Kanye West Officially Launches Yeezy Pods, First Sneaker Post-Adidas

On December 28th, Kanye West officially introduced the Yeezy Pods, marking his inaugural sneaker release since parting ways with Adidas in 2022.

The Pods, available in three sizes, boast a distinctive sock-like design and can be purchased for $200 through the rapper’s official website. The initial release showcases a sleek all-black colorway, with speculations of additional shades dropping in the future.

Earlier this month, Yeezy welcomed Gosha Rubchinskiy as the head of design. Kanye West expressed on December 13th, “The arrival of this legendary Russian designer at Yeezy, the pre-eminent global brand in music and fashion, is a milestone in design history.”

In recent developments, Adidas initiated the release of remaining Yeezy sneaker inventory back in May. Despite Kanye West undergoing a controversial phase in his career, consumer demand appeared to stay strong. The athletic wear giant reportedly generated $437 million in revenue, as indicated by Wall Street Journal. A commendable move followed, with portions of the proceeds being donated to organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League and Robert Kraft’s Foundation to Combat Antisemitism.

CEO Bjørn Gulden shared with investors, “Six months ago, people said we should burn, destroy the product, and now we have found ways of selling it, we can use part of that revenue to actually do something good in society. The Yeezy thing was something we were nervous about that worked.”

The announcement of the Yeezy Pods comes on the heels of Kanye West extending an apology to the Jewish community for his previous remarks and actions. Communicated in Hebrew on his social platforms, he expressed, “I sincerely apologize to the Jewish community for any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions. It was not my intention to hurt or disrespect, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused. I am committed to starting with myself and learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future. Your forgiveness is important to me, and I am committed to making amends and promoting unity.”