The Air Jordan XI Retro "Gratitude" Gives Thanks to OG Fans
Hitting the streets with LA Bike Life Crew, Jordan Brand handed out pairs of the AJ XI to honor the community and their decades of support.
The Jordan Brand legacy wouldn’t be what it is today without a loyal community of fans who have championed the brand and MJ since day one — the OG’s who’ve helped shape the brand’s impact through the years. Since the release of the first-ever Air Jordan shoe, the Jordan Brand has continued to influence the worlds of footwear, basketball and popular culture. As a “thank you” for decades of support, the heritage sneaker brand unveils the AJ XI Retro “Gratitude,” a timeless silhouette elevated by icy accents.
The upgraded silhouette takes a page out of the original DMP colorway’s book, sporting welded gold Jumpman emblems on the heel. Elevating the original design, the shoe also features satin lining on the collar and high-cut patent leather on the mudguard, for a polished, high-quality feel. Spreading this message of gratitude within the local community, LA Bike Life Crew and dirt bike prodigy and crew member EJ took to the streets to show their love for the faces and places that influenced and transformed them.
Selected by Jordan Brand partner Union Los Angeles, the recipients of the AJ XI Gratitude have each left a positive mark on their neighborhoods and far beyond through their creative and generous visions. One recipient in particular, Aleali May, was like a mentor to EJ who inspired him to get his first job and reach for his goals, “You were the first person to inspire me to really go far,” EJ shared with May.
EJ and crew brought joy to Circulate founder Corey Populus, Jalxndra founder Jasmin Alexandria, executive chef and restaurateur Alisa Reynolds, and stylist and designer May by gifting them with the new sneaker, embodying Jordan Brand’s and MJ’s attitudes of paying it forward.
The Air Jordan XI Retro Gratitude will drop on the SNKRS app on December 9th, and users will be notified of the drop. Take a closer look at the AJ XI Gratitude on nike.com.
