WORDS BY STEPHEN YU
Kanye West is much like an 18th-century pirate. Bear with me with this one. Similar traits include: being unafraid to jump ship (moving from Nike to Adidas in 2013), having a completely unapologetic attitude to life (just look at his Twitter account), taking shots at enemies (eg.Taylor Swift) and having a knack for collecting gold (212 awards under his belt and counting).
So if Kanye is the modern-day Blackbeard, then what is his booty? No, not Kim. It’s his Adidas x Yeezy sneakers of course. And the holy grail of the treasure? The Yeezy Boost 350.
A decade-defining sneaker, the Yeezy Boost 350 is Kanye West and Adidas most successful silhouette. Why? Because not only do the sneakers look as fresh with gym gear as they do with date-night attire, they’re also insanely comfortable. (find out just how comfortable they are here). This is down to the use of Adidas’ innovative materials, a primeknit upper upon a Boost sole. But where did it all begin and where is it heading next? With the help of Fresco Wilson, manager and official Youtube 'unboxer' of Stadium Goods, we put together a timeline of the Yeezy Boost 350 - a sneaker sure to go down in history as one of the all-time greats.
2007-2013
Kanye moves from Nike to Adidas
“Kanye first made an impact in the sneaker community with his collaboration with Nike”
- Fresco Wilson of Stadium Goods
Before boasting about his Yeezy brand ‘jumping over Jumpman’ (aka Air Jordan), West was collaborating with Nike on ‘Air Yeezys’. The high-top sneaker was first released back in 2007 and was a huge success, longed for by sneaker enthusiasts globally.
Why did it come to an end? It was revealed that Nike refused to grant West with royalties from the sales of the sneakers and so, he left the American sportswear brand in 2013. This was when rumoured started to circulate about a move to the swoosh’s biggest competitor — Adidas.
3rd December 2013
Adidas Confirms collaboration with Kanye
It’s the start of something new. And just like Troy and Gabriella, the relationship between Adidas and Ye turned out to be a match made in heaven. On 3rd December 2013, Adidas publically confirmed this collaboration: a deal that helped put Adidas back in the race.
27th June 2015
First Yeezy Boost 350 is released
“The 350 introduced Kanye’s first low-top style. With the boom of the Adidas Ultra Boost and consumers gravitating towards running styles, the Turtle Dove colourway dropped at the perfect time. The Turtle Dove is more than likely to be the most iconic of all the Yeezy 350 styles.”
- Fresco Wilson of Stadium Goods
Having worked together on the Yeezy Boost 750 — the first model to come from the collaboration — Adidas and Kanye released the Yeezy Boost 350. The release of the new silhouette, first released in a 'Turtle Dove' colourway, spearheaded a new-age of sneakers.
22nd August 2015
Yeezy Boost 350 'Pirate Black' is released
“From what we’ve noticed in-store, the most popular colourway of the Yeezy 350 Boost V1 is the Pirate Blacks. They are very functional in regards to maximum wearability with multiple fits”
- Fresco Wilson of Stadium Goods
Kanye fans and sneakerheads alike were foaming at the mouth when Adidas announced that the second Yeezy Boost 350 to release would come in an all-black colourway. This subtler take on the shoe, released in summer 2015, was beloved by Ye’s wife, Kim Kardashian West. (They were practically glued to her feet.)
14th November 2015
Yeezy Boost 350 'Moonrock' is released
We love us some tonal, and this Moonrock iteration of the Yeezy Boost 350 V1 has those muted shades on point. The colourway complemented early Yeezy season pieces that were exclusively produced in earthy tones.
29th December 2015
Yeezy Boost 350 'Oxford Tan' is released
The Yeezy V1 ended on a high note. The Oxford Tan Yeezy 350 is one of the most sought-after models in the whole Yeezy x Adidas collection and a Stadium Goods favourite.
11th February 2016
The first preview of the Yeezy Boost 350 V2
Kanye’s Yeezy Season 3 show, held at Madison Square Gardens for NYFW, was a pivotal moment. The blockbuster-movie-level show impressed fashion critics, showcased new scales for the brand and also gave us our first look at the Yeezy Boost 350 V2.
Largely based on the original, the sneaker was updated with a translucent midsole, a new primeknit upper and the addition of a SPLY-350 stripe that replaced the patched branding of the original.
15th September 2016
The Yeezy American football boot, the Yeezy 350 'Cleat' is released
Yeezy made it to the field. The Yeezy 350 cleat fused the Turtle Dove’s upper with a studded sole and was worn by sports players including Andre Hopkins (who was famously fined $6,000 for wearing the shoes).
