Out of the many celebrity-brand collaborations in the sneaker world, the Adidas x Kanye West partnership that launched the Yeezy sneaker line in February 2015 stands out as one of the most iconic and long-lasting.
Of course, having Kanye himself design the Yeezys played a major role in their early success. Combined with the bold aesthetics and innovative Boost technology, Yeezys quickly grabbed the attention of sneakerheads. After all, sneaker enthusiasts care most about three factors: style (and quality), hype, and, of course, Yeezy prices.
But over the last couple of years, the Yeezy market has been on a rollercoaster ride. At one point, Kanye even claimed he was $53 million in debt. He famously hoped that Mark Zuckerberg would recognize his genius and invest $1 billion in Yeezy.
So, what exactly has changed in the Yeezy world recently? Let’s break down the shifts in Yeezy prices, style, and hype.
Yeezy Prices & Exclusivity
Yeezys have always been limited-edition sneakers, and basic economics tells us: low supply + high demand = high resale prices. This exclusivity was a key reason behind their skyrocketing resale value, especially for sneaker resellers.
But by 2018, Yeezys became more widely available. This was intentional—Kanye publicly stated he wanted “Everybody” to get Yeezys. As a result, Adidas increased supply and restocked popular models like the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 “Zebra” multiple times. Naturally, Yeezy prices took a hit as scarcity decreased, and marketing had to step in to drive demand.
Additionally, retail prices for some models rose. The Boost 700, for example, jumped to $300. At the same time, Air Jordan prices were increasing—but unlike Yeezys, Jordans didn’t suffer the same dip in demand. Should Kanye have seen this coming?
Design & Style
Yeezys have always stood out for their bold and unique design language. But in 2018, things got a little stale. The designs became less innovative, and that reflected in both retail and resale Yeezy prices. Even the popular Adidas NMD line lost traction around that time.
Fortunately, Kanye bounced back. His 2019 lineup showed signs of renewed creativity with fresh colorways and glow-in-the-dark features. Drops like the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 “Glow in the Dark” and the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 “Static Black Reflective” scheduled for May and June proved that the spark wasn’t gone.
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However, exclusivity is about more than availability—it’s also about how unique a sneaker looks. And when Adidas started releasing sneakers like the Tubular Shadow Knit that resembled the Yeezy Boost 350 “Moonrock” at a fraction of the price, some of Yeezy’s visual edge was lost. For many, the cheaper alternative became good enough.
Still Hype or Not?
The sneaker market lives and dies by supply and demand—and hype.
While mass production can kill the buzz, Yeezys are still relevant. Sure, they may not sell out as fast as they once did, but the hype remains alive. Sneakerheads continue to follow each new Yeezy release, even if Yeezy prices have leveled out. And the hype is still strong enough to fuel profits for retailers, resellers, and sneaker bot makers alike.
As Safarian put it:
“I don’t think Adidas needs to focus on hype in any way. Adidas needs to make a good product and take the time accurately marketing that product. Serving the hype crowd is a dead-end road. I think Adidas got cocky and learned that the hard way this year.”
It seems that after flooding the market in 2018, Adidas is shifting back to a scarcity model, and it’s working. Even during the downturn, Adidas claimed Yeezy sales were solid.
So has Kanye learned from the past? Or is he still planning to make Yeezys accessible to everyone? Time will tell if Mark’s hypothetical $1 billion investment paid off.
Want a Pair of Yeezys? Or Two?
Despite all the fluctuations in Yeezy prices, they remain a solid buy. Whether you’re a sneakerhead looking to flip or flex, Yeezys deserve a spot on your copping list.
Manual copping is possible—but not easy. You won’t always grab as many pairs as you’d like, which can hold you back if you’re trying to build a sneaker reselling business. That’s why using a powerful sneaker bot could be your ticket to consistently landing Ws and turning a profit.
