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The Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 is part of the series of sneakers designed by Kanye West. In this article, we're going to tell you all the history related to this pair of sneakers so striking.
For you to understand the history between the American designer and the German brand, we must go back a little before this period.
Kanye West is known for his rap albums. But he is a fashion lover, he has never hidden. In September 2005, the American announced his desire to create a brand of streetwear, called Pastelle Clothing. It is first planned for spring 2006 but after the presentation of the first lookbook in 2009, Kanye announced that this brand will never be released.
In July 2009, the French luxury brand Louis Vuitton released sneakers in collaboration with the Atlanta native. These present a sober design. They are little loaded with color and rhinestones compared to models made in collaboration with Lil Wayne. During the same year, the first collaboration with Nike is signed. This is how the Nike Air Yeezy model was born. This drop was so successful that a second one is then prepared.
In June 2012, the Nike Air Yeezy 2 is launched. The success of this model is as dazzling as the first version. Thus, in 2014, a red colorway, "Red October", is launched. It is also among the 12 most influential sneakers of the last 10 years.
It was also in 2014 that Kanye West announced the end of his collaboration with the brand with the comma. He considered that he did not receive enough royalties. Nike was also paying a portion of the revenue from the sneaker to charities of his choice. Although he says it was a heartbreaking choice, the rapper also said that the brand did not give him enough freedom to his creativity. The Yeezy sneakers will therefore lose the Air name that precedes them.
To continue his activities in the world of sneakers, Kanye West has therefore turned to the other heavyweight of the sector: the German brand Adidas.
It is therefore in March 2015 that the American rapper and the brand with 3 stripes present their first collection. Called Yeezy Season 1, it included about fifty looks. This drop was so expected that celebrities such as his wife Kim Kardashian, Rihanna or Diddy were present.
The Yeezy Season 1 collection, released in October 2015, features a ready-to-wear style influenced by military clothing and flesh colors. The pieces were mainly camouflage patterned parkas or loose-fitting sweaters with holes. Prices then ranged from $600 for pants to $3,000 for jackets. While the shoe drop sold out faster, the clothing set did not.
It is therefore logical that Adidas has declared not to take part in future collaborations with Kanye West regarding clothing. The subsidiary prefers to focus on the popular and influential Yeezy sneaker model. By the way, you should know that Adidas uses the Boost material, which is designed in-house and offers a very comfortable fit. As you can see, this explains the name Boost next to the brand name Yeezy.
All this finally represents the background, and thus what precedes the creation and release of the Yeezy Boost 700.
At Yeezy Season 5 in February 2017, the premise of these sneakers were presented to the world. Kanye West is known for his avant-garde side. In fact, this collection is the way for the American rapper to present other creations, inspired by the look of the 1990s, the California style and Martin Margiela.
It is worth noting that the Yeezy Boost 700, titled "Wave Runner", was the victim of leaked photos and leaks before its release in August 2017. This drop unveiled too early was right in the middle of the period when chunky sneakers were starting to gain momentum. In fact, this is the first time Kanye has attempted a model following this fashion.
It is the design of this pair of sneakers that has also been the work of many controversies. The construction of the Boost 500 breaks completely with the architecture of the 350 second version. A lot of people thought that this new model was too kitschy. Sneaker enthusiasts wrote on social networks to say that they hated this drop. On Twitter, people criticized the sneakers by saying that it is a trashy look.
It should be noted that this design of "dad shoe" draws its features from the lines of jet-ski. This artistic choice is visible in its name, Wave Runner. But the design also pays homage to classic Adidas running shoes, including the 1993 EQT and the 1997 Falcon Dorf.
Its look is therefore characterized by a thick sole, characteristic of chunky sneakers. It is complemented by the cushioning technology made in Germany and Adidas, Boost. A higher than average cushioned upper also provides better ankle support. On the material side, the husband of the well-known Kim Kardashian does not take great risks. Indeed, the Yeezy Boost 700 is composed of a mixture between a suede leather, with a soft finish, and mesh. This is finally the traditional composition of retro-running sneakers, which can be found in other brands like New Balance or Karhu.
Yeezy brand fans themselves have shown reluctance to this new model. But then, what happened during the drop?
