Will the Travis Scott Jordan 1 Be the Sneaker of the Year?

Travis Scott Continues Jordan Collaboration with New Capsule

Jeffrey Holmes

May 7, 2019

            Travis Scott’s professional career has played out like Kanye West’s in so many ways that Pitchfork Media has even called him a biter of West wholesale.[1]  Like West, Scott started producing music for others, then himself, and then moving into the world of fashion.  Alongside his 2018 album Astroworld, Scott dropped a line of limited merchandise to support the project, but last year also saw him collaborate with Nike on an Air Jordan 4 in a Cactus Jack colorway.  He is striking while the iron is hot, releasing another capsule worldwide with Jordan Brand this year, including staple Jordan pieces like tracksuits and tees, but most notably, a new Jordan 1.

The collaboration drops this Saturday, May 11, 2019, boasting the Air Jordan 1 High OG in Cactus Jack as its key piece.  With resell platforms like Stockx currently pricing the shoe around the $800 mark,[2] this will undoubtedly be one of the hottest shoes of the year, one that will see rotation by hypebeasts and OGs alike, and will help resellers pay their rent in a day.  Despite sharing the Cactus Jack moniker, this Jordan 1 features a different colorway than the Jordan 4.  The Jordan 4 pays homage Houston Oilers, a now-defunct football team that Scott saw play when he was young,[3] and this new Jordan 1 comes adorned with a palate of earthy tones.

Travis Scott Air Jordan 1 High OG "Cactus Jack" via Nike News

Like many Jordan 1 releases, this shoe is constructed primarily of suede and leather.  The brown upper is contrasted by white accents, matched by a brown sole with a sail midsole.  Scott’s hand-drawn Cactus Jack insignia embellishes the heel, and the collar features a double-layer of construction.  The reverse Swoosh on the lateral side is what makes this sneaker stand out, not just from other Jordan 1s, but from all other Nikes.  Juxtaposed by a Swoosh with standard orientation on the medial side, the fire of seeing these on-foot is almost disorienting.

Travis Scott wearing more of the Jordan Capsule via Nike News

While Scott may be following in West’s footsteps, similarly turning in features on other artists’ tracks when he is not recording a full-length, hopefully his relationship with Nike will pan out differently.  However, a pattern has been established: the Air Yeezy 2 in Red October saw a surprise drop following a Grammys ceremony just like the initial run of the Air Jordan 1 in Cactus Jack earlier this year.[4]  West is now an essential figure attached to Adidas, releasing various models throughout the year.  Given the success Scott has seen with Nike and the freedom he has been granted to work as he likes, leaving may appear unlikely, but in the fashion industry, only time will tell.  For now, we have this collaboration to look forward to from another musician who has commendably proven they can move laterally into the fashion world.

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[1] https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21016-rodeo/

[2] https://stockx.com/air-jordan-1-retro-high-travis-scott

[3] https://www.goat.com/sneakers/travis-scott-x-air-jordan-4-retro-cactus-jack-308497-406

[4] https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/travis-scott-nike-air-jordan-1-reverse-swoosh-release-date-price/