Why are Jordan XI le's slept on?

[bip roberts]

The 2s didn't deviate from the original design. I mentioned earlier that lows DO in fact 'count', but the ones that changed the design do not 'count'. 


And the real reason I use the term "true" is because it means authentic. As in an authentic Jordan numbered shoe. You can have derivatives and they may be nice to some people, but the 11 IEs aren't the original design hence the term "true". People went up in arms because they think I'm saying the shoe ain't legit, and that's not what I'm saying.

I hear what you are saying, though I generally disagree.

You distinguish between the "design" of the shoe and the "cut" of the shoe - saying that the low II, for example, "counts," but the XI IE does not. A counterargument would be that there is little more fundamental to characterizing the "design" of a shoe than its cut. We venture into semantic territory really quickly here, but I don't think the low II and the high II have the same design, but rather the same "look." "Design" also subsumes "structure" in this case, IMO.

...That said, it seems weird to extrapolate that argument to other lines. Like, the Air Force 1 low wouldn't be a true AF1? ...That doesn't pass the sniff test and is an argument in your favor. Maybe this isn't such a hard and fast axiom.

Here are a few other questions that test this assumption -

- What about the patent low XIs. Same design, but not OG? They would be original designs - but that model was not released to the public at the time of the OG. So, do they count?

- You mention material changes. I can't stand a lot of the either. What about jewel swoosh AF1s? Where do you stand on those being "true" AF1s?

Perhaps, this is a topic best reserved for the old Potter Stewart defense of "I'll know it when I see it."

Basically there are a number of things that come into play for me -

Is it an original CW? If not, 99% chance I don't care about it.
Did MJ wear it on the court? If yes, that's a strong point toward being a "true" MJ shoe
If a variation of a numbered sig, did it drop at the same time as the original? Here, the IE passes muster, but the patent low XI does not.

 

[bip roberts]

nobody thought of them as any lower grade of Jordans at the time.

I respectfully disagree. They were also cheaper than the XI mid, which automatically blipped people's radars. I think these were considered a step down from the XI mids.

 

[laokratwr]

well..they re slept on because they are uuuuuugly.

 

[bennyblanco3]

They are a TRUE NUMBER you clowns. There the XI LOWS MJ even played in them so how aint they a true number? Why so much hate for this shoe?

 

[squatchnt]

I belee they are 'true # J' but everbody has their right to their own opinion even if it's wrong.

 

[ptownpimperoni]

Lol no one was trying to change your mind. Damn bro, did you believe I was appealing to YOU personally?

I shared my opinion on the original question. No one asked you to comment on my opinion. That's your problem right there. But since you did, I'm most definitely going to reply to you.

It don't matter what he wore on the court. They aren't original numbers, therefor I say they are "not true Js". Is it that difficult to comprehend? Hey look, I'm not passing my opinion off as fact, nor should anyone else. I shared my opinion, caught flack for it, and attempted to explain. That's all man.

My bad if I came harsh on the response, but I thought it was directed at me since you quoted me when you said that. I was trying to further the debate, but I had a bad morning and looking back, I sounded overly-salty.

You make some valid points, and I can see your point of view, but I respectfully disagree. 

 

[chrisp119]

Finding an 8.5 of the Black/Red IE Lows are damn near impossible.

try a 13 i went thru hell and high water

 

[ptownpimperoni]

I respectfully disagree. They were also cheaper than the XI mid, which automatically blipped people's radars. I think these were considered a step down from the XI mids.

Yeah I guess they were also a step down in that they were nowhere near as iconic of a shoe as the mids too. I think it was my circle of friends that maybe over-valued them. We all wanted these BAD when they came out. I recognize that is a personal thing though and in no way reflects the appeal of the shoe as a whole. We liked different stuff back in the day, that was the same era when we thought it was cool to find someone with the same size and trade a white Air More Uptempo for a black one and wear mismatched shoes.