On August 12, 2017, the Yeezy Boost 700 sneakers are officially open for sale. Unexpectedly, they are exclusively available on Kanye West's official shop: Yeezy Supply. The 700 pre-sales are then listed at a price of $300. If they were critical at the time of unveiling, these sneakers finally regain popularity thanks to the drop. This is mainly due to the surprise effect and the limited number of models.
The collection was finally delivered during November 2017. At this point, the negative opinions start to change. In fact, it should be noted that some retailers decided to set a market price of over $1,000, even reaching $2,000 in some cases.
On November 18, 2017, Saturday Night Live hosted the artist Chance the Rapper. In addition to his special performance, a few people noticed and paid attention to what he was wearing on his feet. With dark denim, a plain long sleeve top and a Gucci belt, Chance the Rapper is the first public figure to show up with Yeezy Boost 700s on his feet.
This timing was impeccable as this is when the sneakers were delivered. While some were unhappy with the thick hems on those ankles, this event was an opportunity to get a glimpse of the sneakers on her feet. But the different opinions of the public are unanimous: the Yeezy Boost 700 was going to be a success. The grey, blue and white colors of the Wave Runner model were then visible on Instagram influencers. The demand was starting to increase since the first drop of 700 pairs could not satisfy every single person.
Rumors of a restock were developing in January 2018 on the internet. But adidas told fans to wait a bit, until March, to get the new sneakers. Finally, the widespread global release comes in September 2018. The sky-high resale prices finally fall back to more reasonable prices.
With this worldwide release, the veil was finally lifted on the mystery that was this Yeezy model. The various reviews point to a particularly comfortable sneaker. The upper does a wonderful job of providing stability, as the foot stays locked in place with every use. The thick midsole and technology obviously enhance this feeling.
In October 2018, a month after the official global launch, adidas announced that the Yeezy Boost 700 was going to be produced in a purple version. This novelty had been teased for a while on social media, you must have noticed. The purple color is mixed with brown and gray tones, making the whole surprising but successful. A green neon flash is the final touch of this drop. The 700 Analog also exists.
The success is such that artists want to take advantage of it to have custom sneakers. The controversial rapper 6ix9ine has the Yeezy Boost 700 VX. The number is actually in gray on the side of the sneakers, which is an obvious nod to the 350 V2 design. The upper sits on a striking black bulky sole.
Finally, everyone agrees that the Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 sneakers are a new master stroke of collaboration between the German brand and Kanye West. At the time of the global release, there were even rumors of a V2 in the works.
This indeed proved to be true as during the end of 2018, the Boost 700 V2 model lands. It has an immaculate look, with white, off-white as well as light gray, which gives the name Static. Reflective details, which now reach a lot of sneakers, surround this sneaker. The white sole is imposing and also equipped with the Boost technology, so dear to Adidas. The release was actually planned for the end of 2018, but instead took place during the next winter.
The Wave Runner model wasn't going to stop there. Fall is a great time for drops, especially for Kanye's creation. In October 2019, a new variation, in gray and blue, called Teal Blue, lands. It features a rugged suede and mesh construction. Earlier in the year, in the spring, it is the gray colorway only that is offered on the Inertia drop.
Kanye West had communicated about the V2 drop while showing off the Yeezy design plans for 2019. The 2nd version is also available in a colorway called Geode. On March 23 last year, the Geode model was launched at the same time as a national charity campaign at a lemonade stand in the US for the National Alliance of Mental Illness. The event supported the campaign and all proceeds went to NAMII, the largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of millions of Americans.
Kanye West's Twitter was once again the occasion to promote his new drop, via a very sober appearance. This third generation of Yeezy 700 is redesigned compared to the first. Indeed, the mesh upper is decorated with a linear gray and white print. The sneaker is composed of an adiPrene and EVA foam sole located at the heel. The Alvah colorway, in black, was actually released during April 2020.
The latest drop was released a few days ago. The Yeezy Boost 700 MNVN comes in a very effective Triple Black colorway. This one is completed once again with the number on the sides. This model has an upper made from synthetic materials while the Boost technology is still present in the sole.
Along with the Yeezy Boost 350, the 700 is one of the most popular sneakers of the designer Kanye West, who has not finished surprising us yet.
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