24th September 2016
First Yeezy Boost 350 V2 is released
“The Yeezy 350 V2 tends to run small so it may best to purchase half a size up from your normal size”
- Fresco Wilson of Stadium Goods
The first Yeezy Boost 350 V2, dubbed Beluga, made the Yeezy brand a household name. The combination of the gunmetal and safety orange hues makes this a distinctive sneaker that’s still desired today.
23rd November 2016
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 'Black Friday Pack' is released
We love Black Friday and apparently, so does Kanye. Available in Copper, Green and Red, these Yeezys are now considered to be sneaker grails.
17th December 2016
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 'Oreo' is released
It’s hard not to love the Oreo Yeezy Boost 350 V2: a delicious, easy-to-style sneaker inspired by one of our favourite snacks.
11th February 2017
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 'Bred' is released
“The most popular Yeezy Boost 350 V2 colourway is the Bred. These fly out of the store and their versatility make them the best bang for your buck”
- Fresco Wilson of Stadium Goods
New year, new ideas. For the Bred colourway (the first Yeezy release of 2017), Kanye removed the stripe on the upper and brought-back the pull tab. Unsurprisingly, the sneaker sold out in seconds.
25th February 2017
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 'Zebra' is released
As well as being a Kardashian-Jenner fam favourite, Stadium Goods considers the Zebra one of the best Yeezy Boost 350s to exist. Like the guy she tells you not to worry about, this sneaker has got everything going for itself.
29th April 2017
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 'Triple White' is released
The first Yeezy Boost 350 V2 to drop the ‘SPLY 350’ branding is it the most simplistic Yeezy to have ever released. What’s not to love?
18th November 2017
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Semi-Frozen Yellow’ is released
Weird flex but ok. The divisive colourway, which arguably kick-started the neon trend of 2018, is the boldest Yeezy to ever release. A perfect way to incorporate some colour into your monochrome get-up.
25th November 2017
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Beluga 2.0’ is released
Yet another instance of Kanye changing his mind (well, what did you expect, he is a Gemini). The Yeezy 350 Beluga 2.0 reworks the sneaker by swapping out the gunmetal grey for a more silvery tone and reversing the colours of the stripe.
16th December 2017
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Blue Tint’ is released
Arguably the most underrated Yeezy in the lineup, the Blue Tint 350 welcomes back the stripy upper refreshes the icy-blue hue. A perfect colourway for all seasons.
30th June 2018
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Butter’ is released
After the Blue Tint, the Yeezy 350 took a much-needed hiatus to preserve hype. And then Ye came back with the Butter Boost 350, a pastel-yellow hue that was perfect for summer. Don’t worry Millenials, the shoe contains no real dairy.
21st September 2018
1 Million 'Triple White' Yeezy Boost 350 V2s are released
“Yeezy 350 is best styled with casual wear, especially with joggers. I’ve seen multiple fits that equate to what we know as the drip.”
- Fresco Wilson of Stadium Goods
Moving like Oprah (YOU GET A YEEZY, YOU GET A YEEZY), Kanye finally fulfilled his promise of granting everyone access to Yeezys with the September ‘18 release of the triple-white Yeezy Boost 350 V2 — his biggest sneaker drop ever.
23rd November 2018
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Sesame’ is released
Yeezy is at its best when it returns to its signature colour palette. You just can’t go wrong with the neutral shades of the Yeezy Boost 350 Sesame.
26th December 2018
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Static’ and 'Static Reflective' are released
“The static colourway is highly anticipated. Based on the amount of traffic our unboxing video has generated, the hype looks to be as rich as the V2 when it was first introduced”
- Fresco Wilson of Stadium Goods
If the Bred colourway was V2.5, then call this V2.9. The Static Yeezy Boost 350 updated the silhouette with the addition of a rigid transparent stripe accompanied by erratic primeknit stitching. The static dropped in both ‘non-reflective’ and ‘reflective’ editions, the latter being a limited release which features a 3M threaded upper.
16th March 2019
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Clay’, 'Hyperspace' and 'TRFRM' are released
The regional drops of the Yeezy Boost 350 TRFRM, Hyperspace and Clay were painful because we wanted to get our hands on them all (trust us, IRL these look fire). It’s ok, thanks to Stadium Goods, we now stock them all right here :).
21st May 2019
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 'Glow in the Dark' is released
The unmissable Glow in the Dark Yeezy Boost 350 V2 received a drop that was, ironically, missed by many. As Ye once sang (on a 2017 collab with Drake), “Watch out for me, I’m about to glow”.
