Kanye West's Yeezy brand, created in collaboration with Adidas, became a hit. The partnership has reshaped the sneaker business since its 2015 debut, bringing limited edition Yeezy sneakers that flushed a red-hot aftermarket, where some pairs commanded several times their list price. Yeezy sneakers, known for their unique design and built-in demand, were the poster boys of luxury or hype in sneaker land.
Kanye West Leaves Adidas
Kanye West is no stranger to controversy, though his latest comments and choice of wardrobe left him with even more problems in 2020 than ever before, including a video that featured the rapper on film while wearing an obscenely large Confederate flag Yeezus jacket. It culminated in Adidas cutting ties with Kanye West. This split led to Adidas declaring that Yeezy branded products would be manufactured no more, disrupting the future supply of Yeezys under Adidas.
Impact on Yeezy Resale Prices
When Kanye West and Adidas officially parted ways, there were immediate major second-order effects on the secondary market for Yeezy sneakers. Sneaker resellers also say they noticed a jump in resale prices, with some models like Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 or even the newer merch dropping by $50 to $100 overnight. Public data from StockX also showed that official prices for individual Adidas Yeezy sneakers jumped over 20%.
Forecast for the Future of Yeezy Resale Market
The future of the Yeezy resale market beyond any prolonged Adidas / YZY collaboration appears to be shrouded in uncertainty without ongoing production. With fewer Yeezy designs released and the possible discontinuation of some models shortly, resale values may only continue to climb as supply is restricted. Conversely, Kanye West's recent divisive actions might influence Yeezy consumer sentiment and resale desirability.
While the Kanye West co-sign alone could lead to inappropriate buzz surrounding these shoes, some sneaker resellers suspect that scarcity will result in Yeezy resale price points being far from " based on how good this colorway looks," The Yeezy sneaker shortages are likely to drive prices on resale markets significantly higher for the foreseeable future, as collectors and fans look to snap up these hotly sought after but now more limited edition items thanks in part to Adidas's axing of their partnership.
Aside from the short-term effect on resale prices, Kanye West's leaving Adidas also questions what is next for the Yeezy line. With Kanye West striking out on his own, there is excitement for upcoming sneaker drops now that Yeezy will be a standalone company.
The Kanye West x Adidas split has cratered the resale prices of Yeezy sneakers, which, in a twist, is manifesting as surging value because higher demand and scarcity go hand in hand. The fate of all Yeezy products in the resale market may be determined by what Kanye does next and how consumers will respond to it. While we can not foresee this split's long-term effects, its immediate effects demonstrate just how impactful Kanye West leaving Adidas could be on Yeezy Sneaker's resale.
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