10 Things You Didn’t Know About Air Yeezy Shoes….Until Now

If you’re a fan of Air Yeezy, this post is for you! Here are 10 things you never knew about Air Yeezy shoes…until now!

Keyword(s): Air Yeezy

Kanye West may be a bit of a wildcard. Between interrupting pop singers at award shows and going on 3 am Twitter rants, we never know what to expect from him. But there is one aspect of Kanye that everyone can agree with: the man’s got style.

Kanye West’s Air Yeezy collection is one-of-a-kind. From developing hundreds of prototypes, West’s dedication and attention to detail led to the creation of a truly unique shoe. Keep reading to learn more about the Yeezy brand and how it has been rocking America.

1. An Air Yeezy Is Like a Lamborghini

Kanye West refers to his Air Yeezy collection as “the Lamborghini of shoes.” The celeb loved going to auto shows with his father while growing up. When he saw a real Lamborghini Countach up close, he became obsessed.

That’s why West explains there’s a little bit of that Lamborghini panache in everything he does, including his famous shoe line.

2. Kanye West Cleans up With Royalties

When it comes to Addidas Yeezys, Kanye West enjoys boundless royalties. He claims to outshine Michael Jordan and his Air Jordan line when it comes to collecting royalties.

Forbes claims Air Jordans bring in about $3 billion in sales each year, while the Yeezy collection tops out at $1.5 billion. But while Jordan’s sales are higher, West is cashing in where it counts.

West reports a 15% royalty on wholesale Yeezys, while Jordan collects 5%. Kanye West also owns 100% of the Yeezy brand, while Jordan owns a portion.

3. The Air Yeezy Process Is Extensive

It’s not easy creating Yeezys. West told Forbes the process is comprehensive, and he creates hundreds of prototypes. Most of them never make it to the store.

When it comes to designing, West takes his time. Only the best of the best are sent to the stores and nothing less.

4. Yeezy May Go Environmental

West isn’t the most active celebrity when it comes to combatting climate change, but that could be changing in the upcoming years.

Air Yeezy’s newest move may be to become a more sustainable shoe. The sneakers would be made from biodegradable algae. That way, when the shoes are thrown out, they break down in landfills over time.

5. Yeezys Were a First for Nike

Nike is the world’s largest supplier and manufacturer of athletic shoes and sporting apparel. The brand is worth over $32 billion, with over $22 billion in revenue from footwear. The brand has sponsored apparel lines with notable athletes like LeBron James and Derek Jeter.

But Kanye West is the first non-athlete to ever collaborate with Nike. The first Air Yeezys were a one-of-a-kind shoe that is a first for the sporting goods conglomerate.

6. The Shoes Took Two Years to Develop

Development for Air Yeezy shoes began in 2007 and lasted until 2009. During this time, the creators were inspired by the Air Tech Challenge II and sneakers from Michael Jordan’s line.

In the development stages, Kanye West wore an all-black suede prototype to the 2008 Grammy Awards. During the show, West performed twice. The shoes were worn to gauge market interest.

7. Air Yeezys Were Released in Three Colors

In April 2009, Yeezys were finally produced for the public. The first color scheme was called “Zen Grey.”

In May 2009, the second colorway was released called “Black/Pink”, but also referred to as Blink.

The third color, called “Net”, was a Kanye-inspired design released in June 2009.

All three colors were equally popular. They were all priced at $215, and quickly flew off the shelves of the stores lucky enough to carry them.

8. West Moved His Line to Adidas

Kanye West originally designed a shoe for Adidas in 2006, but it never went to production. Shortly after, he signed his collaboration with Nike to release Air Yeezys I and Air Yeezy II.

In 2013, West left Nike. He stated Nike refused to pay him the royalties he deserved for his designs. Instead, Nike wanted to donate proceeds to a charity of West’s choice.

West declined and parted with the sporting good corporation. He reached out to Adidas, which agreed to his royalty demands. Yeezy Season 1 was released with Adidas in February 2015.

As for West, he claimed the split with Nike was heartbreaking but necessary. On New Year’s Eve 2015, West released a song called “Facts” that disses Nike. The rapper speaks highly of Adidas and gets along well with the company’s CEO.

9. A Pair of Yeezy IIs Were Sold for Over $90,000

The Nike Air Yeezy II collection was released to stores on June 9th, 2012. While the original retail price was $245, the sneakers were highly anticipated. A pre-ordered pair released before the public order was sold for $90,300 on eBay.

To keep up with the hype, Nike stated they would release a limited number of pairs and only to a select handful of stores. The Air Yeezy IIs featured anaconda leather and glow-in-the-dark soles. The shoes were molded based on Kanye’s foot.

10. Yeezy Boosts Sold out in 10 Minutes

In February 2015, West released his new Yeezy 750 Boosts with Adidas during New York Fashion Week. They were marked at $350, with some being sold on eBay for over $1,000.

Fans needed to be in the front of the line to have any chance of nabbing the hot new shoes. The brand sold out within ten minutes. Much of this was due to people reserving pairs of Yeezys ahead of time through a special app.

Only 9,000 shoes were released. West was seen at select footwear stores, personally handing out the shoes to customers.

Ready to Lace-up Your Yeezys?

The Air Yeezy collection is extensive. From Yeezy Boosts to Desert Rat, Kanye’s designs come in all shapes and styles. Each design includes personal touches by Kanye West and is molded for a comfortable fit.

Ready to treat yourself to the Lamborghini of footwear? Check out our collection of Yeezy shoes and find the ones perfect for your feet. Click here to start shopping.