Yeezy shoes still stuck in limbo after Adidas split with Kanye West

By Stermy 4 Min Read

Adidas is currently facing a dilemma regarding its 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) worth of unsold Yeezy shoes, following the end of its partnership with Kanye West seven months ago.

The company is striving to recover from the loss of this lucrative sneaker line and the ongoing repercussions of its former association with the rapper.

CEO Bjorn Gulden has disclosed that Adidas is approaching a decision on how to deal with the surplus stock, but with numerous stakeholders involved in discussions, no resolution has been reached yet.

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Gulden has ruled out certain options for the excess shoes, such as selling them (which would entail paying royalties to West), removing brand identification (which would be dishonest), and donating them to people in need (which could result in resale due to their high market value).

While destroying the shoes is not a desirable option, Gulden has stated that the company is working to avoid it.

Adidas is already experiencing the effects of the separation from West, with the loss of the Yeezy brand expected to cost the company 500 million euros this year if it chooses not to sell the remaining stock.

Related: Adidas sued by investors for ‘ignoring’ Kanye West’s ‘extreme behaviour’ ahead of cutting ties over antisemitic comments

The first quarter of 2023 saw the company report a net loss of 24 million euros, compared to a profit of 310 million euros during the same period last year. The absence of the Yeezy line has resulted in a 1% decrease in net sales, equating to 5.27 billion euros.

The company estimates that net sales would have increased by 9% if the Yeezy line had remained. Operating profit, excluding certain items like taxes, decreased from 437 million euros to 60 million euros.

Gulden has described 2023 as “a year of transition” on the path to “a better ’24 and a good ’25.” However, Adidas is also facing additional challenges related to its association with West. Recently, investors filed a lawsuit in the US, alleging that the company knew about West’s offensive remarks and harmful behavior for years before the split and failed to take precautionary measures to limit financial losses.

The lawsuit covers individuals who purchased Adidas securities between May 3, 2018, and February 21, 2023, citing West’s 2018 comments suggesting that slavery was a “choice” and reports of anti-Semitic statements he made in front of Adidas staff. Adidas has refuted these claims and is prepared to take all necessary measures to defend itself against the lawsuit.

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