Adidas, today, made a surprising announcement to release an inventory of pre-existing Adidas Yeezy products, ending an unprecedented hiatus since their separation from the Yeezy partnership in October 2022. This exciting new collection, set to drop towards the end of May 2023, will be exclusively available via the Adidas website and the Adidas CONFIRMED app.
While the official press release didn’t specify which shoes would hit the shelves, a sneak peek into the collection was given with images that showcased a variety of pairs. These include the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in styles like Onyx, Carbon Beluga, CMPCT Panda, and Zebra, the Yeezy 500 in Utility Black, the Yeezy Boost 380 Covellite, the Yeezy Slide in Azure and Onyx, the Yeezy 450 in Stone Teal, the Yeezy Boost 700 in styles like V2 Tephra and Salt, the Yeezy Foam RNNR in variants like MX Azure, Clay Taupe, and Stone Salt, and finally the Yeezy Boost 350 in the iconic Pirate Black.
Serving a Greater Cause
In a bid to promote social justice, Adidas plans to donate a significant portion of the inventory to organizations tackling discrimination, including racism and antisemitism. Among the beneficiaries will be notable establishments like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change.
Navigating a Sensitive Path
This strategic move comes after Adidas conducted a broad-based consultation with employees, organizations, communities, and consumers on the responsible handling of the remaining Yeezy inventory. During this period, Adidas proceeded with existing production orders to cushion their supply chain partners against potential losses resulting from order cancellations.
A Win-Win Solution
Bjørn Gulden, the CEO of Adidas, emphasized that the decision was made after careful deliberation. He hailed it as a solution that respects the creative value of the designs, benefits Adidas stakeholders, and impacts communities positively. He reiterated Adidas’s stance against any form of hate in sport and society.
“After careful consideration, we have decided to begin releasing some of the remaining adidas YEEZY products. Selling and donating was the preferred option among all organizations and stakeholders we spoke to. We believe this is the best solution as it respects the created designs and produced shoes, it works for our people, resolves an inventory problem, and will have a positive impact in our communities. There is no place in sport or society for hate of any kind and we remain committed to fighting against it.”
Bjørn Gulden, CEO of Adidas
Kudos from ADL
The ADL’s CEO, Jonathan A. Greenblatt, commended Adidas for transforming a challenging situation into a positive outcome. He praised Adidas for its commitment to combating anti-Jewish hate and supporting educational initiatives.
“At a time when antisemitism has reached historic levels in the U.S. and is rising globally, we appreciate how adidas turned a negative situation into a very positive outcome. They have shown real thoughtfulness in engaging with community organizations working to combat this pernicious and stubborn hatred… Their leadership, in not only condemning anti-Jewish hate but lending their support for education and other initiatives, is exemplary and a model for other public companies to emulate. We thank them for their ongoing dialogue around their remaining inventory and their vested interest in tackling issues of prejudice and hate.”
Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO
Supporting Social Change
Adidas will also collaborate with the Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change, an organization spearheaded by Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd. They aim to foster community programs that leverage sport and education to drive lasting social transformation.
Organizations who are passionate about initiating projects that use sports as a medium to combat discrimination and hate are encouraged to express their interest by reaching out to changinglivesthroughsport@adidas.com.
Xylo News 