The tumultuous partnership between Adidas and Kanye West has officially come to an end. In their latest earnings call, Adidas confirmed that they have sold off every single remaining pair of Yeezy sneakers, marking the complete dissolution of the once highly profitable Yeezy brand.
"There is not one Yeezy shoe left," said Adidas chief financial officer Harm Ohlmeyer. "It has all been sold and that episode is behind us."
The Yeezy line, which Kanye West single-handedly propelled to global fame and success in the 2010s, had become a thorn in Adidas' side in recent years. Towards the end of the partnership, the brand suffered from redundant product offerings and waning desirability, as Kanye's controversial antics and anti-Semitic comments began to overshadow the shoes themselves.
The final break came in October 2022, when Adidas officially cut ties with Kanye and vowed to liquidate all remaining Yeezy inventory at a loss, with proceeds going to charity. This sparked a very public and messy split, with Kanye lashing out at his former partner on social media and through various publicity stunts.
The Yeezy brand, which had once been a massive hit in the resale market and a major driver of Adidas' success in the US, is now firmly in the rearview. Adidas has wiped its hands clean of the "forever-tainted era," as they look to move forward without the polarizing figure of Kanye West.
The future of Kanye's Yeezy ventures remains uncertain, though he has announced plans to open his own brick-and-mortar Yeezy stores. For Adidas, this marks the end of a chapter and the opportunity to refocus on their core business and brand identity, free from the baggage of the Yeezy partnership.
Comments