Yeezy 700

700

The Yeezy 700 venture wholeheartedly embraces the maximalist shoe movement. This is in large part thanks to West signing legendary sneaker designer Steven Smith for the Yeezy project. Having been the architect of some innovative sneaker designs in the 80s, 90s and 00s, he received a phone call from Kanye West in 2016 that would lead him to an entirely new design. 

Smith and West’s first collaboration came about as the pair were looking through Smith's old sketches. Kanye became excited at the prospect of bringing them to life, with one design in particular catching his eye: a sole with circular cutouts. This would later become part of the Yeezy Boost 700, eventually coming to define its look. 

The 700 is Yeezy’s fifth iteration. Fittingly, it was revealed at Yeezy’s 5th fashion show, in February 2017, before dropping later that year with almost no warning. It was only available as a pre-order on Kanye's website, “Yeezy Supply'', and the shoes remained in stock for almost an entire day (previously unheard of for Yeezy releases). Since then, West and his design team have produced several noteworthy models, including the V1, V2, V3 and MNVN.

The Yeezy 700 V1 features a suede and leather overlaid upper with mesh details, Three Stripe elements and a heel with reflective dots. The Boost midsole runs the full length of the shoe to offer comfort and bounce, while the up-swooping silhouette of the midsole earned it the nickname "Wave Runner". With a modified upper design, the Yeezy Boost 700 V2 features a nubuck, knit and premium leather overlaid upper, this time covered with a whole host of reflective areas.

The Yeezy 700 V3 signalled a real experimental departure from the “dad shoe” look, with a much more futuristic design on offer. The upper is a monofilament mesh encased in glow-in-the-dark RPU overlays. The tongue has the reflective elements that fans have come to expect from the 700, while the EVA midsole and the zigzag-patterned rubber outsole combine to provide traction and smoothness.

The Yeezy 700 MNVN comes at a more accessible price, features a lightweight no-sew nylon upper, Boost midsole, reflective strips and a one-piece bungee cord tightening system, effectively making it a slip-on shoe.

The Yeezy 700 is a fusion of Smith and West’s aesthetic vision. Smith was enraptured by the prospect of designing with Kanye because he revels in tearing up the rulebook. The wild contours, the striking colourways, the fluorescent details, the stocky midsole and the range of materials are evidence of a powerful creative liberation. The 700 is artistic freedom embodied in sneaker form.