Adidas to release second batch of Yeezy sneakers

Adidas has announced that it will be releasing a second batch of high-end Yeezy sneakers after cutting ties with rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye. The German sportswear brand is seeking to unload the unsold shoes while also donating to groups fighting antisemitism.

The online sale of Yeezy sneakers will start on Wednesday through Adidas smartphone apps and its website. The models that will be available include the Yeezy Boost 350 V2, 500, and 700, as well as the Yeezy Slide and Foam RNR.

Adidas decided to sever ties with Kanye West in October after he made antisemitic and offensive remarks online and in interviews. This left Adidas with 1.2 billion euros worth of unsold Yeezys and the challenge of finding a responsible way to dispose of them.

Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden stated in May that selling the popular sneakers and donating some of the profits to organizations harmed by Ye’s comments and actions was the best solution. The company spoke with nongovernmental organizations to determine the best course of action.

Part of the profits from the sales of the Yeezy shoes will go to the Anti-Defamation League and the Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change, run by social justice advocate Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd.

Adidas plans to include blue square pins, established by Robert Kraft’s Foundation to Combat Anti-Semitism, on shoes sold directly in North America as a symbol of solidarity in rejecting antisemitism.

The Anti-Defamation League praised the sale as a thoughtful and caring resolution for the unsold merchandise and welcomed any attempt to turn the consequences of Ye’s actions into something that benefits society.

Adidas did not disclose specific details on the number of shoes to be released or the exact amount of proceeds to be donated. Regarding royalties for Ye, the company stated that it would honor contractual obligations and enforce its rights but did not provide further details.

The first sale of Yeezy shoes already had a positive impact on Adidas’s preliminary second-quarter financial results, leading the company to raise its outlook for the year. It is expected that future Yeezy sales will further boost the company’s results.