Travis Scott is reportedly finishing his fourth studio album, Utopia. As part of the project’s roll-out, the Texas-native gifted “UTOPIA”-branded pairs of his Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Olive” to friends and family. At the 76th Cannes Film Festival, however, Scott was pictured wearing a never-before-seen Nike sneaker, leading countless netizens to speculate what the artist was wearing.
In late September 2022, it was reported that Travis Scott and his Jumpman family would move on from the Air Jordan 1 by the end of 2023. Although rumors quickly surfaced that La Flame was working on an Air Jordan 7, recent speculation has surrounded another possible link-up between Scott and Nike SB. No party involved has disclosed details about the future of Cactus Jack’s footwear catalog, but the 32-year-old’s recent appearance in France gives some credence in the latter rumor.
The sneaker in question is only partly-visible thanks to Scott’s choice in large pants, but enough of it is on display to all-but-confirm its newness. At quick glance, the pair bears semblance to the Nike SB Ishod, a low-top skate shoe that also dons a backwards swoosh as part of its design. Ishod Wair’s first signature model with Nike debuted in a mostly brown color scheme, another similarity to Travis Scott’s unnamed shoes worn at Cannes. Some online spectators have simply disregarded the pair as Wair’s second Nike SB, but others speculate that the sneakers are the first Cactus Jack signature model.
The unreleased sneaker shares design cues with the rebranded Nike Mac Attack that Scott’s been wearing on-and-off over the last few years. Yet, the shoe’s medial side features more mesh cutouts than the old school tennis silhouette. The pair’s low-to-the-ground midsole could be courtesy of Nike SB, but also evokes images of the Air Jordan 4, a design Travis Scott previously reimagined. What’s certain, however, is that the unreleased choice of footwear by the Cactus Jack-frontman dons a large backwards swoosh on the lateral side, further cementing the creative’s affinity for the rebellious design cue.
Enjoy a first-look at the shoes ahead, as you wait for more information on the unnamed pair.
Photos by Pascal Le Segretain via Complex Sneakers