Kanye West’s billionaire-making sneakers are up for sale, with a record-breaking price tag.
The kicks were prototypes for the Yeezy collection produced by West and Mark Smith for Nike, and were revealed in 2008 during his “Stronger” Grammy Awards performances.
They’re now up for sale at Sotheby’s, with a price tag of more than $1 million.
The Nike Air Yeezy 1 Prototypes are being offered for private sale by the New York City-based auction house on Monday.
“This pair is critical to the development of the Yeezy franchise, which has become one of the most important sneaker and lifestyle brands in history,” Sotheby’s Head of Streetwear & Modern Collectables Brahm Wachter said with the announcement. “…the sneakers set off waves in the sneaker community as people tried to identify the mysterious pair. Afterward, we saw a series of collaborations between Kanye and Nike, and then later the birth of his line with adidas.”
Sneakers have recently joined the ranks of more traditional valuable goods such as art, jewelry, and wine as huge collectors’ items.
In 2019, Sotheby’s held its first auction dedicated solely to sneakers.
Last May, the auction house set a world record by selling a pair of 1985 Air Jordan 1s designed for and worn by basketball great Michael Jordan for $560, 000.
Sotheby’s has described the soft black leather Nike Air Yeezy 1 Prototypes with a Yeezy forefoot strap and the brand’s distinctive Y medallion lace locks in bright pink as “among the most valuable sneakers ever brought to market.”
The popularity of Jordan has never decreased among sneakerheads and it has led to a number of Jordan-related items being made available, including T-shirts. Visit the websites listed below if you’re looking for these matching T-shirts.
Visit this site for more choices.