“The word ambitious is not allowed to be used around me.” Opening his cover interview with GQ in such fashion is confident, if not short of arrogant from Kanye West. “Kanye West is nothing if not ambitious. Because ambition, when I hear it, it says that it seems like it’s almost impossible.” In his own words, nothing is short of impossible for Kanye. The 42-year-old music producer turned footwear mogul has had a meteoric rise over the past 24 years. Once a relatively unknown record-maker from Chicago, West has become one of the most well-documented people on the planet.
That is, of course, due down to hard work and relentless energy. For Kanye West, these two things have been drummed into him since he was a child. His mother, Donda West, was a former professor of English at Clark Atlanta University before retiring to become his manager. Putting everything you can into everything that you do is what has made Kanye such a success. As the years have gone by, there are two areas that Kanye has remained especially influential in; fashion and footwear.
Here, we’ll be taking a look at how Kanye West’s sneaker designs and footwear knowledge have taken him from a collaborator to a billionaire. We’ll explain how the process behind Yeezus’ designs have changed as he matured, showcasing everything from BAPE to Louis Vuitton. Without further delay, let’s take a closer look at Kanye West’s sneaker designs.
A BATHING APE BAPESTA By Kanye West (2007)
Kanye’s collaboration with Nigo’s A BATHING APE began to put him on the map of the sneaker community. In 2007, Kanye West was given the chance to create his own BAPESTA sneaker, sparking a global phenomenon. Referencing the rapper’s now forgotten about Bear motif, the Kanye West BAPESTA has since become one of the most sought after sneakers on the planet.
Nike Air Yeezy I (2009)
At the 2008 Grammy’s, Kanye West appeared on stage in a previously unseen Nike silhouette. The sneaker community began searching far and wide trying to name the model. A chunky padded tongue, strap across the front and Air Tech Challenge 2 sole was brand new altogether. What was this mysterious shoe? Days passed before it was revealed that it was a collaboration. That was it. Pandemonium.
This was the first Nike collaboration that was not with a signature athlete. There were questions over whether the sneaker would ever even see a release date. A year went by before there was any more news on the Nike Air Yeezy and finally, the global launch on April 4th 2009. Kanye West had started his sneaker collaborations off with Nike in spectacular fashion, selling out the shoes around the globe in seconds. As things went on, there was seemingly nothing Kanye could not do in the world of fashion.
Kanye West for Louis Vuitton (2009)
In the summer of 2009, Kanye West revealed that he had been given the opportunity to work with French fashion house Louis Vuitton. Having worn the brand’s rucksacks for a number of years, Kanye revealed in true Kanye fashion that LV had contacted him to work together. Taking to his now-defunct blog, Yeezus videoed himself saying “Who do you know with two thumbs and his own Louis shoe? This guy!”
Kanye West for Louis Vuitton marked a changing time in high fashion and streetwear. Whilst the two had always been deemed separate worlds, West had seemingly brought the two together. His influence and capability meant that he had cracked one of the toughest brands on the planet. In an interview with DAZED, West revealed that Louis Vuitton had contacted him to work together. For his collaboration, Kanye West designed three shoes in multiple colourways; the Hudson, the Jasper and the Don’s.
Nike Air Yeezy II (2012)
When the Nike Air Yeezy 2 was eventually unveiled, the hype was like nothing seen in the sneaker community before. The design was completely new, taking reference from Egypt and using animal-like patterns. Although there was, again, speculation would eventually release, people now knew what the sneaker looked like. In 2012, it was time for Nike to launch the Air Yeezy 2 in “Pure Platinum” and “Solar Red.”
5,000 pairs of each shoe released. However, there were lines around the globe way before the sneaker ever dropped. Stores began to experience queues days before the sneaker dropped, leaving one store to tell sneakerheads that the shoe cost over $2,000. This didn’t deter them. When the shoe eventually dropped for $245, it quickly began to resell for upwards of $4,000. This was one of the most profitable sneakers to resell in history.
Leaving for adidas?
