Image via Complex Original
Ever since Travis Scott began collaborating on footwear, his name has found its way onto a number of lists, from the industry’s top collaborators, to a number of sneaker of the year features. Everywhere you look, Travis’ name is predominantly featured in the world of sneakers. There is not a whole lot more that we can say about him to explain that he sits atop the footwear influencer pantheon on his own. For the better part of three years now, Travis has been working with Nike and the Jordan Brand to pump out collaboration after collaboration, each one selling out quicker than the last. Beyond that, the platinum rapper has had a steady hand in the resurgence of one of the industry’s most hyped sneakers at the moment—the Nike Dunk.
But for Travis’ birthday this year, we got together to not only examine Travis’ time on top, but to take a look at where it all started for him in the world of sneakers: back when he was starring in Reebok campaigns for the 30th anniversary of the Classic Leather, and back when he was helping James Harden roll out his first signature sneaker. It was clear that brands pegged Travis as a key player in this whole thing early on, but no one could have predicted where he is right now.
With a ton of Nike collabs behind him, Travis looks to a future that includes a second Jordan 6 that dropped today, two Air Jordan 1s designed in collaboration with Hiroshi Fujiwara’s Fragment Design, and a rumored five-pack of Nike Air Max 1s that the brand teased on Air Max Day. To celebrate Cactus Jack’s birthday, check out his comprehensive sneaker timeline below. — Ben Felderstein
Signs Endorsement Deal With Reebok
When: June 2013
Nowadays, it might seem farfetched to picture Travis repping anything besides the Swoosh or the Jumpman, but the Houston rapper was actually a Bok Boy early on in his career. Back in 2013, Travis was just beginning to bubble following placement on XXL’s 2013 Freshman list and the release of his debut mixtape, Owl Pharaoh, which included standout tracks like “Quintana” and “Upper Echelon.” Reebok signed the up-and-coming rapper to an endorsement deal that would carry over into 2014. Around this time, Travis could be seen rocking plenty of models from the Reebok archives like the Instapump Fury and Ventilator. He even appeared in a campaign to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Classic Leather wearing a Stash collab. His time repping Reebok was immortalized in song. On the Days Before Rodeo cut “Zombies,” he raps, “You know Reebok keep La feet hot, they be shipping package/GL 600 or the Palace that collab with Classics.” Even though he botched the GL 6000 shoutout, it’s clear that Travis was a fan of Vector footwear. Too bad they couldn’t keep him around. A Travis Scott x Reebok Question could have come to fruition. — Mike DeStefano
Appears in NikeLab's 'Summer of Sport' Campaign
When: March 2016
By 2016, Travis’ ties to Reebok were no more, and the rapper was entering a new tier of popularity following his successful debut album Rodeo in 2015. He was cementing his status as a contemporary influence in the fashion world. Designer Riccardo Tisci decided to tap the rapper to model the gear he designed for his “Summer of Sport” collaboration with NikeLab alongside other big names like Kim Jones and Jun Takahashi. Travis can be seen floating in mid-air dressed in Tisci’s all-over floral printed T-shirt, shorts, and jacket. A funny sign of the times in retrospect, he’s rocking black Roshes too, a much more acceptable footwear choice in 2016 than it is now. — Mike DeStefano
Performs at Adidas Harden Vol. 1 Release Party
When: October 2016
This was one of the wildest sneaker events I’ve ever gone to. Adidas flew out a ton of media to Houston for the unveiling of James Harden’s first signature sneaker. Earlier in the day, there was a fashion show showcasing the sneakers, along with performances by Slim Thug, Young Thug, and Travis Scott. I have a photo of Harden and Travis sitting a foot apart from each other onstage watching a video on the screen in front of the audience. Later that night, there was a party at the Prohibition Supper Club, which included performances from YG, Nipsey Hussle, Young Thug, and Travis. Scott climbed a bannister on the balcony and was mere feet away from Our Lord and Savior Brendan Dunne. Anyway, it was a big night. — Matt Welty
Releases Collaboration With Helmut Lang
When: January 2017
Travis released his first official apparel collab with Helmut Lang back in January 2017. The capsule included bomber jackets, T-shirts, hoodies, denim, shorts, leather jackets, and more that played off of Travis’ signature rodeo theme with imagery like bulls heads, saddles, and text boxes that read “Cowboy.” There were also sneakers: black nylon and leather high-top and low-top options with that aforementioned bull head stamped on the tongue and forefoot straps. They aren’t particularly memorable, but they are out there if you want to scoop up an obscure piece of Travis’ lengthy footwear history on Grailed. The much cooler sneaker moment that came from this collab was the OG “Taiwan” Air Force 1s he wore to attend the installation at Barneys New York in Beverly Hills. — Mike DeStefano