7th June 2019
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Black Reflective’ and Black Non-Reflective’ are released
The first all-black Yeezy Boost 350 V2 is, to many, the best of the V2s to ever release. It has everything you want in a sneaker: Boost comfort, reflective details (in both editions), primeknit materials and the new-norm mesh stripe.
22nd June/13th July 2019
‘Antlia’, ‘Synth’ and ‘Lundmark’ Yeezy Boost 350 V2s are released
Pessimists: “There’s no such thing as the ‘perfect’ sneaker to wear to the Area 51 raid.”
Kanye: *Drops a trio of space-related Yeezy Boost 350s*
The Yeezy Boost 350 V2 triple pack of summer ‘19 didn’t drop....it landed...from space. The pack is comprised of the European exclusive Antlia (named after an ‘air pump’ star constellation), North American and Souther American exclusive Lundmark (named after an eroded crater on the far side of the moon) and the Asian and Oceanian exclusive Synth (named after the electronic instrument that produces intergalactic sounds).
21st September 2019
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Cloud White' and ‘Citrin’ are released
Not only were the ‘Cloud White’ and ‘Citrin’ Yeezy Boost 350s two of the most unique colourways in the entire Adidas x Yeezy catalogue, but they were also rumoured to mark the end of 350 V2 production. Thankfully, as rumours surrounding Kanye often are, this proved to be incorrect. Simply put, this double pack are a collector’s essential as the 350’s that coulda been the last to ever hit production.
November 2019
Yeezy Boost 380 ‘Alien’, AKA the ‘350 V3’ are released
“I hope that the upcoming introduction of the Yeezy 350 V3 brings some innovation but also stays true to the original silhouette.”
— Fresco Wilson of Stadium Goods
When Kanye’s Forbes interview previewed a whole host of new Adidas x Yeezy sneakers, one of the sneakers thought to be V3 of the Yeezy Boost 350 would actually come from a whole new product line – the 380. But with a similar silhouette and as aesthetic to it’s older sibling, it’s easy to see why we thought that. The 380 comes with a completely different primeknit upper a cleaner sole unit without the ribbing seen on the 350, and replaces the side stripe with a perforated ventilation panel. Will it prove as popular as the 350? Only time will tell.
December 14th 2019
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Yeezreel reflective’ and 'Yeezreel non-reflective' are released
Yeezy revisits an old favourite for the penultimate 350 release of 2019, toning down the neon green first seen on the ‘Glow’ colourway by weaving it with black and grey thread. It comes both with or without the silver reflective thread that makes you the focus of any flash photography. If you missed out on the ‘Glow’ the first time around, we hope you didn’t sleep on the ‘Yeezreel’ too.
December 15th 2019
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Yecheil’ are released
The last Yeezy 350 of the decade, and with it Ye decides to go out with a bang. In a stark departure from the Earth-toned palettes that’ve become a hallmark for the Yeezy brand, the ‘Yecheil’ features a split design that pairs a black base colour with vivid hues of red, baby blue, yellow and pink. Think of these as the footwear version of ‘end of the decade’ fireworks. Oh, and the name? ‘Yecheil’ is Hebrew for ‘May God Live’, a perfect encapsulation of Kanye’s mindset at the end of the 2010’s.
February 1st 2020
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Marsh’ is released
The ‘Marsh’ builds upon the ‘Antlia’ colourway replacing vibrant yellows with herby greens. As the name suggests, the ‘Marsh’ conjures up images of grassy wetlands with its brown sock liner, grey reflective side stripe and translucent outer and midsole. What this doesn’t mean is that you can wear these in a swamp, they’ll still get ruined.
February 22nd 2020
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Earth’, 'Flax' & 'Tail Light' is released
This trio of regional releases was marked by it’s more classically Yeezy natural toned colourways and a return of the heel tab that had been missing on recent 350’s. While the Americas received the very Sunday Service-friendly ‘Earth’ colourway, which as its name suggests comes in a baked clay brown, and the ‘Flax’ colourway exclusive to Asia, Middle East, Africa and India came in a tonal wheat hue reminiscent of flax seed buds, it would be Europe’s ‘Tail Light’ that would take inspiration from the world of man. As its name suggests, this colour-blocked grey colourway has a flash of neon at the rear and it’s heel tab, presumably just like one of Yeezy’s supercars, or our second-hand Ford Fiesta’s.
