An article of footwear comprising: a sole structure ; and an upper that is attached to the sole structure, the upper defining a cavity that is configured to receive a foot of a wearer; the upper at least partially defined by a textile; the textile including a first area that is substantially smooth, the first area defining a reference boundary that conforms to the cavity; the textile including a second area , the second area including a plurality of projection structures , the plurality of projection structures comprising portions of the textile that project away from the reference boundary and outwardly from the cavity, each of the plurality of projection structures having a height measured from the reference boundary, wherein at least one of the plurality of projection structures differs in height from at least one other of the plurality of projection structures; the second area further including a plurality of recess structures that recess away from the reference boundary and inwardly toward the cavity; and the plurality of projection structures and the plurality of recess structures being in an alternating arrangement across the second area of the textile, the article of footwear being characterized in that the plurality of projection structures are arranged in a gradient pattern, wherein the heights of the projection structures vary gradually from projection structure to adjacent projection structure across the gradient pattern, wherein the textile includes a first surface facing the cavity and a second surface facing away from the cavity; and further comprising a skin layer that is layered on one of the inner surface and the outer surface , wherein the skin layer is a first skin layer layered on the first surface of the textile; and further comprising a second skin layer layered on the second surface of the textile. a sole structure ; and an upper that is attached to the sole structure, the upper defining a cavity that is configured to receive a foot of a wearer; the upper at least partially defined by a textile; the textile including a first area that is substantially smooth, the first area defining a reference boundary that conforms to the cavity; the textile including a second area , the second area including a plurality of projection structures , the plurality of projection structures comprising portions of the textile that project away from the reference boundary and outwardly from the cavity, each of the plurality of projection structures having a height measured from the reference boundary, wherein at least one of the plurality of projection structures differs in height from at least one other of the plurality of projection structures; the second area further including a plurality of recess structures that recess away from the reference boundary and inwardly toward the cavity; and the plurality of projection structures and the plurality of recess structures being in an alternating arrangement across the second area of the textile, the article of footwear being characterized in that the plurality of projection structures are arranged in a gradient pattern, wherein the heights of the projection structures vary gradually from projection structure to adjacent projection structure across the gradient pattern, wherein the textile includes a first surface facing the cavity and a second surface facing away from the cavity; and further comprising a skin layer that is layered on one of the inner surface and the outer surface , wherein the skin layer is a first skin layer layered on the first surface of the textile; and further comprising a second skin layer layered on the second surface of the textile. <EOS>