Kanye doesn’t exactly have the best reputation amongst the population at large. Granted, he can be ever so slightly bombastic, just a touch egocentric, and happens to be the foremost proponent of tooting his own horn. However, after last night’s Footwear News Achievement Awards, it seems like a little self-congratulations might be in order for Dr. West (and you better believe he’s not about to pass up this opportunity to pat himself on the back).
Patrick MacLeod/WWD/REX
If the waitlists, eBay resale price, or the fact you can spot his Yeezy Boosts on the feet of almost every A-list celeb wasn’t enough to convince you that these sneakers are one of the hottest things going, last night Footwear News officially confirmed these shoes iconic status when they awarded them with the title of “Shoe of the Year.”
The boot variation only debuted back in February, when Kanye wore the 750 Boost at the Grammys, but they quickly became a footwear sensation when the unprecedented demand for both styles crashed Adidas’ servers and flooded their stores. Even President Obama requested two pairs from the rapper, and when the POTUS wants to wear your sneakers, you know you must be doing something right.
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This is the second year Adidas has been awarded with this honor, the first being for their Stan Smith design that was at the forefront of the normcore craze last year. While this may be a major victory for West, who’s been quoted as feeling like an outsider in the fashion industry, it’s a major blow to sneakerheads everywhere who dreamed of one day getting their hands on these kicks for a reasonable price.
Do you think Kanye’s sneakers deserve this award? Would you ever wear the Yeezy Boosts? Which shoe is your favorite?
–Emily Kirkpatrick