Appears in Nike VaporMax Campaign
When: March 2017
The first Nike sneaker that Travis Scott was pinned to wasn’t an Air Jordan 4 or an Air Force 1, but the VaporMax. In 2017, the brand launched the sneaker—which featured a technology engineered by Yeezy design guru Steven Smith for two decades—as an answer in some regards to Adidas’ Ultraboost. The VaporMax was never meant to be a serious running shoe, rather a lifestyle model with the ultimate visible technology. Travis was pegged as the face of the shoe. In an interview I got to do with him, he said, “The first time I saw them was just before I performed in them back in LA. When I saw the all-black ones, I thought, ‘These are crazy.’ They are comfortable, and I was flying when I performed in them.” His fascination with the shoe would be short-lived, though, and at this point feels like a footnote in his sneaker legacy. — Matt Welty
Jordan Trunner PE Surfaces
When: July 2017
Travis Scott’s first project with Jordan Brand is his most unique to date. Rather than the Retro models he’s become known for in recent years, his first actual collab was on the far more obscure Trunner. As its name suggests, the shoe is half-trainer, half-runner, and it’s always been something of a cult classic amongst Jordan fans. Scott’s pastel-accented twist on the pair never hit stores, but it did pop up at NYC thrift store Beacon’s Closet during Fall 2017. While the one-off design wasn’t exactly a sign of things to come, it was the beginning of what’s been a fruitful partnership with Jordan Brand. — Riley Jones
Releases First Nike Collab at ComplexCon
When: November 2017
You can look back on a timeline and say that ComplexCon 2017 was a shifting point for sneaker culture. There was a slew of huge releases: Adidas and Pharrell released the “NERD” Hu NMD, Union had a riot break out for a Jordan 1, and Undefeated had the same for its Air Max 97, but the biggest moment was Nike’s monolithic structure beaming from the middle of the floor. The highlight of Nike’s activation was the release of limited edition Air Force 1s. Most notable was the Off-White exclusive for ComplexCon. But Travis Scott also released his first foray with the Air Force 1 there, too: a white canvas sneaker that came with multiple Swooshes. — Matt Welty
Releases 'Way Back' Video Starring James Harden
When: December 2017
By December 2017, Travis already had a Nike collab under his belt and looked to be firmly positioned with the brand, which made the official video for Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight song “Way Back” a bit confusing. The video pretty much boiled down to being a commercial for the Adidas Harden Vol. 1 with closeup shots of the sneaker sprinkled throughout and James Harden being a main fixture. Travis can be seen wearing Jeremy Scott x Adidas flame slides in the video, too. Travis is a huge Rockets fan and his friendship with Harden has been well-documented, so the video certainly makes sense in that regard. But the timing of it felt a bit odd considering just a month prior Travis had kicked off his ongoing Nike partnership. — Mike DeStefano
'Cactus Jack' Air Jordan 4 Releases
When: June 2018
To follow up his first Air Force 1 from 2017, Travis would get the chance to collaborate on his first Air Jordan. The baby blue Air Jordan 4 with red accents was a nod to the now-defunct Houston Oilers NFL franchise that wore the colors from 1960 to 1996 while playing in H-Town. Friends and family variations of the 4s donning purple suede uppers or tortoise shell straps would surface in months following this release with the purple option becoming the most coveted. While many eagerly awaited their release, they never came. Now, pairs go for five figures on the resell market. Oh well. At least we all got a chance at the blue pair. — Mike DeStefano
Second Air Force 1 Collab Releases
When: August 2018
Part of what makes Travis’ sneaker output so impressive is that his work at Nike crosses between categories and sub-brands. He went back and forth with his collaborations in 2018, releasing this sequel to his original Air Force 1 project a couple of months after his first Air Jordan sneaker released. It is not his most memorable shoe, making a minor update to the first Travis Scott x Nike Air Force 1 by switching the white shade to sail. — Brendan Dunne
Air Jordan 33 Collab Releases
When: February 2019
With Cactus Jack hype at a crescendo, Jordan Brand cashed in by channeling his energy on the Air Jordan 33 silhouette. To the uninitiated, it was an unexpected move, but the collaboration made sense given waning interest over performance basketball sneakers in recent years. The Travis Scott co-sign gave the sneaker some legitimacy to fans who wouldn’t have glanced twice at an inline Air Jordan 33. — Riley Jones
