Adidas to release new Yeezy kicks at the end of May
Sat 20 May 2023Adidas announced on Friday that it will begin selling some of the shoes from its defunct Yeezy collaboration with artist Kanye West at the end of May, with the promise of donating its earnings to several selected organizations fighting against racism and intolerance.
The initial sale of some of the sneakers marks the first time the products have been made available to customers since Adidas’s agreement ended in October 2022.
Since Adidas stopped producing them, the resale value of Yeezy shoes has skyrocketed, with certain models more than doubling in price.
CEO Bjoern Gulden said, “We believe this is the best solution as it respects the created designs and the produced shoes, it works for our people, resolves an inventory problem, and will have a positive impact in our communities.”
“There is no place in sport or society for hate of any kind and we remain committed to fighting against it,” he added.
While the sale revealed on Friday could be followed by other Yeezy subsequent releases, Adidas said no decisions on timing had been taken, and the move had no immediate impact on the group’s 2023 outlook.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change are among the organizations that will benefit from the earnings, according to Adidas.