Now, Kanye was experiencing freedom in his sneaker choices. He rocked brands like Karhu and other high fashion brands. Then, rumours began to swirl that a Kanye would soon work with adidas. This was a big deal. As a previous wearer of Nikes and Air Jordans, working with adidas was something that many were sceptical over. Kanye working with adidas? It would never happen. That was until it was announced that it was true.
Nike Air Yeezy II “Red October” (2014)
By 2013, things were looking good for Nike and Yeezy. A mysterious “Red October” pair of his Yeezy 2s had been seen online and the rapper even wore them at SXSW Festival. However, things began to slowly decline. Kanye had become more outspoken against Nike, claiming that they had not given him any royalties from the sales of his Nike shoe. He began to publically shame the brand, leaving many to question whether or not the relationship would soon end.
With the elusive “Red Octobers” seemingly disappearing into existence, Nike dropped the most sought after sneaker of all time in the most nonchalant way of all time. On February 9th, 2014 Nike tweeted “The Nike Air Yeezy II Red October is now available.” The news broke the internet. A shock drop of this proportion was unheard of in the sneaker community. Nike had the last laugh, selling out Kanye West’s most exclusive sneaker with relative ease.
adidas Yeezy 750 (2015)
Several months and a bitter public dispute between Nike and Kanye West had left the sneaker community in limbo. There was no further news on the adidas x Yeezy, leaving many to believe what had come of the collaboration. Early reports suggested that a new model was on the way, but with no images, it was hard to believe. Then, in February 2015, exactly one year and three months after the collab was announced, adidas announced that the first Yeezy sneaker was on the way. “Yeezy Season 1” was coming.
The adidas Yeezy Boost 750 OG was similar to the previous Nike Yeezys, with a strap across the front. Many questioned whether or not Kanye was a one-trick pony, simply using a similar design on his new collabs. The sneaker was also a lot more expensive than his Nike collabs, retailing at €350. To say sneakerheads were a little let down was an understatement.
adidas Yeezy Boost 350 (2015)
Whilst sneakerheads may not have fallen in love with the 750 straight away, the 350 was a different story. This was the first time that Kanye had looked to use a low top silhouette in Yeezy history. A full Primeknit upper with a clever pattern across the top was simple, yet effective. Unlike previous Yeezys, the adidas Yeezy Boost 350 was something people could wear every day. It opened up a world of possibilities and opted for a much sleeker silhouette overall. It became a huge success from right from the start.
adidas Yeezy 950 (2019)
Another silhouette that caught the attention of some (not all) was the Yeezy Duck Boot. With Kanye given more creative freedom under adidas, he introduced a military-inspired silhouette dubbed the adidas Yeezy 950. Featuring a combination of suede, nylon and a durable plastic sole, the 950 was a very divisive model. It was not one that was an instant hit but given that it was one of the first Yeezy shoes that were not a sneaker.
adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 (2016)
With Kanye and adidas seemingly taking over the sneaker world, it was time to introduce some new silhouettes. After the successful launch of four adidas Yeezy 350s in little over a year, a successor was on the way. Dubbed simply the “V2”, there were some new changes to its predecessor.
First of all, it featured a large stripe across the front bearing “SPLY-350”. An updated Primeknit upper had also been used, showing the development of Kanye’s style with adidas. Thicker rope laces were also used, with the heel tab now being absent. Finally, the semi-translucent Boost midsole and much wider shape gave it more depth.
Now, over four years later, the adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 is single-handedly the most popular Yeezy of all time. With almost 50 colourways, there is no denying the Yeezy effect on the world of sneakers. This shoe alone is what has helped Kanye West become a billionaire with his Yeezy brand.
adidas Yeezy Powerphase “Calabasas” (2017)
This is technically not a Yeezy but it does showcase the versatility in Kanye’s style. Taking this classic 1980s adidas Powerphase silhouette, Kanye West dressed the sneaker in cream leather and applied a gold leather “Calabasas” logo down the side. Sometimes, less really is more when it comes to design.
