Ye’s ventures in the fashion industry span back almost two decades with his Nike collaboration thrusting him into the spotlight in terms of footwear. Given his own silhouette, the Nike Air Yeezy, each release was extremely limited and now fetches prices upwards of 5 digits depending on the colorway. Prior to the development of the Air Yeezy model, unfortunately, Ye’s mother Donda West passed away due to complications during surgery - and Jordan Brand designers wanted to send their flowers. While not literal flowers, the team designed a special “Donda” colorway that paid homage to his late mother on one of Ye’s favorite Jordan models, the Air Jordan 6. Now over a decade later, one of the rumored 4-6 pairs produced is up for auction via Christie’s Department.
As told by Jason Mayden, a former Designer for Jordan Brand, “We really wanted to just send an honest expression of compassion towards him. It wasn’t something for clout chasing, it wasn’t something that was supposed to ever be seen.” The pair eventually did make its public debut, though not officially from Ye’s camp until his longtime friend, Don C, posted an image back in 2016. Our best look prior to this currently ongoing auction came around the time of his 2021 album Donda when Culture Curation posted detailed photos from a collector who had a pair in hand.
Across the sneaker sits a laser-etched rose pattern atop a white leather base with a more prominent design sitting atop the toebox, all of which comes in black. Accenting this is a varsity red tongue and sockliner with portions of the sole unit also receiving this treatment. Other rose details make their way to the heel and atop the lace cover with the most touching piece of this tribute found via a screen print atop the insole. Lyrics from the song “Rosie” by Bill Withers (which was sampled on a cut from Ye’s album Late Registration, “Roses,”) are present with “Donda West” in a cursive font sitting above the lyrics. Completing the design is a white AJ 6 midsole and outsole with icy blue semi-translucent rubber accenting the stark shade.
Making its way to auction alongside the infamous Air Yeezy 1 “Grammy Sample” that broke the record for the highest price paid for a pair of shoes at auction when it sold for $1.8 million, the Air Jordan 6 “Donda” is expected to sell at a price near $1,000,000. Currently, the “Ye Walks” collection on Christie’s Department includes both previously mentioned pairs with the private auction going down right now. If you’ve got the cash, head over to the auction page here to potentially score yourself a historical pair of kicks that pays tribute to the late Donda West. Keep it locked to our Twitter and the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest happenings in sneakers, streetwear, and more.
Image via Jason Mayden
Images via Christie's Deparment
