THE HISTORY OF TRAVIS SCOTT X AIR JORDAN SNEAKER COLLABORATIONS

Officially established over 25 years ago, the Jordan Brand is revered for its commitment to transforming the sneaker and apparel industry, especially when joining alongside notable figures in pop culture, such as the infamous Travis Scott. Also referred to as La Flame, Travis Scott is a globally-recognized rapper, singer, and songwriter best known for his unique musical style, influential style, and iconic collabs with brands and entities like Nike, Dior, Fortnite, McDonald’s, and most notably, the Jordan Brand’s Air Jordan line.

Stemming back to 2018, the Travis Scott x Air Jordan collaboration quickly made its mark on the industry with its unique aesthetics. What exactly makes Travis Scott’s Air Jordan sneaker collaboration so different from others? His growing influence on the world of sneakers is nothing short of unstoppable. Scott appreciates sneaker culture and utilizes his ‘Cactus Jack’ insignia while respecting the rich history of iconic Air Jordan sneakers such as the Air Jordan 1 Low, Air Jordan 4, Air Jordan 6, and more.

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 4 ‘Cactus Jack’ (308497-406)

Releasing in 2018 as the first official Travis Scott x Air Jordan collab, this premium sneaker resembled the infamous Eminem pair. It made an impression with its stunning bright blue suede within the upper. Black accents, a red liner, and unique paint splatter detailing set this shoe apart, along with the debut ‘Cactus Jack’ branding at the back heel tab. The sneaker paid homage to Travis Scott’s hometown of Houston, Texas. Widely considered one of the best sneaker releases of 2018, the shoe was finished with a Travis Scott-branded label placed upon the reverse tongue.

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 33 ‘Army Olive’ (CD5965-300)

Arriving the following year, Travis Scott took his signature style to new heights with the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 33 ‘Army Olive.’ This sneaker took on a dark olive green upper with brown suede at the heel overlay and signature Cactus Jack branding within the tongue of the left shoe. A velcro strap resided at the medial side, in addition to a black and yellow-striped ‘Pull to Eject’ tab. Taking on a military-grade khaki colorway, this collaborative silhouette combined the rich culture of rap and basketball with concepts of utilitarianism.

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG ‘Mocha’ (CD4487-100)

By 2019, Travis Scott wasn’t stopping anytime soon with his ongoing collaboration with Air Jordan. The Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG ‘Mocha’ arrived in tones associated with La Flame’s signature aesthetic. It introduced a new look to an iconic silhouette, presented with the oversized backward-facing Swoosh at the lateral side. The upper was built with a blend of white leather and brown suede, while Scott’s crudely-drawn face logo made an embossed statement at the heel. Additional branding details were the mismatched insoles and retro Nike Air tongue tag.

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low ‘Mocha’ (CQ4277-001)

Considered one of that summer’s most sought-after releases, the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low ‘Mocha’ arrived with a unique aesthetic. This was the first low-top collab between the two entities, and some can say it helped reinvigorate the Air Jordan 1 Low. The silhouette took on an inverted color scheme of hues, while the dark brown nubuck overlays contrasted with the black base. A Jordan Wings emblem was embroidered at the heel tabs, and a larger reverse white Swoosh made a statement at the upper lateral surface, with red accents included. A signature face logo was embroidered at the other heel, finishing the sneaker.

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 6 Retro ‘Olive’ (CN1084-200)

The next Travis Scott x Air Jordan collab strayed away from previous ones with the release of the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 6 Retro. Drawing near-perfectly from Travis Scott’s style, the sneaker took on military-inspired tones of deep olive. A focal cargo pocket was placed at the side, while the tongues were treated with distressed detailing at the edges, matching Scott’s wardrobe’s destructive and edgy aesthetics. Infrared accents within the lace toggles and branded embroidery made a statement. At the same time, the glow-in-the-dark rubber outsole embellished the bottoms, while the ‘Nike Air’ and ‘Cactus Jack’ logo embroidery on the heels tied together the remainder of the sneaker.