adidas Yeezy Boost 700 (2017)
With dad sneakers seriously on-trend in 2017, Kanye West and adidas launched their own. The adidas Yeezy Boost 700 was a big change from previous Yeezy silhouettes. A chunky midsole unit was contrasted by mesh, suede and leather panelling in bold colours. It was one of the most sought after sneakers of the year, showcasing Kanye’s ability to keep his designs up to date. Since then, the 700 has remained a favourite of sneakerheads all over the globe.
adidas Yeezy 500 (2018)
As Kanye’s utility aesthetic became more prominent, he began experimenting with more and more styles. Having previously been shared by close friend IBN Jasper, the Yeezy 500 was a brand new model altogether. The first adidas Yeezy to not use Boost, the 500 made an exciting change to the traditional style. A combination of mesh and suede, as well as the adiPrene sole, gave this sneaker an added edge. Other than the Yeezy 350 V2, this is the next best selling silhouette.
adidas Yeezy Boost 700 V2 (2018)
After the success of the 700, it was time to start changing the design. Early in 2018, Kanye had been spotted rocking an updated version of the 700, aptly dubbed the adidas Yeezy Boost 700 V2. It featured a largely similar construction to its big brother but had a much sleeker design on the upper. Reflective stripes and panelling on the upper made it a big hit, so when the first colourway launched, it was an instant sell-out.
adidas Yeezy DSRT BOOT (2019)
With 2019 underway, Kanye began to venture back towards his military-inspired aesthetic. The DSRT BOOT was another durable piece of footwear from Yeezy, sharing a similar design approach to the 500 but an entirely different sole unit. It was not one of the most successful designs from Kanye, but it still sold out instantly.
adidas Yeezy Boost 380 (2019)
Originally thought to be the Yeezy 350 V3, the 380 was a brand new silhouette again. Sneakerheads were excited about the prospect of a new model, especially one with a much higher cut. Another Primeknit upper was used, this time with a semi-translucent stripe on the side and a brand new Boost midsole unit. The adidas Yeezy Boost 380 has had a slow start in terms of popularity, but its safe to say that it’s on the up in 2020.
adidas Yeezy 500 High (2019)
When rumours began circulating that a Yeezy 500 High was in the works, many sneakerheads were sceptical. Turning any low top silhouette into a high can have disastrous effects, yet somehow this seems to work. The extended neoprene upper, combined with premium leather and suede, made this is a big hit for the winter months. With the latest adidas Yeezy 500 High “Tyrian” set to drop soon, the High is certainly going nowhere.
adidas Yeezy Boost 700 V3 (2019)
As the evolution of the adidas Yeezy 700 only continued, it was time for Kanye to unveil a new version. Unlike the previous V2, the V3 took a different approach. A Primeknit upper was contrasted by a neoprene tongue, with a thin set of rope laces adding to the silhouette. However, it was the use of a plastic cage and a complete smooth Boost midsole that intrigued a lot of sneakerheads. Quickly selling out after release, the adidas Yeezy 700 V3 is a classic already.
adidas Yeezy Boost 700 MNVN (2020)
Continuing the popularity of the adidas Yeezy 700 design, Kanye unveiled the MNVN. Having previously been spotted back in 2018, many sneakerheads questioned whether or not the MNVN would ever release. Its sleek appearance used minimal branding, with just a large reflective “700” graphic on the side. The stripped-back silhouette used nylon upper and the familiar Boost midsole as an ode to its predecessors. With four drops of this sneaker in 2020, there are no signs of the adidas Yeezy Boost 700 MNVN going anywhere.
adidas YZY QNTM (2020)
Kanye’s first foray into the world of sports took a lot longer than expected. In 2018, rumours began to circulate that Yeezus was working on a basketball sneaker for the NBA. Though it took nearly three years to formulate, the adidas YZY QNTM has remained extremely desirable. The reflective cage, plastic detailing and unique Primeknit upper have helped it gain huge popularity. Dropping on All-Star Weekend, sneakerheads have been patiently waiting for a wider release since.
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed this look at Kanye West’s sneaker designs. Over the past 13 years, Yeezus has cooked up some of the most exciting shoes in the world. His work with Nike helped pave the way for other musicians, whilst his time at adidas have helped make him a billionaire. With the sky being the limit for Kanye, let’s just see what other designs he comes up with.
