The rapper also claimed that Adidas had employed staff, selected color schemes and names, and recreated vintage shoe designs for the Yeezy collection without consulting him first.
According to Kanye West, Adidas invented Yeezy Day, an annual event on which some of the sportswear company’s most eagerly awaited Yeezy shoe drops are released, without his consent.
In an Instagram DM to Complex, West made a number of other allegations about Adidas and their joint brand, in addition to saying that the company launched Yeezy Day in 2019 without the rapper’s permission.
Adidas has also been accused of reviving outmoded shoe types, selecting names and colorways for the brand, hiring staff, and “stealing” Kanye West’s aesthetic and choice of materials without his consent.
Kanye West also addressed the subject of his earlier this year accusation that Adidas had produced “a phony Yeezy” with the launching of their Adilette 22 slide sandals.
“When I originally ordered Adidas to make more Yeezy slides the [general manager] lied to my face and said they didn’t have the capacity. Meanwhile Adidas was copying my slides and making their own version of the Yeezy slide. Yeezy is 68 [per cent] of Adidas [online] sales. God step in. I’m not standing for this blatant copying no more. This is for everyone who wants to express themselves but feel they can’t cause they’ll [lose] their contract or be called crazy.” Kanye sent in the message.
West compared the Adilette to his own Yeezy Slide collection, which he debuted in the latter part of 2019. Both shoes come in an earthy beige color and are lightweight slip-on styles. Additionally, Adilettes are $55 (£45) less expensive than Yeezy Slides, which sell for $10 (£8) more.
Late in 2013, West and Adidas announced their collaboration under the Yeezy brand, and their first collection debuted in 2015. The rapper is still the sole proprietor of the Yeezy brand and maintains full creative control over the goods sold under the name, according to the terms of West’s deal with Adidas.