Yeezy Ash Blue Release Info and Guide
The Yeezy Ash Blue is part of the Yeezy 350 V2 silhouette, released on February 27th, 2021. It features a classic Yeezy Primeknit upper and Adidas Boost sole and a grayish-blue tone with an orange lateral stripe. This colorway, resembling the Yeezy Israfil, Ash Stone, and other pairs, can be found on plenty of sneaker marketplaces like StockX, Stadium Goods, Flight Club, GOAT, and more. The Yeezy 350 V2 collection doesn’t run true to size, so read on to find out the sizing before you buy. In this article, you’ll discover a brief history of the Yeezy brand, all about the 350 silhouette, Ash Blue features, similar pairs, pricing, where to buy, and sizing.
History of Yeezy
Yeezy brand began as a partnership with Nike in 2009 that only lasted a few years. While Adidas now produces the shoes, the actual designer behind the brand is rapper and former presidential candidate Kanye West. West’s first shoes were not Yeezy brand, though. He sold his first sneakers in a collaboration with BAPE. West didn’t design the shoes, but his album, The College Dropout, inspired them. They feature the mascot and color scheme. They were released in January of 2007 and are now worth around 9 thousand dollars. Next, he partnered with none other than Louis Vuitton and designed three shoes. They were known as the Jasper, Mr. Hudson, and Don.
The Air Yeezy collection started in 2009 and is West’s collection with Nike. He helped release only two silhouettes, the Nike Air Yeezy 1 and Nike Air Yeezy 2. One of the most expensive and rare Yeezy shoes to date is the Nike Air Yeezy 2 ‘Red Octobers’, worth thousands of dollars now due to their low release quantity and feature an all-red colorway. Next, Kanye broke apart from Nike. He didn’t like that they weren’t giving him enough room to implement his designs into the shoes and that they weren’t paying him adequate royalties. Adidas saw the potential for Yeezy and immediately offered to collaborate, and together they created Yeezy Boost, which is still releasing new shoes today, like the newer Yeezy Foam Runners. One of the first Yeezy Boosts that’s still sought after by sneakerheads worldwide is the Yeezy Turtledove. By far, the most popular silhouette for Yeezy is the 350, both the originals and 350 V2’s. The 350 V2 Beluga is an easily recognizable grey with zebra stripes and a bright orange lateral stripe. Today, the Yeezy Slides are also becoming more popular after the pandemic lowered sneaker sales and brought on a trend for comfortable, easy-to-wear shoes.
The Yeezy 350
The Yeezy 350 is Yeezy Boost’s most successful silhouette. They’re very comfortable and can be worn casually, for athletic activity, and even with formal wear. They use a Primeknit upper and Boost sole. The Yeezy Turtledove was the first Yeezy Boost 350, followed by an all-black colorway, especially loved by Kim Kardashian, West’s wife. On February 11th of 2016, we got the first preview of the Yeezy Boost 350 V2, the silhouette with the Yeezy 350 V2 ‘Ash Blue’. The 350 V2 has a translucent midsole, and a SPLY-350 stripe, which stands for “Saint Pablo Loves You.” The most popular and the first release is called the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 “Beluga,” which has dark grey zebra tripes and a scarlet lateral stripe with SPLY-350 branding. The “Bred” was also very popular, as it was all black with a bright blood red stripe.
Yeezy 350 V2 ‘Ash Blue’ Features
The Yeezy 350 V2 Ash Blue, along with the Yeezy 350 V2 Ash Stone, are two region-exclusive shoes that were released February 27th, 2021 on Adidas and Yeezy Supply. Both the Ash Blue and Ash Stone were released in separate places. The Ash Blue was released in North and Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and India. The Ash Stone is exclusive to Europe, Russia, Ukraine, and APAC countries. They were both released at a retail price of $220.
The Yeezy Ash Blue might have blue in its name, but the Ash color dominates it with a blue tone. The midsole is light blue and translucent, while the Primeknit upper features a patchwork pattern and is grey and white above the lateral stripe and bluish-grey under the lateral stripe. The lateral stripe itself is a muted light yellow, and the laces are light grey. Like the other V2’s, it’s a low-top shoe.
