Kanye West’s Nike Air Yeezy samples have sold for $1.8 million in a private sale at Sotheby’s auction house. The most expensive sneaker in the world surpassed its original valuation of $1 million.
The American rapper premiered the Yeezy prototypes in 2008 at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, although the style never officially arrived on shelves. The shoes were acquired by RARES, an investing platform that allows users to buy and trade shares in limited edition and highly sought-after sneakers.
“Our goal in purchasing such an iconic shoe is to increase accessibility and empower the communities that birthed sneaker culture with the tools to gain financial freedom through RARES,” said Gerome Sapp, CEO and co-founder of RARES. Sapp added that purchasing the Grammy-worn pair was akin to buying “a piece of history”.
Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of streetwear & modern collectables, said in a statement that the sale “speaks volumes of Kanye’s legacy as one of the most influential clothing and sneaker designers of our time.”
