Kanye West Unveils Yeezy Pods, His First Post-Adidas Sneaker Release
Kanye West officially unveiled the Yeezy Pods on December 28, 2023, marking his first sneaker release since parting ways with Adidas in 2022.
The Yeezy Pods, available in three sizes, feature a design reminiscent of socks and are priced at $200 on the rapper’s official website. The initial colourway is tonal black, with the possibility of additional shades being released in the future.
Earlier this month, the company welcomed Gosha Rubchinskiy as its head of design. On Dec. 13, West announced, “The arrival of this legendary Russian designer at Yeezy, the pre-eminent global brand in music and fashion, is a milestone in design history.”
In May, Adidas initiated the release of surplus Yeezy sneaker inventory. Despite Kanye West facing a controversial period in his career, the demand showed little sign of slowing down.
The renowned footwear giant reportedly generated $437 million in revenue, as disclosed by the Wall Street Journal. Proceeds from the sales were allocated to various organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League and Robert Kraft’s Foundation to Combat Antisemitism.
Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden, addressing investors, expressed, “Six months ago, people suggested we should dispose of the product, and now we’ve found ways to sell it. We can utilize part of that revenue to contribute positively to society. The Yeezy venture, which initially made us nervous, turned out to be successful.”
The announcement of the Yeezy Pods follows Kanye West’s recent apology to the Jewish community for his previous comments and actions. Shared on his social media platforms in Hebrew, he conveyed, “I sincerely apologize to the Jewish community for any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions. It was not my intention to hurt or disrespect, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused. I am committed to starting with myself and learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future. Your forgiveness is important to me, and I am committed to making amends and promoting unity.”
