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The "Red Octobers," Kanye West's final sneaker with Nike, won't go away. Just as everyone thought we were going to put this sneaker behind us and get on Kanye's adidas bandwagon, something crazy happened yesterday: A fan asked Kanye to sign a fake pair of "Red Octobers."
This event, however, was just a flash in the pan of the legend of this sneaker. It could go down as the single-most anticipated sneaker of all time. From Kanye debuting the sneakers on Saturday Night Live to his whole blow up with Nike and Mark Parker, a novel could be written about the "Red Octobers." Instead of doing that, we chronicled the best instances it gave us over the past year or so. Here is How the Red October Became the Most Talked About Sneakers Ever.
Kim Kardashian shares a teaser image.
When: May 18, 2013
Before Kanye even hit the stage on SNL, Kim Kardashian posted a teaser image on her instagram of the new Yeezy 2 colorway and the "Yeezus" album.
Kanye West debuts "Red October" Air Yeezy 2 on SNL.
When: May 18, 2013
The all-red Yeezy 2s were spotted on Kanye when he performed "Black Skinhead."
Random sneakerhead trolls everyone.
When: May 30, 2013
A sneakerhead posted images on Instagram of what appeared to be packaging for the sneaker. The packaging hinted at only 1,000 pairs and a June 18, 2013 release date. It was also speculated that tickets to purchase the sneakers would be inserted into random copies of the "Yeezus" album. The release date was eventually clarified by Nike's PR Director, while the rest of the rumors never panned out.
Nike's PR Director sets the record straight.
When: May 30, 2013
With rumors swirling that the "Red October" would be releasing on June 18, Nike's PR Director, Heidi Burgett, took to Twitter to set the record straight.
He raps, "These the Red Octobers," on "Hold My Liquor."
When: June 14, 2013
It seemed like everything stopped on the day that Yeezus was leaked to the public. On "Hold My Liquor," a track featuring fellow Chicago native Chief Keef, Kanye gave birth to the "Red Octobers," at least by name. As he rapped, "Yeezys all on your sofa, these the Red Octobers." 'Heads now had a name for the all-red sneakers.
"Red October" Contest.
When: June 22, 2013
A "Red October" contest was revealed on KanyeWest.com where 50 pairs of the Yeezys would be given away.
Kanye wears "Red Octobers" to kick off "Yeezus" tour
When: October 19, 2013
The "Yeezus" tour started in Seattle where Kanye West eventually wore the "Red Octobers" on stage.
Don C hints at "Red Januarys."
When: October 20, 2013
Don C posted an image on Instagram of Kanye wearing the Yeezys and included the hashtag "#redoctobersimeanjan." The image was eventually deleted in minutes.
Geno Smith wears an early pair courtside at a Nets game.
When: November 3, 2013
New York Jets QB Geno Smith was the first high-profile person to be spotted wearing the "Red October" sneakers, as he wore them courtside at the Brooklyn Nets' home opener. While rumors were swirling that his pair was fake, he posted detailed photos of his pair on Instagram to prove otherwise, but later deleted the photos.
Kanye West announces partnership with adidas.
When: November 25, 2013
Kanye went on the Angie Martinez show on New York's Hot 97 where he announced his partnership with adidas. With no release date in sight, it was believed amongst 'heads that the sneaker would no longer release now that Kanye cut ties with Nike.
Kanye ranted about the "Red Octobers" during his interview with Sway.
When: November 27, 2013
By now, everyone knows about the Kanye/Sway interview. Lost in that debacle was Sway asking Kanye, "What is going to happen with the 'Red Octobers'?"
Which Kanye replied, "You know Nike told me when I asked them? 'We ain't sure.' You know what they told the store, though, of my boy that run the store? They said 'If you want that 'Red October,' you gotta take these 10 other shoes.' So they told me, they ain't sure."
Foot Locker adds "Red October" to release calendar, then takes it back.
When: December 20, 2013
Sneakerheads woke up to a pleasant surprise when they noticed the "Red October" Air Yeezy 2 had been added to Foot Locker's release calendar. The sneaker was later removed, but Foot Locker did in fact confirm the release on Twitter. This was later retracted in a tweet on December 24.
Macklemore throws his pair into the crowd during New Year's Eve.
When: December 31, 3013
Macklemore wore the "Red October" during his New Year's Rockin' Eve 2014 performance and threw the sneakers into the crowd.
The Fancy had a full-size run of "Red Octobers" and was selling them for $10K per pair.
When: February 5, 2014
The Fancy is a site that sells a lot of cool things, and it, supposedly, had a handful of "Red Octobers" for sale. Too bad they wanted 10 racks for each pair.
Random release on Nike Store.
When: February 9, 2014
Nike Store sends out a random tweet at 1 p.m. EST to announce that the "Red October" 2 is now available.
There won't be a re-release.
When: February 10, 2014
Nike's PR Director, Heidi Burgett, responded to tweets regarding a re-release, and let people know that it was only online.
Kim Kardashian shows a family "Red Octobers" picture.
When: February 15, 2014
Even though Kanye split from Nike, his family still has its "Red Octobers." His fiancee, Kim Kardashian, went to Instagram and showed three pairs of the Yeezys: One for herself, one for Kanye, and for their daughter, North West.
Then, Kanye's inner circle received their pairs.
When: February 21, 2014
Kanye rolls with a tight-knit crew. On the second leg of the Yeezus Tour, he blessed the likes of Don C., Mano, and Jerry Lorenzo with their own pairs of Red Octobers. The crew followed by posting them on Instagram.
Fan gets his "Red Octobers" signed at "Yeezus" concert, turns down $98k.
When: February 23, 2014
Kanye signed a fan's pair of "Red October" sneakers at the "Yeezus" concert in Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New York. It was later revealed by The New York Times that the same fan, Jonathan Rodriguez, turned down a $98K offer for the sneakers while at a sneaker event in Manhattan.
Kanye West calls out a fan on his fake pair, signs them anyway.
When: May 20, 2014
A fan makes a request to have his Yeezys signed by Kanye and is told by the man himself that his "Red Octobers" aren't real. Despite this, Kanye signs the pair anyway, but breaks the fan's heart with the bad news.