NEW YORK 鈥� A pair of prototype Nikes worn by Kanye West during his performances of 鈥淗ey Mama鈥� and 鈥淪tronger鈥� at the Grammy Awards in 2008 has shattered the record for a pair of sneakers at auction.
Sotheby's announced Monday that West's so-called 鈥淕rammy Worn鈥� Nike Air Yeezy 1 fetched $1.8 in a private sale. It was acquired by RARES, a sneaker investment marketplace.
The sale marks the highest publicly recorded price for a sneaker sale and the first pair of sneakers to top $1 million.
The size 12 shoes designed by West and Mark Smith are made of soft black leather with perforated detailing throughout the upper, and the heel overlay is branded with a tonal Swoosh. The design features the iconic Yeezy forefoot strap and signature 鈥榊鈥� medallion lacelocks in bright pink.
The price is nearly triple the auction record for a sneaker set in 2020 at Christie鈥檚 for $615,000. That was a pair of 鈥�85 Jordan 1s that the basketball superstar wore when he famously shattered the backboard during a pre-season game in Italy.
鈥淲e are thrilled with the result, which has nearly tripled the highest price on record,鈥� Brahm Wachter, Sotheby鈥檚 head of streetwear and modern collectables, said in a statement. 鈥淭he sale speaks volumes of Kanye鈥檚 legacy as one of the most influential clothing and sneaker designers of our time, and of the Yeezy franchise he has built which has become an industry titan.鈥�
Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press
