Why did Kanye West leave Nike ?
Why did Kanye West leave Nike ?
Kanye West is a rapper, producer, and fashion designer who rose to fame in the early 2000s with his hit albums and groundbreaking music videos. He is also known for his controversial and outspoken public persona, as well as his collaborations with other artists and designers in the fashion and music worlds.
In 2009, West announced that he would be partnering with Nike to release a line of sneakers called the Air Yeezy. The sneaker line was highly anticipated and generated significant buzz in the fashion and sneaker communities. The Air Yeezy 1 and 2 were released in 2009 and 2012 respectively and were popular among sneaker enthusiasts, celebrities and fashion influencers.
However, in 2013, West announced that he was leaving Nike and partnering with Adidas to release his next sneaker line. The reason for this decision was that West felt that Nike was not valuing or properly compensating him for his contributions to the company, particularly in the area of royalties for his Yeezy sneaker line. West had hoped that Nike would give him a larger ownership stake in the Yeezy brand, which would allow him more control over the design and marketing of the shoes. However, Nike was not willing to do this, and West felt that he was not receiving a fair share of the profits from the Yeezy line.
West also stated that he wanted to take the Yeezy brand to the next level and felt that Adidas would be the perfect partner to help him do this. Adidas was willing to give West a more prominent role in the design and marketing of the shoes, as well as a more favorable royalty structure. This allowed West more creative freedom and control over his brand and designs.
Since partnering with Adidas, West has released a number of highly successful and popular Yeezy shoe models and clothing lines, which have become a cultural phenomenon. The Yeezy brand has been worn by many celebrities, fashion influencers and the general public. The Yeezy Boost 350 and 750 models have sold out multiple times and have been re-released multiple times. The Yeezy brand has also been received well by fashion critics and has been featured in many fashion shows.
West has also been credited for bringing Adidas back to the forefront of the fashion world, and for popularizing the use of Adidas as a fashion statement. The collaboration between West and Adidas has been a win-win for both parties, as Adidas has been able to tap into West’s massive fan base and cultural influence, while West has been able to build his own successful fashion brand.
In conclusion, Kanye West left Nike in 2013 due to creative differences and a dispute over royalties. He felt that Nike was not valuing or properly compensating him for his contributions to the company, particularly in the area of royalties for his Yeezy sneaker line. He also wanted more control over his brand and designs, and felt that Adidas would be the perfect partner to help him achieve this. Since partnering with Adidas, West has released a number of highly successful and popular Yeezy shoe models and clothing lines, which have become a cultural phenomenon.