With ample time still to spare, Nike and Jordan Brand’s plans for Chinese New Year are already becoming more clear.
The Air Jordan 11 Low “Year of the Snake” goes with the natural route of incorporating snakeskin textures. The scaly treatment wraps around the mudguard in grey and appears to repeat in black where you’d usually see carbon fiber peaking out from beneath the outsole. A black snakeskin-textured leather hangtag with the Jumpman will also be included with each pair, and the rest of the shoe’s white leather upper matches the midsole. Capping off the Air Jordan 11 Low is a translucent outsole without color.
Both Jordan Brand and Nike go all out annually for Chinese New Year while incorporating the next animal in the zodiac cycle. The Year of the Snake is particularly well suited for the annual collection because snakeskin is already quite popular in sneakers, and leaks have already revealed the Air Force 1 Low and Dunk Low that will release for the holiday. Leaked SKUs have also indicated that two Air Jordan 1 Lows, the Air Jordan 5, Jordan Tatum 3 and Jordan Legacy 312 Low will be included in the collection — but none have yet surfaced through imagery.
Earlier this year, the two brands released more than 10 different sneaker for the “Year of the Dragon,” including a $365 silk Air Force 1 Low that dropped exclusively in China.
The Air Jordan 11 Low didn’t hit shelves until 2001, five years after the regular mid-top version of the model launched. It was also preceded, however, by the Air Jordan 11 IE Low, which featured an almost entirely redesigned upper that also went on sale in 1996. The later-arriving AJ11 Low is more like the original model, only with a lower cut.
The Air Jordan 11 Low “Year of the Snake” is expected to release early in 2025, likely through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $190.
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