Primeknit technology is Adidas-made and involves a single-piece knitted upper. Most shoes feature lots of overlays and materials stitched together into the upper, which can result in stiffness and an uncomfortable shoe that takes too long to get used to. Primeknit eliminates that by combining all the materials and knitting them as a single piece, so it feels like you’re wearing a sock, but it still supports your feet. The knitting also helps with ventilation, while classic stitched uppers can get hot and not have proper airflow.
Boost is a second component of the Yeezy Ash Blue and 350 V2 collections in general, and Adidas also makes it. It was created by AIT, the Adidas Innovation Team, and German chemists BASF. Before Boost, they used EVA foam for performance running shoes. The Boost came along, which is when thermoplastic polyurethane particles expand to form closed cells around air pockets that create a material known as eTPU. It makes a sole that’s incredibly cushioned and comfortable. It’s also durable and flexible and produces more athletic output than any other kind of sole.
Adidas Yeezy Ash Blue Similar Pairs
If you like the colorway of the Ash Blue but aren’t sure yet and want to look at your other options, you’re in luck. The 350 V2 is in no way short of any color scheme you can imagine, and there are plenty of shoes like the Ash Blue.
The Ash Stone is a warm version of the Ash Blue. It features a translucent red-orange lateral stripe and a Primeknit upper in an ashy earth brown. The midsole is dark translucent grey, and the laces are warm grey. The main difference between the two is that the Ash Stone has a brownish upper while the Ash Blue has a grey upper, and the lateral stripes are different colors. Otherwise, they are pretty similar and were released on the same date with the same price.
The Yeezy Israfil is similar to the Ash Blue because it features greyish blue tones and an orange/yellow lateral stripe. It was released on August 22nd, 2020, and is named after an Islamic archangel. The ‘Bluish Grey’ Primeknit upper has a two-tone pattern similar to the Ash Blue. The lateral stripe is sandy yellow, and the midsole is translucent blue with a gum tan outsole and white laces. It was also released at a retail price of $220.
The Yeezy 350 V2 Beluga is similar but with a little more flair. The lateral stripe has SPLY-350 branding and is bright scarlet. The upper is beluga grey, with a matching toned grey translucent midsole, but it features some zebra stripes in dark grey. The laces are dark grey. It’s a trendy shoe that remains the most popular 350 V2 to date, and there have been several shoes released like the 350 V2 original Beluga. You can find the 350 V2 Beluga Reflective on some sneaker marketplaces, which is much newer and is the same style and design as the original, except with some reflective silver threading in the upper that is only really noticeable in the light. The Beluga 2.0 is slightly different as it’s missing the orange stripe but has a similar color scheme. The Beluga Reflective might be your best bet because it was released on December 18th, 2021, for $220.
Yeezy Ash Blue Sizing
You know about the shoe, and you’ve seen your other options. Now you’re ready to buy! Wait a minute— don’t add it to your cart just yet. The Yeezy 350 V2 silhouette doesn’t fit true to size. In US and UK sizes, you should plan on purchasing a half size up from your usual size. They run small, and even if you size up, they might still feel a bit snug at first, but don’t be afraid since the Primeknit upper stretches to fit you better. Remember, it’s also a flexible shoe after they are broken in. If you do end up ordering true to size, you have the option of removing the insole, and then it should fit you, but it’s best to size up a half size. Note that sizes are in men’s sizes only. It doesn’t mean women can’t buy a pair of the Yeezy Ash Blue’s, too! To convert a women’s to men’s size, add 1.5 sizes to the original women’s size.
Pricing and Where to Buy
Now that you’ve figured out your size, it’s time to decide where you will purchase your sneakers and in what condition you’ll get them. Firstly, avoid Amazon and eBay—the sneaker industry is so large that plenty of fakes are floating around that tend to concentrate on sites like Amazon and eBay, where products aren’t authenticated. Getting the shoes directly from Adidas is also impossible because they sell out immediately upon release. Luckily, you can still get them brand new in box from trusted sneaker marketplaces. You will likely need to pay more now for a pair of the Ash Blue’s than the original retail price of $220, but buy used for cheaper prices.