March 14th 2020
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Desert Sage’ is released
While there’s no shame in getting totally sucked in by Ye’s mother nature-inspired naming of the ‘Desert Sage’, we’ve totally rumbled Yeezy on the true inspiration behind this 350. Rather than a solitary sage plant barely surviving in scorching clay red desert sands, we think this pair of Yeezys are inspired by the classic green colourway of the M-A1 bomber jacket. But we’re probably wrong considering that this colourway is strikingly similar to Ye’s iconic Nike Air Yeezy II Pure Platinums with its grey/ green upper and cantaloupe coloured sock liner. Either way, we’re still wondering whether Kanye ever gave David Casavant that Raf Simons bomber he borrowed.
March 21st 2020
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 'Cinder' is released
A more natural take on the classic triple black sneaker, the ‘Cinder’ takes the all black primeknit of the ‘Black’ colourway and imbues it with earthy browns and greens to create a faded black upper reminiscent of charcoal – at least that’s what the name suggests. We like to think of these as the sneaker equivalent of Ye swapping out matte black Lambo's in Calabasas for Russian ATV's in Wyoming. The style does away with the transparent midsole that has become somewhat of a hallmark of 350 releases as of late, instead opting for a matte black rubber with an ashy green outsole. As with all the 2020 releases, there’s a heel tab and keep your eyes out for the reflective edition releasing soon.
April 18th 2020
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 'Linen' is released
Just in time for spring, Yeezy serves up a summer ready colourway that combines all the tones of linen in one shoe – there’s light beige primeknit uppers and a midsole reminiscent of raw linen, alongside blue accents at the collar and side striping with a faded linen vibe. We’re loving Kanye’s return to biblical fabrics and Earthy tones, long may it continue. The final touch is the bubblegum pink outsole which has us all lusting after ice creams as the mercury rises.
May 9th 2020
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 'Sulfur' is released
Kanye helps kickstart summer with the delivery of some new Yeezy 350’s. Sadly, the Sulfur was released as a US-only colourway so those of us in the rest of the world will have to wait a little longer for new 350’s. Proving Ye is still going through his earth-tone period (we like to think of it as the Kanye equivalent to Picasso’s blue period), the Sulfur comes in a light olive colour that we guess is inspired by sulphur crystals, or could it be sulphurous swamps? Either way, this colour definitely doesn’t stink.
July 18th 2020
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 'Zyon' is released
Continuing his love affair with all things religious, the ‘Zyon’ is a synonym for the holy city of Jerusalem. Combining grayscale tones with a black monofilament stripe and centre seam stitching, this 350 blends the white and grey upper of the Yeshaya, with the ‘reverse Oreo’ black and white of the legendary V1 colourway ‘Turtle Dove’, alongside Ye’s rekindled love for all things earthy hued, with light and dark brown colours woven throughout the Primeknit upper. The finishing touch is a milky white midsole atop a cream coloured outsole making this colourway totally iron like a lion.
August 22nd 2020
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 'Israfil' is released
The first Yeezy Boost 350 of autumn 2020 and perhaps the last that Kanye will name after a religious figure –– Israfil is the archangel of music who’s trumpet signals judgement day in the Islamic faith. Carrying on with the nature-inspired hues, this 350 features patchworked uppers of tan and grey Primeknit, alongside an earthy bluey-grey midsole with a gum outsole.
October 3rd 2020
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 'Carbon' is released
The most controversial 350 to date, this colourway was originally named the Asriel –– after the archangel of death in the Islamic tradition who’s responsible for transporting the souls of the deceased. However, after backlash from the global Muslim community, who thought it was disrespectful to name a shoe after an angel, it seems Kanye decided to change its name to ‘Carbon’. In keeping with its original name, this colourway is made from dark hues of black and grey contrasted against an ethereal translucent off-white midsole.
24th October 2020
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Natural’ is released
Somewhere in between Triple White and Citrin sits ‘Natural’: a Yeezy Boost 350 V2 that boasts a creamy hue, one that leans towards the yellow shades of the colour wheel.
Ideal for wearing with other neutral colours (think Ye’s Earthy wardrobe) in the autumn/winter or light pastel colours (think your garden party fit) in the spring/summer, the ‘Natural’ Yeezy Boost 350 V2 is ideal for those looking for a go-to kick that transcends seasons.
11th November 2020
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Fade’ is released
Sharing its name with one of Kanye’s biggest hits of the 2010s, it’s no surprise that the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Fade’ is such a hit.
The distinctive colourway (not too dissimilar from the Yeezy Boost 380 ‘Azure’ released just one month later) contrasts an indigo mesh side stripe with a pinky-brown hued primeknit, creating a refreshing aesthetic that gives the neo-classic silhouette a new look. Ergo, it’s a must-have for the serious sneakerheads.
