Kanye West surprised everyone when invites to a YEEZY Season 8 presentation during Paris Fashion Week FW20 were sent out on short notice last Friday. West and his label weren’t on the schedule, nor had anyone anticipated that the designer would be showing considering seasons 6 and 7 were relative non-events limited to social media coverage.
For Season 8, Kanye took attendees to the futuristic Espace Niemeyer — home of the French Communist Party — designed by famed architect Oscar Niemeyer. The looks, while still very much recognizable as YEEZY — thanks to the drab, earthy tones — represented a departure from the brand’s previous aesthetic. West was much more experimental when it came to silhouettes — both in terms of apparel and footwear.
Three types of footwear were seen on models: a puffer-like boot with a distinct, exoskeletal tooling; an oversized slide that is reminiscent of the YEEZY clog that was unveiled late last year; and a lower-cut puffer boot with a Duck Boot-like body and a serrated outsole. Season 8 also represented the first time in over two years that new silhouettes were previewed on the runway.
The puffer boots look like next-level UGGs, featuring a wrap-around puffer upper material that looks to have either a button or Velcro closure. Its sole unit features an exaggerated tread and the same circular holes seen on the YEEZY Clog.
Similarly, the oversized slides look to have taken some inspiration from the YEEZY Clog. While the Clog is partly made from algae — specifically an algae-based foam — as part of West’s efforts to be more sustainable in production, it’s not possible to tell whether the slides are made from the same material. The slides’ midsole is overly bulky, while the forefoot strap almost looks swollen, as if it had been stung by a bee.
The third and final footwear style features a shorter puffer upper that is incased in a Duck Boot-like shell, most likely for added protection in extreme weather. A highly-serrated outsole gives the boot an aggressive feel and the wearer more grip. The encasing almost looks like a silicone cover, into which the puffer boot has been placed.
Take a look at all three styles above and stay tuned for further information.
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