Introduction to Nike Air
Yeezy 2
The Nike Air Yeezy 2:
Yeezy's Second Spin
Yeezy's Second Spin
In 2012, Nike released the Air Yeezy 2, the shoe that would launch Kanye West into the fashion stratosphere as a designer to be taken seriously. Kanye yearned for the type of respect in the fashion arena that he had earned as a creative force in the music world.
The two Air Yeezys essentially shared the Nike name in label only, as the versions were vastly different. The first Nike Air Yeezy, initially released in 2009, set the stage for the second iteration. However, the two models couldn't have been more dissimilar. The original Air Yeezy skewed closer to Nike's legendary Air Jordans, with the sole and high-top collar riffing on the Air Jordan 3, 5 and 7. The Air Yeezy 2, however, looked like it came from another planet.
Seeing Red: Air Yeezy 2
Brings a Bold New Colorway
West teased fans with a red Air Yeezy 2 in early 2013 by showcasing them during a Saturday Night Live performance. Shortly after, his relationship with Nike began to deteriorate over royalty payments. Kanye got increasingly frustrated with Nike, bad-mouthing executives from the stage during his 2013 Yeezus Tour about the ever-changing release date of Red October. In February 2014, the colourway finally got released but, by this time, West had ended his relationship with Nike and was already hard at work, creating the next line of Yeezys for adidas.
Air Yeezy 2:
Distinct Features Set It Apart
Distinct Features Set It Apart
The Air Yeezy 2's upper is a luxurious mix of leather, ballistic nylon and soft Nubuck and contains the standard Nike Air Tech Challenge II midsole. The Air Yeezy 2 also has distinct design elements that include:
A moulded rubber heel that not only looks cool but provides the utmost in comfort while holding the heel in place
Each pair shows off the Egyptian hieroglyphics spelling out "YZY" on the oversized tongue
Side panels are highlighted by fake reptile skin that gives the shoe a more exotic look and feel
The gold plastic tips on the laces (known as aglets) are unique to the athletic shoe market
While running shoe culture has always been a part of fashion and sport, the Air Yeezy 2 was the first shoe to meld the two seamlessly, while providing comfort and functionality in a running shoe that looks better on your feet than stored in a closet. It's a silhouette designed to be as iconic as the Air Jordan 1.
Air Yeezy 2 Original Colourways: Limited Colours and Quantities
The first run of the Air Yeezy 2 came in Pure Platinum and Black/Solar Red colourways, with some interesting footnotes:
- The colourways were produced in runs of only 5,000 each.
- An unheard-of amount at the time for first-run running shoes, but demand was overwhelming.
- West fed into running shoe enthusiasts' insatiable desire for something new and unique by providing West Coast retailers the Platinum colourway while East Coast stores were given Black/Solar Red. Only a few retailers in Chicago–West's hometown–were given both colourways to sell.
Cultural Impact of the Yeezy 2: The Hype Was Real
The revamped look of the second Air Yeezy created an obsession among footwear fans, with running shoe sites breathlessly sharing updates and dishing about rumours.
- West discussed the shoe endlessly in the press (as opposed to now, where he rarely grants interviews).
- Kanye's contemporary, Jay-Z, wore the Pure Platinum colourway for a press conference during the Made in America Festival, held in Philadelphia over Labor Day weekend.
- West's wife, Kim Kardashian, also got in on the fun, tweeting a picture of Red October in three versions—one for West, one for her and one for their daughter, North.
- Kanye's move to adidas cannot be overstated. The adidas brand was a distant third in the sneaker market (behind Nike and Under Armour). However, by giving West complete creative control (and more cash), adidas is now as culturally significant as Nike.
Collectability and Resale Value of
the Air Yeezy 2
The resale value of the style is, in a word, massive. Because of the limited quantities available at release, the Air Yeezy 2s may be West's most sought-after running shoe model. The Red October colourway can fetch up to several thousand dollars on the resale market. Though the Air Yeezy 2 has only been released in three colourways, rumours of a relaunch abound, with West reportedly on board with the idea if Nike decides to give the Air Yeezy 2 a retro release.
