'Sneakerheads' go crazy for Kanye West's new kicks

@CNNMoney June 8, 2012: 5:32 PM ET
Kanye West's signature sneakers could pull down thousands of dollars in the resale market.

The Nike Air Yeezy II's, set for release on Saturday.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Thousands of dollars for a pair of sneakers?

That's how much a pair of Kanye West's signature Nikes could pull down in the resale market following their release this weekend -- giving new meaning to the phrase "G'd up from the feet up."

Nike's (NKE, Fortune 500) Air Yeezy II's hit stores on Saturday in a limited release, and will retail for $245. While the precise number of pairs available hasn't been revealed, Matt Powell, a footwear analyst with SportsOneSource, estimated that it will be around just 1,000.

"It will be a very, very limited release," Powell said. "That should drive up the resale market significantly."

Already, sneakerheads, or shoe collectors, have laid claim to a number of pre-ordered pairs on eBay for between $2,000 and $3,000. One auction even closed with a winning bid of $90,000, though Powell said that was likely a phony offer to build hype ahead of the shoes' release.

Nike and eBay (EBAY, Fortune 500) did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The shoes, a follow-up to 2009's Air Yeezy I's, are tailored to the shape of Kanye's feet and come in both gray and black. They feature a hieroglyphic design on the strap and other "concealed but opulent details referenc[ing] ancient civilizations," according to Nike's websiteTo top of page

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