Sotheby’s is offering up Kanye West ‘s first signature sneaker. According to a press release, Elite New York auction company Sotheby’s is selling the billionaire rapper’s “Grammy worn” Nike Air Yeezy 1s sneakers from 2008 at a $1 million benchmark. It released a statement that the company is making the shoes available for direct purchase via “private sale.” Interested parties are invited to submit offers directly to Sotheby’s for consideration.
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“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 in the release. “Debuted on-stage at the Grammys in 2008, the sneakers set off waves in the sneaker community as people tried to identify the mysterious pair.”
The shoes’ prototypes were made by Nike exclusively for West in 2008. He wore the sneakers during his memorable performance of “Stronger,” the lead single of chart-topping third album’s Graduation, with French electro-dance duo Daft Punk and his emotional rendition of “Hey Mama” dedicated to his late mother Donda West at the 50th annual Grammy Awards in 2008.
The pair of Nike Air Yeezy are described as “one of the most prized and sought-after sneakers in existence.” While there is no known record for private sneaker sales, a seven-figure price tag would far exceed the current auction record of $615,000, set at Christie’s in May 2020 by a pair of autographed Nike Air Jordan 1s worn by Michael Jordan in 1985.