John Kim 
Every so often we come across some strange easter eggs. With millions of sneakers being manufactured every year, it’s expected that a few mistakes could be made during the process (thus, B-Grades at Nike Factory Stores), but then comes along a funky variant of a sneaker that’ll have you scratching your head over and over. Here’s a look at a sample pair of the Air Jordan XIII in White/Varsity Red-Black (released in December of 2010), which features ’23’ stitched on the upper. Obviously this ’23’ version has never been released in any way shape or form, but what makes it even more cryptic is that this sample pair was found by Sneaker News reader Zaid on the shelves of a Nike Factory Store in – wait for it – Cape Town, South Africa (you know, the African European settlement known for its exports of minerals, precious stones, and Charlize Theron).
We’ve seen unreleased colorways of Air Jordans that were made, but that sort of experiment in production is understandable, as Jordan Brand does manufacture limited runs of special edition samples and prototypes, like the Air Jordan XI ‘Space Jam’ with the ’45’ on the heel, the Air Jordan IV ‘Laser’ in tonal red, and plenty more. But a ’23’, right smack in the middle of the upper? Somebody over at the factories might’ve been having a bit too much fun. In any case, these Air Jordan XIII ’23’ Samples may be one of the most unique finds ever, so continue reading for a detailed look at this rare sample and let us know what you think, and if you’re interested in sending in your offers for this rare pair, check out Zaid’s contact information below!
To contact Zaid: zaid@lpmostore.com
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