Air Jordan 1 Collab Releases
When: May 2019
One of the most popular Travis Scott collabs to date was the Air Jordan 1 that debuted in May 2019. Featuring his now-signature shade of brown and reverse Swoosh on the lateral side panels, the pair is still the one collab that many Travis fans are after to this day. The release also came with a bevy of lace options and Velcro stash pockets lining the ankle collar for good measure. — Mike DeStefano
Air Jordan 1 Low Collab Releases
When: July 2019
Travis Scott’s most prolific sneaker year on record saw him follow up his coveted Jordan 1 with a less coveted, but still very much in demand, Jordan 1 Low. While the Low version of Michael Jordan’s first signature shoe has never enjoyed the same iconic status as the High, a co-sign from one of the biggest rappers in the world was enough to undo the stigma around it here. The shoe has a backward Swoosh, which has become a standard branding choice for Travis Scott sneakers. — Brendan Dunne
Air Jordan 6 Collab Releases With Campaign Starring Randy Moss
When: October 2019
For his third Air Jordan collab, Travis put his spin on the Air Jordan 6. The model was given a military surplus feel with an olive green suede upper, and cargo pockets added to the lateral heel. Bright crimson red hits made the pair feel like a close cousin to Undefeated’s Air Jordan 4 collab, too, which is never a bad thing to be compared to. Shoes aside, the best part of this drop had to be the official campaign that randomly featured NFL legend Randy Moss in the wilderness decked out in full fishing gear. — Mike DeStefano
Third Air Force 1 Collab Releases
When: November 2019
After two nearly identical Air Force 1 collabs, Travis did a complete 180 for his third take on the classic low-top. The design featured a patchwork upper that incorporated various patterns, colors, and materials. The standout feature was the inclusion of a zip-up corduroy shroud. If the non-traditional look isn’t your thing, fear not, it could be removed to show off the plaid tongue. — Mike DeStefano
Debuts the Dior x Air Jordan 1, Later Appears in Official Campaign
When: December 2019
Not only did Travis Scott star in Dior’s official brand campaign for their Jordan 1 collab, but he was also tapped to provide the world with a first look. A day before the sneakers hit the runway at Dior’s fashion show, Travis took to Instagram Stories to provide the world with an exclusive look at the fashion house’s illustrious collab, undoubtedly one of 2020’s sneakers of the year. — Ben Felderstein
Nike SB Dunk Low Collab Releases
When: February 2020
Travis’ influence on the resurgence of Nike SB Dunks has been discussed ad nauseum already, so we shouldn’t need to remind you that he is part of the reason all of your favorite SB Dunks from the 2000s flip for thousands of dollars now. But that level of influence is what made the fact he finally got his own SB Dunk Low collab in 2020 one of the cooler moments of his collaborative history with Nike. Tearaway paisley panels and thick braided rope laces help make this pair unique. — Mike DeStefano
'Cactus Trails' Air Max 270 Releases With Campaign Starring WWE Legend Mick Foley
When: May 2020
After calling on Randy Moss for his Air Jordan 6 campaign, Travis Scott booked not one, but two familiar faces to help promote his “Cactus Trails” Air Max 270s. The marketing for the sneakers featured wrestling icon Mick Foley (who Scott took his Cactus Jack nickname from) and internet personality Brad Hall. Like the Air Max 270s, the campaign showed a different side of the Cactus Jack brand and proved it wasn’t afraid to poke fun at itself. — Riley Jones
'PlayStation' Nike Dunk Lows Are Raffled Off
When: November 2020
One of the most hyped Travis Scott sneakers to ever exist barely even exists. This project, which brought in PlayStation as a partner for a remake of the Nike Dunk Low in Travis fashion, was never released to the public. Only five pairs were made available through La Flame’s website and the shoe has barely been spotted in public. For now, there’s no indication that this shoe will ever become available to regular people. — Brendan Dunne
Second Air Jordan 6 Collab Releases With Campaign Starring 'Rip' Hamilton
When: April 2021
Right on time for his 29th birthday, Travis Scott’s second Air Jordan 6 hit stores today. This new pair sticks with earthtones, but opts for a hairy khaki suede and Infrared accents. Also unique to this pair is the addition of MOLLE webbing and a second stash pocket on the medial collar, giving it an even more militant vibe than the olive colorway. For this venture, it was former NBA star Rip Hamilton appearing in a promo clip, complete with his signature facemask. —Riley Jones