Jae Tips Unveils Nike Air Bakin Low Collab Inspired by His Custom Hats

John Cotton—better known across the globe as "Jae Tips"—finally has a Nike sneaker collaboration on the way. Having announced a deal with the Swoosh in late March 2026, the Bronx-born creative unveiled his story-driven Air Bakin Low "Savior" project during ComplexCon in Los Angeles.

If you pay attention to Jae Tips on social media, you'll know that he was one of the key figures tapped by the Nike Sportswear team to reveal upcoming long-anticipated retros of the Air Bakin, a basketball shoe from 1997 that had only ever been re-released in 2014. It's sensical, then, that the "Uptown Savior" gets a shot at adding his own spin on the cult-favorite as part of his first footwear collab with the Swoosh—the brand he had always dreamed of working with.

Jae Tips told Complex that his Air Bakin Low "Savior" project was largely inspired by a custom purple New York Yankees fitted cap he once worked on with Hat Club and New Era. (If you were tapped in with fitteds in 2020, you'll know exactly what design he's referring to.) As such, the sneaker's upper is predominantly covered in a rich purple suede that's only interrupted with black ridges and mudguard; the midsole also opts for a mostly-dark finish, but light blue Swooshes and heel Air bubble deviate with some pop of color.

Elsewhere, green inner lining, "Savior" text on the tongue and spine (the latter cleverly playing with "Nike Air" branding), and printed insoles bring some of Jae Tips' signature design elements to the Nike Hoops shoe.

One playful touch added to the sneaker's outsole was spotted by Tyler Mansour on X:

The pink-colored outsole nodding to the pink brims Jae Tips helped popularize is the type of element that makes the Nike collab that much more intentional. The New Yorker's work with Saucony Originals also included several Easter eggs and personal touches that demonstrated the 30-something-year-old's ability to tell stories through design.

An official Nike.com launch hasn't been disclosed as of now, but the "Savior" Air Bakin Low is expected to launch in early 2027—perhaps during All-Star Weekend in February?

Stay tuned for details, and download the House of Heat° app (iOS/Android) to check out more from the Swoosh empire.