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 6 Retro ‘British Khaki’ (DH0690-200)

Travis Scott and the Jordan Brand celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Air Jordan 6 by introducing a debut Travis Scott twist to the heritage silhouette. Arriving in a ‘British Khaki’ iteration, the shape took on glow-in-the-dark accents throughout its upper and sole unit. A premium and hairy suede upper placed throughout the retro’s body made a statement, along with the canvas detailing and stow pockets. The heels are branded with ‘Nike Air’ text, while the Houston native’s signature branding appeared at the midsole, lace toggle, sockliner, stow pocket lining, and semi-translucent rubber outsole.

Travis Scott x Fragment Design x Air Jordan 1 High (DH3227-105)

The Travis Scott x Fragment Design x Air Jordan 1 High was considered the most hype release of 2021. This three-way partnership with Air Jordan and Hiroshi Fujiwara remains one of the most iconic iterations of the Air Jordan 1. Like Scott’s debut Air Jordan 1 collab, this version carries over the premium leather construction and backward Swooshes at the panels. The color-blocking makes an impression, while the Cactus Jack head on the left shoe and the fragment’s signature bolt logo on the right are placed. Adjacent to the Nike Air branding placed at the tongues is ‘fragment design’ phrasing. The pre-yellowed outsoles tied together the silhouette.

Travis Scott x Fragment Design x Air Jordan 1 Retro Low OG SP (DM7866-140)

Releasing shortly after its high-top counterpart, the three-way collab between Travis Scott, Hiroshi Fujiwara, and Air Jordan continued with the Travis Scott x Fragment Design x Air Jordan 1 Retro Low. This low-cut Air Jordan 1 featured a similar aesthetic to its predecessor but used divergent colorblocking and precise detailing to differentiate itself. The silhouette took on a backward cream Swoosh on the midfoot. At the same time, the Air Jordan fragment design and Cactus Jack heel branding are stamped and embroidered at the heel to offer a dimensional touch—a code-inspired graphic at the midsole tied wrapped up the collaborative silhouette.

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG ‘Reverse Mocha’ (DM7866-162)

The Travis Scott Air Jordan legacy continued with the arrival of the groundbreaking Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG ‘Reverse Mocha’ in 2022. This new iteration utilized light brown nubuck paired with premium white leather overlays. Classic Swooshes at the medial sides and additional reversed Swooshes also appeared. Signature retro Nike Air tongue tags made an impression, while the Cactus Jack markups within the tongue and medial sides, Wings motifs at the rear, and printed insoles made a lasting impression. The special shoebox marking the collaboration made this silhouette one to remember for 2022.

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low ‘Black Phantom’ (DM7866-001)

Released during the holiday season, Travis Scott strayed away from his signature aesthetic briefly with the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low ‘Black Phantom.’ This design stepped away from the usual earth tones and opted for sleek black suede uppers instead. The low-cut sneaker was accented by white stitching, reverse Swooshes, conventional Swooshes, Nike Air branding, and signature Jordan Wings motifs. A brand new bee motif arrived in this shoe, marked with Cactus Jack logos at the tongue, medial side, and insoles. The shoe was completed with special packaging and three lace options for variety.

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low Women’s ‘Olive’ (DZ4137-106)

Now, a few months later, Travis Scott and Air Jordan have collided again on the Air Jordan 1 Low, and this time in a women’s-only exclusive. This premium sneaker features an upper that combines a black suede base, off-white leather overlays, and olive suede Swooshes. A reverse Swoosh resides at the lateral, while a traditional can be found on the other side. Crimson accents contrast neutral earth tones, while a woven Nike Air tongue label can be found. Mismatched Jordan Brand and Cactus Jack branding is embroidered within each heel tab. The off-white vintage midsole treatment and rubber outsole finish the rest of the design.