• Nike Air Yeezy Sculpture by Mattice Lowery
4 CommentsKanye West’s Nike Air Yeezy sneaker has been the influence for a cake design and an airplane model in the past year since its release. Adding to the list of creative work that the sneaker has inspired is an Air Yeezy sculpture created by Mattice Lowery. Unveiled at Kixpo in Texas several weeks back, the full-scale sculpture is modeled after the black/pink Air Yeezys and is constructed entirely of clay. It features great attention to detail on the Y pattern, heel tab, lace lock, strap, and overall silhouette of the shoe. Best of all, just like the actual shoe, the sole on the sculpture glows in the dark. Currently, it is a 1-of-1 work of art, but this would be a great addtion to any sneaker head’s collection, especially for someone that might have missed out on the actual Air Yeezy shoe release.
• Nike Air Yeezy in Retrospect
2 CommentsOne year ago today, the Nike Air Yeezy sneaker trilogy was completed with the release of the net/net Air Yeezy colorway. Although not as coveted as the zen gray and black/pink releases, that was not reason enough to deter Kanye fans and sneaker heads from spending multiple days camped outside of select retailers, or paying outrageous resale prices. For three consecutive months, the Air Yeezy had the sneaker community on the edge, calling retailers and refreshing the pages of forums and blogs. Considering price, press, quantities, and campouts, it’s difficult to imagine future sneaker releases matching the hype of the Nike Air Yeezy. Already considered a musical genius, Kanye’s experience with the Nike Air Yeezy was a great representation of his sense of fashion and brand influence.
• Kanye Wearing Balmain Jeans and Air Yeezys
4 CommentsNot only has it been quite a while since Kanye West has been in the spotlight, but it’s also been several months since he’s been seen wearing his collaboration shoes with Nike, the Air Yeezy. In previous months, many of the shoes Kanye’s been wearing had subtle silhouettes and colorways, all from high-end designer brands. To see him wearing the Air Yeezys this past week, and the first ones at that, is very appropriate considering all the recognition the shoe is receiving as being one of the top sneakers of 2009. In addition to the Air Yeezy shoes, Kanye’s also wearing black Balmain jeans.
Source: KanyeWest.us
December 31st, 2009• Matt Halfhill’s Top 10 Sneakers of 2009
4 CommentsMatt Halfill, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the online magazine NiceKicks.com, has come together with Complex to create a list that showcases the top sneakers from this past year. Matt Halfhill’s Top 10 Sneakers of 2009 features highly-sought after shoes such as the Nike 1/2 Cent “Royal”, Air Jordan 11 Space Jam, and the Nike Air Foamposite “Eggplant”. It’s definitely a true sneaker head’s list that includes sneakers geared for various sports and lifestyles. However, despite all the great shoe releases from ’09, Kanye West’s blank/pink Nike Air Yeezy beat out the rest and was able to claim the #1 spot on Halfhill’s list. With reputable outlets and figures, like BusinessWeek and Halfhill, recognizing the collaboration shoe between Kanye and Nike is a reinforcement to the significance the Air Yeezy had on sneaker culture and fashion in 2009.
• The 25 Coolest Sneaker Designs of 2009
No CommentsWith the year coming to a close, it’s always good to reflect back on the significant moments that shook 2009. In the sneaker culture, Kanye West made history by releasing his Nike Air Yeezy and Louis Vuitton shoes, both of which are featured on BusinessWeek’s The 25 Coolest Sneaker Designs of 2009. The Nike Air Yeezy marked the first time Nike has ever worked with a non-athlete to design a sneaker. What’s more, its 3 colorway releases will be remembered for their astronomical resell value on Ebay and the multiple-day campouts from several sneaker heads all over the world. With the Louis Vuitton collaboration shoes, although not as hyped as the Air Yeezy, proved Kanye’s versatility in fashion. To work alongside one of the most iconic fashion labels the world has ever known reinforced Kanye’s global image as a fashion connoisseur. These two highly-anticipated shoe collaborations definitely exceeded all the expectations and are more than just merely sneakers, but a piece of fashion history.