StockX is a world-famous “stock market for things.” That’s right, and it’s more than just sneakers. You can buy apparel and even NFTs on StockX. Although it was founded in 2016, it’s one of the most trusted and well-known options. The market demand of the current time determines prices on StockX, so the company itself and sellers do not. You bid on items or buy them at real-time prices; anyone can sell on StockX. Note that you can only sell and buy brand-new sneakers which are authenticated (if yours are fake, you will be flagged). The average sale price for the Yeezy Ash Blue on StockX is $297.
It can be risky to purchase sneakers online if you don’t know where you’re buying from. However, it used to be extremely risky in general, and it hit a friend group from LA after a pair of Jordans they ordered online arrived and were fake. When Daishin Sugano received his fake pair of Air Jordan 5 Grapes, he told his friend Eddy Lu from UC Berkeley, and the two entrepreneurs decided to do something about it. They created GOAT, a company that authenticates every pair of sneakers sold before it arrives at the buyer’s door. Established in 2015, the company has 600,000 sellers in over 150 countries. Expect to spend around $320 for a pair of the Yeezy Ash Blue 350 V2’s on GOAT brand new, but prices are much lower if you buy used or new with defects (like with a missing lid or damaged box). If you buy instant new, you will need to spend more, but you’ll get brand new-in-box shoes that are pre-authenticated and will ship to you immediately.
If you want to stop by a brick-and-mortar store for popular sneakers, you can check out Flight Club’s retail locations in Miami, Los Angeles, and New York City (their headquarters). Flight Club is older than most other options, and their sneakers are also pre-authenticated. They sell new and used sneakers, but used ones are usually more difficult to find. Orders can only be canceled within three hours of placement, and there are no returns or refunds. On average, spend in the early $300 range for a new pair of Yeezy Ash Blue sneakers on Flight Club.
How to Spot a Fake Yeezy 350 V2 Ash Blue
Even the complex technology used by sneaker authentication facilities can sometimes fail. That’s why it’s essential to check the shoes briefly by yourself after you receive them. However, sneaker checking technology at home has also greatly improved in recent years. For example, you can download the Legit Check app on your mobile phone and use your camera to scan your Yeezy Ash Blue’s. The software will match the sneakers to similar pairs stored in the database and help you determine whether or not they are real or fake.
Still, check the text of your shoes. The size tag and branding should not have weirdly shaped letters or bold/italic numbers that look out of place. Ensure the sole pellets are properly detailed and the laces are placed on the shoe correctly. Look at the text inside the insole to check that they use the correct thickness and font. For comparison, you can find pictures of what the real test should look like online.
Summary
Yeezy brand started as a collaboration with BAPE, where the company took Kanye West’s album and inspired “The College Dropout” sneakers. West didn’t get to do much with the shoes, but he soon got a little more say in design when he collaborated with Louis Vuitton. A partnership with Nike in 2009 led to the release of the first two Yeezy’s, the Nike Air Yeezy 1 and 2. However, this partnership was short-lived. West wasn’t getting fair royalties or the design flexibility he wanted. He later partnered with Adidas to create Yeezy Boost, one of the world’s most popular sneaker brands. The silhouette anyone can recognize is none other than the 350 V2 collections. These shoes feature a colored lateral stripe on a knitted single-piece upper known as Primeknit that gives the shoe a sock-like feel. They use Adidas Boost sole technology for comfort and impact.
The Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Ash Blue was released on February 27th along with the Ash Stone, which was region-exclusive. The Ash Blue has a blue translucent midsole with a gum outsole and patchwork style grey and white Primeknit upper. The lateral stripe is yellow, which contrasts with the orange lateral stripe of the Ash Stone, which is a warmer-colored variant of the Ash Blue. They originally sold both pairs at a retail price of $220, but you’ll likely need to pay more for them now, and you’ll need to find them on an online sneaker marketplace such as StockX, GOAT, or Flight Club to avoid receiving a fake.
