Yeezy Is Pulling Off the Trickiest Shift in Fashion (2024)

And because the Yeezy story has been so heavily chronicled over the years, we’re able to look back and see how Adidas and Kanye’s long-tail strategy played out. In hindsight, the multiyear evolution provides a striking example of how you build a sustainable sneaker brand in 2021. For years, the brand cultivated hype, leaving plenty of pent-up demand in the wake of its frustratingly limited releases. Then Adidas was able to slowly convert scarcity into mass sales. Adidas’s CEO Kasper Rørsted mapped out the strategy plainly in late 2018: “As we’re moving new Yeezy products into the market, we will do what we’ve done also in the past: Create scarcity around the new products we are launching, make sure we have the hype, and, over a given period of time of course, drive volume into that market,” he said on an investor call at the time. Now, Yeezy is able to do what Nike, Jordan, and Adidas do: rely on tentpole models while continuing to put out limited hype-churning releases. While the 350 is moving in massive numbers, the brand is still able to play the scarcity game elsewhere. Sales of Yeezy slides grew 400% in 2020, according to StockX, and most of those are going for quadruple the original retail price.

Maybe the best proof that Yeezy is firing on all cylinders is that sales were able to weather the behavior of the brand’s founder. 2020 wasn’t exactly a banner year for Kanye, who ran a short-lived presidential campaign, tweeted a picture of him peeing on one of his Grammys, and claimed his wife Kim Kardashian tried to “lock him up.” Somehow, none of his bad behavior seems to have dampened the desire for the brand bearing his name. While Yeezy may once have been a brand reliant on the influencing powers of one of the most stylish men in the world, it now appears to be a brand that simply sells a ton of sneakers.

This post has been updated to clarify that Yeezy's ranking on this list only reflects sales of non-Adidas shoes.

Yeezy Is Pulling Off the Trickiest Shift in Fashion (2024)

FAQs

Why are people not buying Yeezys? ›

A few consigners pulled their Yeezy collectibles off the shelf in disgust after the rapper and fashion mogul Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, spewed antisemitic comments and Adidas terminated its shoe design relationship with him. Yeezys are canceled. The shoes' popularity is not.

Is Yeezy considered high fashion? ›

Yeezy on its surface is a high fashion streetwear collection, but more than anything it's one of the best revenge stories of our time. It's a story of the triumph of a black man who infiltrated an industry that called his pursuits absurd, only to turn around and emulate his colour palettes, patterns, and stage designs.

What is happening with Yeezys? ›

Adidas (ADDDF) ended its sneaker partnership with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, last month after the musician's anti-Semitic tirade. But Adidas (ADDDF) will continue to sell the lucrative sneaker and apparel line, stripped of the Yeezy name and branding.

Why is Adidas dropping Yeezy? ›

Adidas cut ties with Ye last October because of his antisemitic remarks on social media and ended the production of Yeezy-branded products. At the time, the company called Ye's comments "unacceptable, hateful and dangerous."

Who is the target audience for Yeezy? ›

Exclusive even amongst the A list group, these celebrities quickly took to Instagram to let their massive fan bases know that they were on Team Yeezy. The target audience of the Yeezy brand is fashion-conscious millennials, with high purchasing power, who keep afloat with the trends.

Does Kim Kardashian own half of Yeezys? ›

West owns 100% of the $1.26 billion shoe brand and earns about 11% of Yeezy's annual revenue from its manufacturer, Adidas. Though her wealth is also tied up in an eponymous brand, Kim Kardashian's fortune is much more liquid than Kanye West's. The bulk of Kardashian's wealth comes from her KKW Beauty brand.

Is it okay to wear Yeezys? ›

Everyone has their own approach to Yeezy sneakers. People have chosen to sell, donate, trash, or continue to wear the once-popular shoes. As we have written many times before, there are no wrong answers to footwear. As long as the person wearing them is comfortable and confident, that is the only thing that matters.

What makes Yeezys so popular? ›

As one of the trendiest and exclusive sneaker series, the Adidas YEEZY sneakers have been a huge target for sneaker collectors. Developed by famous rapper and designer Kanye West in collaboration with Adidas, Adidas YEEZYs are known for their unique sense of style.

What does SPLY stand for Yeezy? ›

SPLY: SPLY stands for “Supply.” adidas Yeezy disciples will be familiar with this terminology as “SPLY-350” embellishes the sidewall of sought-after Yeezy Boost 350 V2 colourways such as the “Beluga,” “Zebra” and “Semi Frozen Yellow.” StockX.

Will Yeezys be discontinued? ›

adidas will stop the adidas Yeezy business with immediate effect.” They approximated a short-term loss of $247 million on the company's net income in 2022 given the high seasonality of the fourth quarter. On an earnings call earlier this month, Adidas said it plans to release more Yeezys under its own branding.

What will Yeezys be called now? ›

Adidas plans to relaunch Kanye West's shoe designs after cutting ties with the disgraced rapper — and said it will ditch the Yeezy name in the process. The German sportswear giant said Wednesday that it intends to strip the shoes of their “Ye” branding but keep the same designs.

