John Kim Behind every sneaker design is a lengthy creative process that often includes concepts that don’t make it beyond the cutting room floor and rarely see the light of day. But Boyz II Men just revealed a horde of Air Jordan 11 samples that were created during this design, offering shoe-heads a rare in-depth look behind one of this summer’s more captivating moments in sneakers.
Fresh off the group’s appearance at MLB All-Star festivities where members were spotted wearing their collaborative Air Jordan 11s, Boyz II Men has now offered an even deeper look into the project’s development by revealing several previously unseen sample designs. These never-before-seen concepts provide a glimpse into the various directions explored before settling on the finished product, which ended up being a “flipped” version of the Concord colorway with lux materials.
Among the newly unveiled samples is a version featuring flowing wave-like graphics embedded throughout the patent leather mudguard and interior lining, a subtle nod to the group’s musical legacy. Other concepts take inspiration from the Air Jordan 11’s longstanding association with formalwear, swapping traditional lining materials for plaid and polka dot interiors that echo the silhouette’s tuxedo-inspired reputation.
Boyz II Men has maintained a close connection to Michael Jordan and the Air Jordan line for decades, with the Air Jordan 11 standing as one of the quartet’s most recognizable off-stage moments in their career, although it has been disputed whether or not the R&B icons actually wore the Concord 11s to the red carpet of an awards show in 1996.
As for now, it doesn’t seem like a retail release is expected for the Boyz II Men Jordan 11s.
