Insight: YEEZY Boost 350 V2
When dropout opened in 2018, the adidas YEEZY Boost 350 V2 had already been the most popular sneaker silhouette on the market for about 2 years.
The 350 V2 wasn't Kanye's first foray into the sneaker world, nor was it his first project with adidas (that honor belongs to 2005's Kanye West Rod Laver). But it was the sneaker that proved Kanye could sell hundreds of thousands of units without losing demand or ruining his reputation as a style icon.
With an immediate sell-out streak now spanning more than six years, it can be difficult for a new YEEZY fan to understand the history and relevance of the 350 V2 model.
Here's everything you need to know about the adidas YEEZY Boost 350 V2.
History of the YEEZY Boost 350 V2
The original adidas
The YEEZY Boost 350 arrived as a result of changing consumer demands, in particular, the rise in popularity of Nike's FlyKnit technology and the Roshe Run.
From 2012 to 2015, Nike Roshe Runs were among the best-selling shoes in most sneaker retailers. Their simplistic yet versatile design easily fitted into the wardrobe of many buyers at the time, and adidas quickly responded to this request by introducing adidas BOOST and PrimeKnit technologies, which respectively offered adjacent qualities.
With the growing popularity of BOOST and PrimeKnit in 2015, adidas and Kanye West combined the two into a design unlike anything Kanye had ever released before: the adidas
YEEZY Boost 350.
Instead of a suede or leather design, the
YEEZY Boost 350 featured a knit upper that snug around the foot like a sock. There was no tongue, nor a side slit like the one on the YEEZY Boost 750s . Everything about the shoe was fresh and minimal, marking a shift in the aesthetic trajectory of the YEEZY brand.
Ever since announcing his partnership with the Three Stripes, Kanye's stated mission has been to make
YEEZY available to everyone. It took some time to start delivering on that promise. With a retail price of €200, the 350 was cheaper than the YEEZY 750 . But they were still largely inaccessible to most buyers. The original colorways were all released in limited quantities and the huge hype around the first 350 sent resale prices into the stratosphere.
Then, in the fall of 2016, the
YEEZY Boost 350 have become more accessible with the arrival of a new variant, the
YEEZY Boost 350 V2. The V2 is the most popular product in the line
YEEZY with over 60 colorways on the market since its initial debut. Although they have been produced in greater quantities and with more colors than the first iteration, the 350 V2 are not yet easily accessible to retail, contrary to Kanye's mission.
Original colors
The adidas
YEEZY Boost 350 V2 was originally released in eight colorways: Beluga , Copper , Green , Red , Oreo , Bred , Zebra , and Triple White . About half of the original colorways have received restocks, giving shoppers a second or third chance to pick up a pair for retail. This is not to say YEEZY is standing still. In the first part of 2022 we have seen new colorways like Bone , MX Rock and Dazzling Blue added to the family, as well as a new version of the Yeezy 350 V2 in the form of the CMPCT .
How do they fit
YEEZY 350 V2 to your wardrobe?
The adidas
YEEZY Boost 350 V2 is one of the most wearable silhouettes in Kanye's catalog. It's perfect for casual wear on the streets, but it's also responsive and breathable enough to handle a workout in the gym. With the 350 V2, the attention of
YEEZY on the combination of high performance technology and stylistic appeal has created a highly adaptable shoe that fits virtually everyone's needs.
How much do the
YEEZY Boost 350 V2?
The YEEZY 350 sell at the retail price of €200 for the first version and €220 for the V2. However, like most YEEZYs , they often sell out immediately, so their market price is significantly higher. Original YEEZY 350 colorways retail for around €650 on average, while the V2 (the most frequently produced iteration) currently sells for around €300 on average. For any given release, prices tend to rise over time as supply of deadstock decreases and demand increases, but two events can lower the value of a YEEZY 350: a reset and the rumor of a reset.
An increase in availability given by a reset is the reason behind the decrease in prices of the YEEZY 350 V2. Most resellers understand that restocks mean a depreciation of their investment and as soon as they hear the word, they are motivated to sell. This increases the supply of 350 V2 in stores and marketplaces and pushes prices down.
Conclusion
The YEEZY Boost 350 V2 was Kanye's first step in opening up more access to his product. But even with a constant stream of versions and a plethora of colorways, demand for the model still outstrips supply. Part of the reasoning behind the sustained demand for the 350 V2 is its functionality, which sits perfectly at the intersection of leisure and fitness.
Kanye and adidas have extended access by frequently replenishing the quantities of YEEZY 350 V2 on the market through restocks, which inadvertently prevent resale prices from going too high.
Between new releases, regular restocks, and increasing availability from reputable retailers like dropout , it's never been easier to get your hands on Kanye's most popular silhouette. The dream of "YEEZYS for Everyone" has never been so close to reality.