That might be the simplest way to summarize what the Jordan Retro 11 Black/Red colorway has meant to the sneaker culture.
The “Bred” nickname came from an OG colorway of the Air Jordan XI, which dropped in time for the 1995-96 NBA season and became known as the Jordan Retro 11 when it was re-released in 2000. The “11” didn’t officially release until November 1995 – in the familiar White/Black colorway – but an impatient MJ had busted out a prototype of it in his playoff series against Orlando in May of that year.
But fans got the jump on MJ later. The predominantly black Bred, with its hits of red that included a red translucent outsole, landed on store shelves in late March of 1996. But Michael didn’t wear them until his first playoff matchup against Miami on April 26.
Jordan, in his first full season after returning from a 17-month retirement, led Chicago to a historic 72-10 record and a six-game series championship over Seattle. But in a campaign that saw him become just the second player in league history to net MVP honors for the all-star game, regular season, and finals, Michael’s most meaningful moment came after it was all over.
Connect with special moments
The decisive game came on Father’s Day, nearly three years after MJ lost his own father to a roadside murder. Footage shows Michael’s raw emotion of the moment, as he lay on the floor clutching the game ball in tears. Breds were on his feet.
It’s that type of connection that Jordan signature shoes can have for those who watched him, and for younger fans who have had to get to know the man through videos.
However we get to experience Jordan’s greatness, we can relive highlights from his career with each model of Jordan Retro. The Retro 1 represents the shoe that started it all. The Retro 10 lists MJ’s career accomplishments to that point of its 1994 release. The Retro 13 draws its inspiration from his on-court reputation as a black panther; strong, quick, stealthy.
And so on.
The “Bred” nickname has expanded to Black/Red colorways on other models from the Jordan brand, and Nike. And sizes range from Infant through Grade School, and for men and women, to give everyone an opportunity to connect with history.
And complete your look with Retro- and Jordan-themed apparel, from short- and long-sleeve T-shirts to hoodies, jackets, and fleece pant. Go with bold allover color, or simpler hits of multi-color looks that can hook up to any Jordan look you choose.
