![]() The shoe’s success even inspired other pop star and clothing brand tie-ups like Rihanna for Puma and Beyonce for Topshop. Tech-savvy buyers downloaded bots that would scan online retailers for Yeezys the moment they became available. When Adidas put out its first pair of Yeezys in 2015, it sparked a frenzy that has contributed to the company’s share price nearly doubling since then.Ĭollectors and resellers camped out in front of specialty sneaker stores days before new Yeezy releases. The rapper originally worked with Nike to release his namesake shoes (Yeezy is a derivative of his nickname, Ye), but severed ties with the company in 2013. Winning West’s endorsement was a victory for Adidas. Adidas, the second-biggest brand, has seen its market share grow to 11.9% from 7.3% in that period. But that’s down from 39.5% the same time a year ago. Nike remains the overwhelmingly dominant athletic footwear brand in the U.S., commanding 37.7% of the industry’s market share by revenue in July, according to NPD Group. Hash-tagged endlessly on social media platforms like Instagram, the Yeezys helped launch an improbable coup in the fashion world by making Adidas seem cooler than Nike. With its recognizable “primeknit” fabric and chunky soles embedded with proprietary “boost” cushioning, the Yeezys have transcended the niche world of streetwear and crossed into celebrity territory thanks to the Kardashians, the Hadid sisters and, of course, West, one of the most closely followed musicians in the world. Not since Michael Jordan left his imprimatur on a line of Nike high-tops more than 30 years ago has a pair of sneakers had a bigger impact on popular culture or inspired more high-end counterfeits. ![]() “When I’m in the city I like to pay attention to what people have on their feet and I’ve never seen more fakes ever in my life,” said sneaker designer Jeff Staple, who has collaborated with brands such as Puma, New Balance and Nike, for which he created the riot-inducing “Pigeon Dunks.” “There’s no shame in the game anymore.” And customers are more than willing to pay more than $100 a pair for the fakes, knowing it often takes an expert to spot the difference. The replicas Kevin wears are re-created expertly in China, marketed on social media, sold over reputable e-commerce sites and delivered discreetly by international couriers. The shadow sneaker trade shows the tools of globalization aren’t restricted to multinational brands. High-end fake Yeezys may represent a tiny fraction of the $460-billion knockoff goods industry, but they provide a snapshot into how widespread counterfeiting has become in the digital age - all to the delight of collectors who are so devoted to the shoes they’re willing to undermine the very brand that makes them. It’s a question vexing brands and copyright holders the world over. “Why pay over $1,000 for Yeezys when you can get a pair that looks the same for $120?” he said.Ī self-confessed buyer of counterfeit Adidas "Yeezys" shows the difference between the real shoes, designed by rapper Kanye West, and the replica footwear. ![]() With each batch of bootlegs, the replicas become increasingly difficult to distinguish from their authentic counterparts. They coach counterfeiters on how to get minute details correct like the proper length of a sock liner or the right amount of fuzz on a suede patch. Kevin’s entrée into the world of replica shoes was through the user-generated website Reddit, where collectors share photos of copycat shoes and contact information for sellers. ![]() “If I could readily buy a pair of Yeezys at the store right now I wouldn’t buy fake ones,” said Kevin, who agreed to be interviewed on the condition his last name not be published to avoid jeopardizing his relationship with illegal sellers. So the assistant high school football coach did what more and more collectors are doing to satisfy their Yeezy fix: He had a replica pair delivered to his doorstep from China. The limited production shoes sold out shortly after their release, and resellers online were charging upward of $1,500, seven-and-a-half times the original retail price. Kevin longed for a pair of Adidas’ “pirate black” Yeezys, a charcoal-colored edition of the ultra-hip sneakers designed by rapper Kanye West.īut the 22-year-old Riverside resident couldn’t just walk into a store and buy them. Counterfeit Yeezys and the booming sneaker black market
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