Adidas Yeezy Boost 350: history of one of the most iconic Yeezys
The Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 was born in 2015 from the collaboration between Adidas and Kanye West and quickly became one of the most recognizable silhouettes in the entire Yeezy project.
The model follows the Yeezy Boost 750 but changes its language completely: low profile, flexible Primeknit upper, and a midsole that integrates Adidas Boost technology.
This combination allows the 350 to move away from the traditional leather and panel overlay constructions used by many sneakers of the period.
Within the Adidas Yeezy family, the 350 progressively became the model with the largest number of colorways and one of the silhouettes most associated with the collaboration.
The first Yeezy Boost 350
The first generation of the Yeezy Boost 350 arrived in 2015.
The silhouette uses a relatively simple Primeknit upper, a low-top structure, and a Boost sole covered by a grooved external construction.
Among the colorways that defined this initial phase, the Turtledove stands out, one of the releases most closely associated with the birth of the family.
The Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 Turtledove combines gray and brown tones with the distinct pattern of the upper and still remains one of the visual benchmarks of the first 350 today.
Yeezy Boost 350 Pirate Black
Pirate Black also belongs to the first generation.
The Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 Pirate Black uses a predominantly black configuration that makes the Primeknit structure more uniform.
Turtledove and Pirate Black allow one to immediately distinguish the first Yeezy 350 from the subsequent V2 generation.
The general construction remains tied to the same concept—knit, low profile, and Boost—but the shape and numerous details would change with the evolution of the model.
Yeezy Boost 350 V2: what's new?
The Yeezy Boost 350 V2 represents the second generation of the silhouette and progressively became much more widespread than the original 350.
The shape was modified, the midsole took on different proportions, and the Primeknit upper was used through new patterns and structures.
On some of the first V2s, the characteristic side stripe appeared, accompanied by the SPLY-350 lettering.
Over the years, the construction continued to evolve: some releases retained the stripe with lettering, others used a semi-transparent stripe, while others worked almost exclusively on Primeknit patterns.
For this reason, “350 V2” does not identify a single colorway but a generation that includes numerous interpretations.
Yeezy 350 V2 Zebra
The Zebra is one of the most recognizable colorways of the second generation.
The Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra uses a black and white Primeknit upper crossed by the side stripe with red lettering.
The contrast between the pattern and the writing makes the release immediately distinguishable even within the vast Yeezy 350 catalog.
Over time, the Zebra has become one of the main benchmarks for the Yeezy 350 V2, alongside the Beluga and the Core Black configurations.
Yeezy 350 V2 Beluga and Carbon Beluga
The Beluga family holds an important place in the history of the 350 V2.
The first configurations used a gray base accompanied by a very prominent stripe, creating one of the languages that defined the new generation.
Over time, the Beluga concept has been revisited through new interpretations.
The Beluga Reflective introduced reflective elements, while the Carbon Beluga modified the pattern and tones while maintaining a reference to the historic colorway.
These releases show how Adidas Yeezy often used the most recognizable colorways as a base for subsequent evolutions rather than limiting themselves to simple reissues.
Yeezy 350 V2 Onyx and Black
The black Yeezy 350s represent another important branch of the family.
The Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Onyx uses an almost completely dark construction, with a side stripe that remains integrated into the upper.
The Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Black, on the other hand, follows a different configuration while maintaining the same monochromatic approach.
An almost entirely black palette reduces the impact of the patterns and focuses attention primarily on the shape, Primeknit, and sole structure.
Yeezy 350 V2 Black Red and Core Black Red
The Black Red configurations belong to one of the most recognizable languages of the early Yeezy 350 V2s.
The Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Core Black Red combines a dark base with red details, creating a very sharp contrast on the upper.
In the Yeezy catalog, there are releases with similar names, so it is important to always distinguish by full name, year, and product code.
The black-red combination remains one of the references most closely associated with the early phase of the 350 V2.
Yeezy 350 V2 Bone and neutral colorways
The Bone represents the more minimal side of the family.
Light tones and a relatively uniform construction allow the shape of the sneaker to become more evident compared to colorways characterized by high-contrast patterns.
The same principle appears in numerous Yeezy 350 V2s built around beige, gray, white, and natural tones.
This neutral palette eventually became one of the most recognizable characteristics of the Yeezy universe and is also used on other silhouettes in the collaboration.
Primeknit and Boost in the Yeezy 350s
Two technical elements play a central role in the history of the Yeezy 350: Primeknit and Boost.
Primeknit allows for the construction of a flexible and relatively continuous textile upper, reducing the amount of rigid panels typical of traditional sneakers.
Boost technology is used in the midsole for cushioning.
On the Yeezy 350, these two elements are not simply technical details: they contribute directly to the sneaker's aesthetic.
The knit upper defines most of the shape, while the external sole structure almost completely hides the Boost material.
Yeezy 350 and Yeezy 380: what are the differences?
The Yeezy Boost 380 further develops some concepts already present in the 350.
Both use a knit upper and Boost cushioning, but the 380 features a taller, more organic shape and a completely different sole structure.
The upper's pattern also generally plays a more continuous role on the 380.
The Yeezy 350, on the other hand, maintains a lower and more linear silhouette and has been produced through a much higher number of releases.
The two families therefore share part of the technical language but remain distinct models.
Yeezy 350, 500, and 700
The differences become even more evident when comparing the 350 with the Yeezy 500 and Yeezy 700.
The 350 uses a knit upper and maintains a relatively essential profile.
The 500 follows a much more articulated construction, with overlapping panels and organic shapes.
The 700 uses retro running volumes and combines mesh, suede, and other materials, developing a decidedly more massive aesthetic.
These differences show how the Yeezy catalog was built through families with autonomous identities rather than simply through variations of the same sneaker.
Men's and women's Yeezy 350s
Men's and women's Yeezy 350s have been distributed across numerous size ranges.
Most releases are considered essentially unisex, but the fit can change slightly between the first generation, the V2, and specific upper constructions.
A 350 V2 with a particularly structured Primeknit may offer a different feel compared to a first-generation 350 or other releases of the same generation.
To choose correctly, it is therefore useful to refer to the EU size and the specific version rather than generalizing the entire family.
How much do Yeezy Boost 350s cost?
The price of Yeezy 350s varies based on colorway, year, size, availability, and version.
A release produced in high quantities may follow different market dynamics compared to historic or harder-to-find colorways.
Even within the same Yeezy 350 V2, there can be significant differences between the Zebra, Onyx, Beluga, Black Red, Bone, and other configurations.
In the resale market, the availability of a specific size can also affect the final price.
Original Yeezy Boost 350s and authenticity
The high number of releases makes it particularly important to correctly distinguish every original Yeezy Boost 350.
The Primeknit, pattern, side stripe, center stitching, sole shape, Boost, heel tab, internal labels, product code, and packaging can change between an original 350 and a 350 V2, and even between colorways belonging to the same generation.
Comparisons must therefore always be made against the specific release.
At ResellZone, every product undergoes a verification process to check its authenticity and consistency with the original model. The method used is detailed on the page dedicated to product authenticity.