Can Adidas sell Yeezys without Kanye? ›

Adidas owns the rights to the Yeezy product designs and can sell them without using the Yeezy name. The shoe and apparel company terminated its relationship with rapper Ye, formally known as Kanye West after the rapper made antisemitic comments on social media and the Drink Champs podcast.

Will Adidas survive without Yeezy? ›

To be sure, Adidas will survive. Analysts noted Yeezy products represent only a small fraction of the roughly 300 million pairs of shoes the company sells each year.

Has Adidas lost Money since Kanye? ›

The rapper formerly known as Kanye West told the world last year that he lost $1 billion after severing a partnership with Adidas. Now it turns out Adidas stands to lose even more.

Why is it so hard to get Yeezys? ›

You must win a raffle of some kind to purchase a pair. Why are Yeezys expensive? They are expensive because they are high in demand and made in limited numbers. Over the years, adidas has made the shoes more frequently and in higher quantities, making the resell price decrease.

What is the most popular pair of yeezys? ›

The 350 V2 is thought to be the most popular Yeezys.

Are yeezys a luxury brand? ›

Yeezy is a luxury fashion label founded by Kanye West in 2015. Initially launched as a series of knit sneakers, which sold out online in the US in 12 minutes, the label is backed by Adidas Originals and offers elevated, monochromatic streetwear.

Is Yeezy Black Owned? ›

Of course, you might be wondering about Kanye West's brand Yeezy. Isn't that Black-owned? Well, kind of. According to Business Insider, Yeezy is actually in partnership with Adidas—which, as you might have guessed, isn't a Black-owned company.

Who is the current owner of Yeezy? ›

Adidas Yeezy
TypeClothing, sneakers
InventorKanye West and Adidas
InceptionFebruary 2015
ManufacturerAdidas
AvailableNo
3 more rows

Who owns yeezys now? ›

Adidas owns the rights to everything about the Yeezy products except the name as it seeks to plug up to 15% hole in profits post-Kanye. A sign advertises Yeezy shoes made by Adidas at Kickclusive, a sneaker resale store, in Paramus, N.J., Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022.

Who is the new owner of Yeezy? ›

“Adidas is the sole owner of all design rights to existing products as well as previous and new colorways under the partnership.”

Is it hard to drive in Yeezys? ›

While they might be suited to a hoverboard, they definitely aren't suited to driving, with the bulky shoe offering very little ankle movement and again, a sole that goes way above the 10mm guidance.

Are people still wearing Yeezy sneakers? ›

If you go to StockX, you'll see that Yeezys are one of the biggest sneaker brands in the culture. Many people have publicly or quietly burned their sneakers, but I see many people still wearing them.

Should you wear Yeezys with jeans? ›

Absolutely! Yeezys can be worn casually with sweatpants, jeans and leggings for both women and men. They are THE accessory of the outfit. They can go with everything, even something you might not initially think of like a spaghetti strap dress from the 90s.

Why are Yeezy so hyped? ›

So, what exactly makes them so popular? Supply and demand would be number one. Yeezy sneakers are released in small batches, making them difficult to get. The limited supply means they sell out at a moment's notice.

When did Yeezys become popular? ›

In 2016, Kanye turned up the heat by revamping the design of all Yeezy shoes in the 350 models. He debuted his new design during Season 3 starting with the Yeezy 350 V2 Beluga. It came without a heel tab, a more structured look, and an emblazoned SPLY-350 on the side. Needless to say, they were a huge hit!

What is Yeezy brand strategy? ›

Adidas Yeezy is a fashion collaborated brand founded by Kanye West and Adidas. It uses the power of hunger marketing to create an exclusive brand image and stimulate consumers' desire to buy.

Does Nike Own Yeezy? ›

The Air Yeezy is a collaborative sneaker created by the team up of rapper/producer Kanye West and Nike. To date there are two separate versions of the Nike Air Yeezy, with the first releasing in 2009 and the Nike Air Yeezy 2 releasing in 2012.

What does it say on the side of Yeezys? ›

On legitimate Yeezy's, the iconic Adidas trefoil will appear on the side of your shoe. These, as well as the 'YZY' logo, are commonly printed far larger on a pair of fakes and take up more space on the shoe as shown below.

What does GS mean on Stockx? ›

Please double check for these before placing your Ask/Bid. (W) - Women. (GS) - Grade School. (PS) - Preschool. (TD) - Toddler.

Why did Nike drop Yeezy? ›

The dropped deals come in response to Ye's recent controversial behavior, including making antisemitic comments on Twitter and wearing a "White Lives Matter" shirt to his Yeezy fashion show.

What does the SPLY stand for? ›

SPLY. Same Period Last Year (US Postal Service)

Are there Yeezys without Kanye branding? ›

Adidas set to release Yeezy-designed sneakers WITHOUT Yeezy branding after cutting ties with Kanye West over rapper's anti-Semitic outbursts. Adidas is set to release a new line of Yeezy-designed sneakers in the coming year minus the Kanye West affiliated branding, according to We Got This Covered.

