The Nike Air Yeezy is a sneaker collaboration between Nike and Kanye West, launched in 2009. Notable for being Nike’s first non-athlete collaboration, it saw two main releases: the “Air Yeezy” in 2009 and the “Air Yeezy II” in 2012 and 2014.
Air Yeezy
Developed from 2007 to 2009 by Kanye West, Nike Creative Director Mark Smith, and later Nathan Van Hook, the Air Yeezy represented a fusion of sneaker culture and high fashion. Kanye and Smith both praised each other’s contributions to the design, with Smith calling Kanye a “truly creative talent” and a “natural designer.”
The design process for the Air Yeezy involved numerous sample colorways and prototypes, with key influences coming from models like the Air Tech Challenge II and Air Jordan III and IV. Early prototypes featured “Death Star” tooling and an LED outsole, but these were later replaced with phosphorescent rubber due to battery and cost issues.
The most discussed prototypes included an all-black suede pair worn by Kanye during his 2008 Grammy performance and a “Fire Red” colorway, which was worn on his “Glow in the Dark” Tour. Although the “Fire Red” colorway was considered for release, it never made it to production.
Three colorways were ultimately released in 2009: a “Zen Grey” colorway, a “Black/Pink” (“Blink”) colorway, and a “Net” colorway. These shoes sold out quickly, with a retail price of $215 each. Kanye expressed interest in retro releases of the Air Yeezy in a 2020 interview.
Air Yeezy II
The Air Yeezy II’s release was highly anticipated after Kanye mentioned unused designs from the original Air Yeezy that could eventually become part of the new model. However, the final design was created by Nathan Van Hook and Kanye, drawing inspiration from animalistic, reptilian, and Egyptian motifs. The shoe featured a ridged heel, a snake-skin pattern, and Egyptian references like depictions of the god Horus and hieroglyphics spelling out “YZY.”
The Air Yeezy II addressed several issues with the original Air Yeezy, such as reducing unnecessary padding and creating a more streamlined fit. Several sample colorways were created, including a “Kobe” or “Cheetah” version, but only a few pairs are known to exist.
The Air Yeezy II officially debuted in May 2012, with a release on June 9, 2012. It came in two colorways: platinum and black. Later, the “Red October” colorway was released in February 2014. The Air Yeezy II retailed for $245, though resale prices skyrocketed, reaching as high as $90,000 in pre-orders.
Record Sale
In April 2021, a pair of Air Yeezy 1 prototypes worn by Kanye during his 2008 Grammy performance sold for a record-breaking $1.8 million at auction, making it the highest-priced sneaker ever sold at the time. The sale highlighted Kanye’s legacy as a major influence in fashion and sneaker culture, with his Yeezy line becoming a dominant force in the industry.