Boyz II Men has opened up the design vault for its Air Jordan 11 project, sharing several samples that never made it past the development stage. The unreleased pairs give a much better idea of how many directions were considered before the group landed on the version recently worn during MLB All-Star festivities.

The final design flips the familiar “Concord” color blocking while replacing the usual materials with a more luxurious finish. It still looks unmistakably like an Air Jordan 11, but the changes give the pair a more formal appearance that fits Boyz II Men’s long-standing connection to the model.

Earlier concepts were far less reserved. One sample uses flowing, wave-like graphics across the patent leather mudguard and inner lining, bringing a subtle musical reference into the design. Other versions feature plaid and polka dot interiors, pulling directly from the Air Jordan 11’s well-known ties to suits, tuxedos, and formalwear.

That connection goes back decades. Boyz II Men has long been associated with Michael Jordan and the Air Jordan line, with the “Concord” 11 often mentioned as part of the group’s mid-1990s red-carpet history. Whether the group actually wore the shoes during a 1996 awards appearance remains disputed, but the story has followed both the group and the sneaker ever since.

These Boyz II Men Air Jordan 11 samples are not expected to release to the public.

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