Before the flash and fame of Adidas Yeezy, there was a simple sneaker from a simpler time. We’re talking about the Nike Air Yeezy 2 SP “Red October” shoe! Now you might be thinking, “Nike Air Yeezy? I thought Kanye was partnered with Adidas.” While you are right, what you may not know is that he was also signed to Nike back in the early 2010s. This resulted in the Nike Air Yeezy collection, often considered a holy-grail amongst sneakerheads. Today, we’re going to take a look back at the Nike Air Yeezy 2 SP “Red October” and see what makes them so special.
The Nike Air Yeezy 2 SP “Red October” had been hyped up ever since its reveal back in 2013. It debuted on an episode of Saturday Night Live and instantly became a favorite. After Kanye had worn them there, his wife Kim Kardashian also began to tease the sneaker, posting a picture of them on Instagram alongside his upcoming album at the time Yeezus. This helped build more hype for the sneaker, which had already been beloved in the eyes of the streetwear community. Over the course of 2013, Kanye continued to tease the Red Octobers, name dropping them on the Yeezus track “Hold My Liquor” (even wearing them during some legs of the Yeezus Tour).
As the hype continued to build, Kanye announced something that shocked the entire community. On November 25th, 2013 he announced on the Angie Martinez Show that he was partnering with Adidas, effectively ending his partnership with Nike. This helped to skyrocket the value of the Yeezy Red Octobers, and fans were now legit foaming at the mouth for a pair of Red Octobers. On December 20th, 2013, Foot Locker announced they were planning to release the Red Octobers on their website on December 27th. Unfortunately, they quickly backed out, disappointing fans once again.
The buzz was so crazy, Macklemore gave his pair to a crowd after his NYE performance at Times Square! This was a huge deal at the time considering there were barely any pairs of this shoe out in the community.
Then, out of nowhere, on February 9th, 2014, Nike announced on Twitter that they were planning to release them later that day, and they stuck to it. Retailing for $245, the Nike Air Yeezy 2 SP “Red October” sold out in 11 minutes. Afterward, there were no re-releases. Because the shoe was so sought after and marked the end of Kanye’s relationship with Nike, resale prices quickly went through the roof. Currently, the resale prices range from $7,250 USD to $22,000 USD on StockX, but a pair of Red Octobers signed by Kanye himself were valued at as much as $98,000 USD. Crazy!!?!
Rightfully so, it is still one of the most sought after sneakers in the streetwear community. The solid solar red base paired with the sleek and sharp Nike Air Yeezy 2 silhouette makes for an incredible shoe to look at, both in the box and on the foot. The strap on top of the laces does not take away from the design (as most straps tend to do on hyped sneakers). Honestly, the solar red Nike swoosh is jaw-dropping. We certainly love the shoe and wish we could get our hands on a pair. But for now, we can live out our fantasies through sneaker reviews and videos of the Red Octobers.
What do you think of the Nike Air Yeezy 2 SP “Red Octobers” shoe? Would you cop a pair? Do you think they are worth the resale price? Are they your favorite Yeezy model? Do you think Kanye should go back to Nike or stick with Adidas? Let us know your answers to all these questions, along with your thoughts and opinions on the shoe, in the comments down below. If you want to see more sneaker content and news in your social media feeds, make sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram (@audiblwav). On our Instagram, we post daily music, streetwear, and sneaker content, with photos from the community, our own personal shots, daily music suggestions and more. Don’t miss out!
