htm">Shoe Trends</a> where I found it. The white, grey one was especially popular, but they were, as the name says, Limited Edition shoes, and so they were not very prevalent -- I never knew that they made black ones -- I'd only seen the white/grey.
If you go to that <a href="http://www.air-jordans.com">Air Jordans site</a>, you'll find them under XI -- they are the "Red, white low" under "Originals".
There are some that are similar that are fakes. You can see them on this site: http://www.airjordans.f2s.com/fakes/aj11.html But I'm sure yours are genuine -- they are really awesome -- the white/grey ones were comfortable, too. My college roommate still wears his sometimes. As far as I know, they haven't re-released that one yet, but there's hope that they will.
you nailed it, Vengeance. thanks. I'm relieved to find out they are real Jordans. I'd feel like a shmuck for paying so much if they weren't. I can't believe they're considered to be the same design as the XI. they look completely different to me. as long as we're on the topic, here are my personal favorites from the Jordan series: III IV V VI XI [black low-tops]
My personal favorites were the VIIs. They are kindof ugly, but I have NEVER had a better fitting, more comfortable, better performing shoe than those. The only ones that come close are my Jumpman Vindicates, which are pretty darned close. As far as looks, I've gotta go with: III VI XI -- THE BEST!! XIV and the XVIs I ESPECIALLY love the XVI Ginger/Charcoal White -- I can't afford them, but I wish I could -- then I'd wear them to work!
They are unique, but they share a similar design with the XI low, minus the patent leather -- it's got a similar sole and shape though. I'm surprised you have the black/red ones -- I didn't even know they made them in anything but white/grey. I hope they retro these.
yeah, they were hard to find when I bought them, too. they're actually just a little large because that's all they had, and I really wanted them. the only other jordans I ever bought were the V's. they lasted me forever. they're kind of torn up now, though. I'm glad they're doing the retro releases. I like the XVI's you were talking about, too. I'd like the get a black pair of those. the Air Jordan has definitely become a collector's item as it has aged. I don't know if the world will ever see another athlete with quite the same commercial impact of michael jordan. ali might have had a greater political impact, but when it comes to making money, there is only one Mike.
