Like the Jordan 7 Pantone, the Jordan 11 Retro Pantone was originally showcased as part of a sample collection during the 2010 World Basketball Festival. It was so popular that put it into production for release in 2014. This colorway dropped as part of a dual shoe Christmas release called the Ultimate Gift of Flight Pack, alongside a similarly-hued version of the Jordan 29. The University Blue colorway is an homage to Jordans college days as an NCAA Championship-winning Tarheel at the University of North Carolina.