The Air Jordan 11 '25th Anniversary' and the Best Anniversary Sneakers to Buy Now

Collegiate pole vaulter turned professional product designer Tinker Hatfield had a wild idea when tasked to create running shoes for Nike: Why not expose the Air cushioning the brand was famous for? Despite their trepidation, Nike trusted Tinker's uncivilized inclination, created the Air Max 1, and absolutely revolutionized both their brand and an entire industry. Decades after its 1987 debut, the Air Max 1 is now a staple shoe in most personal sneaker collections. The 30th Anniversary release in 2017 is more than just a retro running shoe, it's a testament to the former track star raising the bar and landing the first of his many important designs.

Showing out in front of a home crowd in Chicago, Michael Jordan made the 1988 NBA All-Star Weekend his own by soaring from the free-throw line and capturing his second straight Dunk Contest title. While doing so, he introduced the world to the Air Jordan 3 in its inaugural "White/Cement" colorway. Blessed with visible Air, elephant print, and a Jumpman logo that would literally come to life that All-Star Weekend, this shoe's 25th anniversary retro release in 2013 was a limited launch that aesthetically celebrated MJ's flight from the foul line.

In any season of fashion, the Nike Air Max 90 "Infrared" has proven trend-proof. Originally introduced in 1990 for hardcore runners, the shoe once titled the Air Max III made good on Tinker Hatfield's vision to expose Air cushioning on the OG Air Max 1 by upping the ante with more support and stronger shades. For its 30th birthday in 2020, the can't-miss classic returned with all the original attributes that continue to endure street style in every continent sneakers are celebrated.

The Air Jordan 3 saved the most storied sneaker line in history and that's not hyperbole. Designed by Tinker Hatfield and presented to Michael Jordan in a dire attempt to keep him at Nike, the Jordan 3 changed the entire trajectory of sneaker culture and created the most powerful duo the industry has ever seen. Celebrating the start of Hatfield and Jordan's super synergy, the Air Jordan 3 "Black/Cement" returned in 2018—30 years after its 1988 debut—complete with all the Air, elephant print, and original detailing.

Designing this shoe after a fighter jet, Tinker Hatfield crafted the Air Jordan 5 for Michael Jordan's most aggressive airborne assaults. Illuminated by a camera-catching 3M tongue, 1990's original "Fire Red" rendition was amongst the boldest variations on the basketball shoe. Worn by Jordan when he dropped a career-high 69 points on the Cleveland Cavaliers, this court classic came back in 2020 to celebrate three decades of gravity-defying warfare, decked out with Nike Air heel tagging and OG packaging.

In 2017, Nike went all in on the Air Force 1 to celebrate the street staple's 35th anniversary. Paying homage to the model's undying popularity in white-on-white motifs, an array of collaborators both classic and contemporary revived the Uptowns with their own artistic flair. No pair proved truer to history and hip-hop than the "Roc-A-Fella Records" rendition. Bringing on label OG Kareem "Biggs" Burke, this homage to Baseline Studios samples was the closest the general public ever got to having their own chaining day.

Celebrating 25 years of the Air Jordan franchise, a slew of "Silver Anniversary" retro releases and one performance pair paid tribute to the most acclaimed series of signature shoes. Ranging from metallic makeups to icy white wears, the clean classics provided a frozen moment on just how deep and decorated MJ's footwear legacy is. As always, the Air Jordan 11 was the crown jewel of the bunch. Drenching the entire upper in white and even dropping the Jumpman branding, this blank take on the most notorious hoops sneaker ever still serves as a subtle head turner that's seldom seen.

The Air Jordan 11 was never supposed to happen. Designed during Jordan's first retirement, the shoe was sketched during Tinker Hatfield's off hours and miraculously made to wear-test by the time MJ announced he was back. Changing the game both stylistically and technically, the Air Jordan 11 celebrates 25 years of decadence and dominance with this "Jubilee" anniversary edition. All caps eyelet tagging screams reference to original samples and retro rarities, while metallic tooling honors the importance of a signature sneaker that still stands the test of time.