The Nike x Travis Scott collab brings quirky to another level with the Air Force 1 “Cactus Jack” sneakers. Driven by his youthful days at Missouri City, Texas, and the rapper’s record label itself, AF1 Cactus Jack reimagines the workwear aesthetics in a DIYed display.
Humoring one design after another in a patchwork ensemble, blends of varying materials and colors present the shoe in an eccentric design once donned. Filling the shoe’s upper are contrasting textures of dark gray suedes, navy blue and golden canvases, brown corduroys, and burlap panels, all made in different colors on all sides. The center sports a perforated, black leather toe box, a flannel tongue adorned by a simple black Nike Air tag, overlaid with sail laces. It also comes with a detachable lace cover if you’re ever down for a “collared” look.
Inside, thick paddings provide superior cushioning to previous AF1 models, while the insoles also come to the party with customized patterns. Coming back out, the AF1 Cactus Jack flaunts two different Swoosh designs midfoot, with a pure cream color on the laterals and a camo-print on the medials. On the back are wool panels in gray with a darker Nike Air stitching and some snap accents with debossed initials of MC and TX. All the elements sit atop a chunky, cream midsole that holds the Nike Air technology, highlighted further with exposed stitches in lime green. Rounding up the sneakers are the standard rubber outsoles in gum color.
The collage of materials almost makes it like a piece of art. Maybe that is why the sneakers retailed for $160 upon its November 2019 release and skyrocketed to $780 on resales. Can you blame it, though? The quality, the assorted designs, and the muted colorways all make it so that there is something new to see at every angle for you and your streetwear audience.