Has Adidas lost money? ›

Adidas said it expects to lose around $1.3 billion in revenue and roughly $535 million in operating profit this year if it cannot sell the stock. Adidas also forecast falling sales and one-off costs of roughly $214 million this year, which could push the firm to an operating loss of nearly $750 million for 2023.

What famous rappers are known as Yeezys? ›

Kanye West

What was the first Yeezy shoe without Kanye? ›

According to leaker Yeezy Influence, the first Adidas Yeezy to release without the artist's branding is the Yeezy 350 V2 “Granite” dropping in January.

Do rappers wear Adidas? ›

This led to Run DMC signing the first rap endorsem*nt deal ever with Adidas. Until this day, Adidas is still a force in hip hop.

Are Yeezys meant to be worn without socks? ›

That's the beauty of this model! So, here's how to wear the Yeezy Boost 350 sneakers: Sockless or crew-length socks (nothing in between) Pair with athleisure or fitness attire like sweatpants or tight-fit legging.

Why does Kanye call himself Yeezus? ›

Yeezy is derived from Jesus, West began using the nickname to position himself as a 'God' of rap. West has often stated that he believes he is a God, and has at times compared himself to Jesus.

What are the weaknesses of Adidas? ›

Adidas outsources the production of its products to Far Eastern manufacturers. While this strategy does allow the brand to cut costs, it's one of their major weaknesses. By outsourcing manufacturing processes to third-party suppliers working overseas, Adidas loses some control over how its products are made.

What challenges are Adidas facing? ›

The country was once the brand's biggest growth engine, but consumer boycotts and Covid restrictions have dented sales. Surging inflation across western markets has crimped consumer spending power.

What are the negative impacts of Adidas? ›

Producing huge quantities of garments (most of which are not made from sustainable materials) has disastrous effects not only on the environment, but also on workers who often have to work long hours for very little pay in order to reach production targets.

What are the chances of winning Yeezys? ›

The odds are approximately 900 to 1, which means your chances at other shops with less stock were even lower. Check out their Instagram post below. The Yeezyboost raffle is over for this time and we understand the frustration from our followers that didn't win a pair.

Are Yeezys worth the investment? ›

Resale Value

However, even if you're not a Yeezy Boost fan, it's still a pretty good investment. If you don't like Kanye's sneakers, thousands of sneakerheads around the world do. And they would do anything to get a pair! This includes paying up to 10 times the retail price.

Did Yeezys get cheaper? ›

On StockX, a competitor website, eight of the top 10 most popular Yeezy sneakers showed a decline in “last sale” prices.

Do Yeezys hold their value? ›

If you think retail prices are high, ranging anywhere from 200 to 500+ dollars, the resale value of Kanye's Yeezy creations have reached unimaginable heights with some selling on secondary markets for thousands of dollars. For example, the Yeezy 350 retails at $220.

Did Adidas stop selling Yeezys? ›

Adidas says it stopped production of Yeezy products as well as payments to Ye and his companies back in October — adding that the German company does not tolerate antisemitism or other types of hate speech.

What are the chances of winning YEEZYs? ›

The odds are approximately 900 to 1, which means your chances at other shops with less stock were even lower. Check out their Instagram post below. The Yeezyboost raffle is over for this time and we understand the frustration from our followers that didn't win a pair.

Is it hard to drive in YEEZYs? ›

While they might be suited to a hoverboard, they definitely aren't suited to driving, with the bulky shoe offering very little ankle movement and again, a sole that goes way above the 10mm guidance.

Which Yeezy has highest resale value? ›

The Most Resold Sneaker: Yeezy 350 V2

We discovered that the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 Black Red was the most frequently resold trainer model on StockX, with over 70,000 resales.

Are YEEZYs a luxury brand? ›

Yeezy is a luxury fashion label founded by Kanye West in 2015. Initially launched as a series of knit sneakers, which sold out online in the US in 12 minutes, the label is backed by Adidas Originals and offers elevated, monochromatic streetwear.

Why are YEEZYs so special? ›

As one of the trendiest and exclusive sneaker series, the Adidas YEEZY sneakers have been a huge target for sneaker collectors. Developed by famous rapper and designer Kanye West in collaboration with Adidas, Adidas YEEZYs are known for their unique sense of style.

What are Yeezys called now? ›

Adidas plans to relaunch Kanye West's shoe designs after cutting ties with the disgraced rapper — and said it will ditch the Yeezy name in the process. The German sportswear giant said Wednesday that it intends to strip the shoes of their “Ye” branding but keep the same designs.

What is the future of Yeezy shoes? ›

Contributing writer. Adidas' plans for the future of the Yeezy business in the wake of the termination of its partnership with Ye continue to take shape, with the brand breaking down its outlook to investors today in its Q3 2022 earnings call.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Carmelo Roob

Last Updated:

Views: 6670

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Carmelo Roob

Birthday: 1995-01-09

Address: Apt. 915 481 Sipes Cliff, New Gonzalobury, CO 80176

Phone: +6773780339780

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Gaming, Jogging, Rugby, Video gaming, Handball, Ice skating, Web surfing

Introduction: My name is Carmelo Roob, I am a modern, handsome, delightful, comfortable, attractive, vast, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.