// Adidas to continue selling shoes designed in collaboration with Kanye West without the Yeezy brand
// The announcement comes after Adidas ended its partnership with the rapper over his antisemitic comments
Adidas said it will continue selling shoes designed in collaboration with Kanye West without the Yeezy brand, despite recently ending its partnership with the rapper.
The German sportswear retailer said it is the “sole owner” of certain design rights, and intended to make use of them next year.
It said last month that it was ending production of its Yeezy branded products with “immediate effect”, after West’s antisemitic comments.
Adidas said it “does not tolerate antisemitism” and described West’s recent comments “dangerous and hateful”.
Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morning
However, Adidas’ chief financial officer Harm Ohlmeyer said plans to “leverage the existing inventory” were currently being developed.
“Adidas is the sole owner of all design rights registered to existing products,” he said.
“We intend to make use of these rights as early as 2023.”
Yeezy trainers have proved popular for the company over the years.
Adidas said it expected the decision to end its partnership with West to have a “short-term negative impact of up to 250 million euros on the company’s net income in 2022”.
