COUNTERKICKS EXCLUSIVE: In the past couple weeks, we presented you with exclusive photos of an Air Jordan XX1 Prototype in “Italian Red Suede” and “Black Suede Bulls” colorways. Today, we exhibit a new Air Jordan XX1 Prototype in a “Black Leather Carolina” colorway featuring a rich, full-grain black leather upper with black suede cloaking the heel, along with coats of carolina blue trim accenting the forefoot support wraps, laces, and I.P.S. pods.

Code-named the “JORDAN ELEV8” to cloud the identity of the shoe, the XX1′s also went by another name internally: the Air Jordan “Venti Uno” which translates from Italian to “Twenty One“, signaling some initial European design inspirations. As with the previous “Black Suede Bulls” pair, this model features no marking imprints in the rubber outsole stretching across the arch, nor the embossed “Jumpman” logo on the plastic-silver capped lace aglets as the production version features. A final comparison change is the raised suede Jumpman logo seen on the back tongue, where on the released version the words “AUTHENTIC“, “UNCOMPROMISED“, “EARNED“, and “ASPIRATIONAL” – the 4 pillars of the “Jordan Code” – are instead stitched in.

Look for an in-depth tech story on these Prototype Air Jordan XX1′s coming soon to Counter Kicks. Follow us on Twitter for instant sneaker news. And continue reading to view 33 detailed photos of the Air Jordan XXI – “Black Leather Carolina” Prototypes.

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