The Air Yeezy was the first Nike sneaker designed specifically for Kanye West.
Nike released the first Air Yeezy in 2009 after West collaborated with the company on a signature basketball-inspired lifestyle shoe. The design combined a high-top shape with a broad strap, a glowing outsole, and styling that drew from several earlier Nike basketball models.
The Air Yeezy 2 followed in 2012. The partnership ended after that model, and West later moved his Yeezy footwear business to Adidas. This makes the Air Yeezy important in the history of artist-led sneaker collaborations.
A common mistake is to identify the Nike Dunk or Air Force 1 as West's first Nike signature model. He wore and customized many Nike shoes, but the Air Yeezy was the first Nike sneaker created as his dedicated signature line. The name also predates the Adidas Yeezy range.