The (new) year of Ye trudges onward in its weighty Red Wing boots. Weighty boots that’re apparently worth over $3,000 on the secondhand market.
Having ditched his Crocs boots, Ye’s Balenciaga uniform is now anchored by a pair of hard-wearing Red Wing #3094 work boots, lined with quilted Thinsulate, grounded with a steel toe, and fitted on a Vibram sole.
Ye hasn’t taken these Red Wings off since he broke the internet by announcing his relationship with Julia Fox in early January.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXS4E4-L0Qv/
To be precise, Ye was first spotted wearing the boots just before the Larry Hoover Benefit Concert he played alongside Drake, demonstrating his preference for tucking vintage Levi’s into the 17″-tall pull-on boots.
They’re quite a departure from his usual YEEZYs, which must feel featherweight compared to the heavy Red Wings.
Still, the lack of laces and wide shaft ensure easy access, which has gotta be appealing for a guy on the go. In the last couple of weeks alone, Ye and Fox have jetsetted from Miami to New York to LA, with plenty of destinations in each city.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYbouC0LzZp/
Though Fox’s Diesel ‘fits have generated ample attention, Ye’s apparently got fans so thirsty for their own Red Wings that his name alone boosted a recent eBay sale to stratospheric heights.
On January 12, eBay user mjean80 sold a pair of size 13 Red Wing #3094 boots identical to the ones worn by Ye for a whopping $3,050.
Despite the enthusiastic headline (“Kanye West Concert Boot!”), these are certainly not Ye’s boots. Not only is he still wearing his pair but Ye reportedly wears a size 12, not 13.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYo3cgpLL0Z/
So, why did the Red Wings rake in four figures while Icon Motosports gear remains affordable on Ebay, despite Ye and his pals flexing moto style?
Easy: this Red Wing model has been discontinued for years.
Presumably, the #3094 were quite unpopular until Ye started wearing them. Just compare this recent sale to the Red Wing #3094 boots that sold back in November for a measly $66.
Just goes to show the power of the Yeezy fandom, which sells out Ye’s merch drops with the quickness, even bootleg merch.
