After a tumultuous end to 2022, characterized by his wearing of the "White Lives Matter" shirt and making anti-Semitic remarks, leading to a severance of ties with his fashion partners adidas and Gap, 2024 appears to be his comeback year for Ye (formerly known as Kanye West). The artist and fashion icon has just sold $5 million worth of his Yeezy Pod Sock Shoes.
After the controversies, Ye became independent and launched the Yeezy Pods in December 2023. The Yeezy Pod, manufactured in Italy, is essentially a sock with a cushioned insole and two rubber pods on the outsole. Initially priced at $200, the product was far from Ye's stated ambition of making his designs available for $20.
However, less than 24 hours after his latest album, a collab album with Ty Dolla $ign, "Vultures 1," hit streaming platforms and preceding a viral Super Bowl advertisement, Ye reduced the price of all products on yeezy.com to $20. This price adjustment and extensive social media advertising propelled sales to unprecedented heights. Ye disclosed in an Instagram post that 266,000 pairs of Yeezy Pods were sold on February 12, totaling $5,320,000 in sales.
The 90% price drop, while boosting sales, left earlier buyers who paid the full $200 feeling misled. In response to a question under their Instagram Shop, the official YZY Instagram account replied, “We are crediting back the $180 to all who purchased the Yeezy Pods for $200. Please write to customer service at sply@yeezy.com they will take care of you." The exact nature of the "crediting" remains unclear, leaving open whether it would be applied directly to the original payment method or as store credit for Yeezy products.
Due to the high volume of inquiries following this announcement, customers who reached out received an email from Yeezy customer service stating that the site was "inundated with thousands of emails." The team assured they were processing requests in the order received, indicating the overwhelming response to Ye's latest business move.
Despite previous controversies, Ye’s ability to rebound and captivate audiences and consumers has been proven with prominent sales figures and a #1 album across all streaming platforms. As the Yeezy brand moves forward under Ye's independent direction, we’ll keep you updated on the latest releases from Ye and more in the sneaker and streetwear world via the Sole Retriever mobile app.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
