Sneakers

You’ll Never Believe What May Have Inspired the Yeezy Boost 350

One of Kanye West's inspirations for the adidas Yeezy Boost 350 may have came from the strangest place.

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Image via Complex Original
Complex Original

It's no secret that the adidas Yeezy Boost 350 shares a few similarities with other sneakers. Comparisons have been drawn between the Boost 350's silhouette and that of the Nike Roshe, and many 'heads have noted the Primeknit pattern's likeness to this colorway of Saint Laurent's Skate Lace-Up sneaker. These inspirations can be debated ad nauseam, but it's going to be hard to argue with this one.

A sneakerhead posted the image below on Facebook, pointing out the similarities between the Boost 350's red-threaded heel tab and, wait for it — lamp wicks.

Many had assumed this heel piece to be a nod to the stitching found on selvedge denim, which is still a possibility, but it definitely bears an stronger resemblance to the lamp wicks pictured below. And it's not just limited to these specific wicks, as a quick Google search reveals that they're actually quite common.

It's hard to say with certainty if Kanye's inspiration was literally lit, but we'll let you decide for yourself.

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