18th December 2020
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 'Fade' is released
2020s Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Sand Taupe’ takes the best bits from the most sought-after Yeezy colourways of recent years (namely ‘Earth’, ‘Cinder’ and ‘Clay’) and successfully amalgamates them – Megazord style.
The result? A modish crep, complete with brown bungee laces, that’s terribly hard to dislike. Ergo, it’s a great starting point for rookie sneakerheads and a nice addition to a veteran’s collection.
27th February 2021
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 'Ash Stone', 'Ash Pearl' and 'Ash Blue' are released
The first Yeezy 350 pack of 2021 focuses on a very specific, very Kanye hue: ash. The purpley-grey shade graces three different Yeezy Boost 350 shoes and, miraculously, each appears to look entirely different. There’s the Ash Pearl Yeezy Boost 350 that tones down the look by pairing it with the brand’s quintessential beige palette; the Ash Stone Yeezy Boost 350 that clashes with grey, black and coral; and the Ash Blue Yeezy Boost 350 that enlivens the aesthetic with soft blues and a contrasting yellow mesh stripe. Which pair should you opt for? Well, that all depends on your taste.
18th June 2021
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Mono Ice’, ‘Mono Mist’ and ‘Mono Clay’ are released
Organic aesthetics have long informed the Yeezy x adidas sneaker collaboration; and in summer ‘21, the two brands dropped a quartet of biotic-inspired sneakers that come together to form the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Mono Pack.
For the Mono pack – composed of the Mono Mist, Mono Cinder, Mono Ice and Mono Clay – Kanye and his ingenious team of designers swapped out the traditional primeknit upper of the now-considered-classic V2 silhouette with a monofilament mesh upper to give the shoe a translucent layer. Furthermore, an alien symbiote-esque cage is integrated into the design to give the shoes a touch more magnetism.
28th August 2021
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Light’ is released
At first glance, the 350 V2 ‘Light’ appears to be nothing but yet another muted hued adidas Yeezy sneaker, however this 2021 release has a trick up its sleeve.
Take the UV-sensitive ‘Light’ 350 out into the sunshine, and the upper of the shoe will transform from a soft yellow to a baby pink and the translucent mesh stripe located on the sidewall goes from an off-white to a warm orange.
23rd October 2021
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘MX Oat’ is released
The Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘MX Oat’ is the most experimental 350 in existence. Reminiscent of a contemporary art piece, the upper combines beige, blue, orange and yellow to form a masterpiece. Does it work? We certainly think so.
6th December 2021
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 CMPCT ‘Slate Blue’ is released
In December 2021, adidas Yeezy introduced a sock-like take on the 350 characterised by a slightly curved sole, glitchy primeknit and high collar. The shoe – officially christened the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 CMPCT (‘compact’, perhaps?) – seemingly takes inspiration from the adidas UltraBoost Uncaged.
The CMPCT debuted in a ‘Slate Blue’ colourway that places a blue and grey upper upon an earthy brown sole to form an uber-versatile sneaker.
18th December 2021
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Beluga Reflective’ is released
The most anticipated Yeezy 350 drop of 2021 was, undoubtedly, the ‘Beluga’ reissue. And this time, the colourway was crafted with a reflective primeknit upper. As expected, the shoe was sweeped up by sneakerheads who were eager to have a couple of pairs of the OG V2 in their collection.
22nd December 2021
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘MX Rock’ is released
Two months after the ‘MX Oat’ proved popular, adidas Yeezy dropped the ‘MX Rock’ on the adidas Confirmed app. This gritty take on the MX design combines black, brown and grey in a way that is less statement but more wearable than its predecessor. Which pair should you cop? Well, that all depends on your preferences.
17th February 2022
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 CMPCT ‘Slate Red’ is released
In early 2022, another CMPCT colourway was released – a red that aptly dropped just three days after Valentine’s Day. This marked the first time a Yeezy Boost 350 was available in a red colourway, and just the second time an adidas Yeezy silhouette came in red (the first being the Vermillion Yeezy Foam RNNR). Why do true Yeezy fans love red? We have reason to believe it reminds them of the Nike Air Yeezy 2 ‘Red Octobers’ and the career-defining Yeezus era in general.
26th February 2022
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Dazzling Blue’ is released
Black Yeezy Boost 350s accented by a coloured stripe are always well received by the sneaker community. Take the ‘Black Friday Pack’ for example; or the ‘Oreo’. In early 2022, adidas Yeezy released ‘Dazzling Blue’ that – as you may have guessed – is enlivened by a brilliant blue stripe on the sidewall.
The Future
Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Hyperspace’ and ‘Cinder Reflective’ and due to be released. There are also rumours of a ‘Turtle Dove’ V1 reissue.