Adidas Yeezy Shoes No More: Looking Back on the 10 Most Notable Sneaker Collaborations

In October 2022, Adidas announced that it would be cutting ties with Kanye West, otherwise known as Ye, ending a significant long term partnership which was extremely profitable for both Ye and Adidas. This comes after the musician and fashion designer made a number of antisemitic comments and embraced a phrase linked with white nationalists, which led to his global condemnation.

Adidas has said that it will "end production of Yeezy branded products and stop all payments to Ye and his companies,” effective immediately. However, as all design rights to already-produced items, as well as to prior and future colors, belong exclusively to adidas, it is uncertain whether we will see the same silhouettes continuing to be produced without the Yeezy brand or whether previous Yeezy silhouettes will forever be a thing of the past. Reflecting back on this partnership, we take a look at the most notable Adidas Yeezy sneaker collaborations which will never be released ever again:

10. Adidas Yeezy QNTM

The Adidas Yeezy QNTM was Ye’s first basketball sneaker. It was debuted during NBA All-Star Weekend where Ye wore his own QNTMs to the All-Star Game and the audience saw Brandon Ingram lace them up on the court. Since then, the QNTM has appeared in a few colorways, including 'Onyx', 'Lifestyle Model', 'Flash Orange' etc. As the footwear is no longer often worn by gamers some would even argue that the occasion itself has eclipsed the actual sneaker. 

9. Adidas Yeezy Knit Rnr

The Adidas Yeezy Knit Rnr is likely the most unique pair of Yeezys. The pair is unique not because of its quality or comfort factor, but rather because of the Foam Rnnr's shell-like, laceless slip-on style that embraces the foot like a sock. In the canvas upper is a waterproof membrane which helps keep the foot dry while 3M thinsulate helps to retain heat. A cushioned PU toe reinforcement provides support and security. Additionally, the rubber outsole features distinctive design cues and traction, while the EVA midsole provides a cushioned feel for all-day comfort. The sneaker comes in colorways including 'Stone Carbon', 'Sulfur' and others.

8. Adidas Yeezy Boost 750

In June 2016, Ye shared the Summer Jam stage with rappers from the G.O.O.D. music scene Travis Scott, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Pusha T, and Desiigner. This is where West was seen wearing the brand-new Yeezy Boost 750 in the 'OG' colorway, which was just made public a few days after this notable event. While not the simplest shoe in the Yeezy inventory to pull off, the 750 is one of the best crafted. It is constructed more like a boot than a traditional sneaker. The high-top shoe has a perforated vamp, full zipper up the rear heel, full suede upper, dynamic mid-foot strap, and Boost cushioning sole. It comes in a number of colorways including 'OG', 'Chocolate Brown', 'Black' and more.

7. Adidas Yeezy 450

In a Forbes article published in July 2019, Ye gave readers a sneak peek at dozens of shoes with the jagged sole unit (perhaps the V2 and V3 incarnations of the design), and the following year, he even donned a pair when attending Paris Fashion Week. The single-piece outsole that rises up to the collar of the shoe and resembles teeth is the sneaker’s most distinctive design feature. The outsole is an EVA foam material, as opposed to the substantial Boost cushioning found on previous Yeezy sneakers. The Yeezy 450 comes in a number of neutral-toned colorways including ‘Cloud White’, ‘Utility Black’, ‘Resin’, ‘Dark Slate’ etc.

6. Adidas Yeezy 500

The Yeezy 500 was first released in 2018 and were made with adiPrene cushioning rather than the popular Boost cushioning seen in most Yeezys. The shoe is distinguished by its bulbous shape and the paneled uppers are constructed of suede, leather and mesh. The Yeezy 500 has appeared in both high-top and low-top forms and a variety of colorways including 'Blush', 'Ash Grey', 'Bone White', 'Utility Black' and more.

5. Adidas Yeezy Foam RNNR

The Foam RNNR is unquestionably one of the most distinctive models in the Yeezy range, popularly referred to by many as "Yeezy Crocs" due to its well-known perforated foam upper. There are many reasons why the shoe itself is significant. The silhouette created in collaboration with footwear design guru Steven Smith is manufactured in part from algal foam in an effort to be more environmentally friendly. The shoe doesn’t come with laces and may not technically even qualify as a sneaker. Regardless, we think it is still one of the best and most comfortable Yeezy shoes out. The Foam RNNR comes in a number of colorways including 'Sand', 'Ochre' and 'Onyx' just to name a few.

4. Adidas Yeezy Slides

Kanye West debuted the first model of the "Yeezy slipper" in 2018. Ye wore the slippers to a wedding and pictures of this quickly went viral because it appeared that the slippers were ill-fitting and far too small. A year later the Yeezy Slide was released and was ridiculed online by many with Snoop Dog humorously referring to them as “jail slippers”. Despite the initial ridicule that the Yeezy Slide received on its launch in 2019, it became the hottest product among male-identifying shoppers in Q2 2021 and is still one of the most popular models of the line as a result of their comfort and simple design. The Yeezy slides are made with various materials and distinctive colors and come in colorways including 'Pure', 'Onyx', 'Green Glow', 'Bone' and more.

3. Adidas Yeezy Boost 350

Sneaker News

Although the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 wasn't the first Yeezy model to be released, it was the shoe that made this partnership a mainstream cultural phenomenom. In 2015, it debuted during Ye’s Yeezy Season 1 fashion show and later that year won the the Footwear News Shoe of the Year Award. The slip-on silhouette, internally referred to as the "Roshe Killer" by West's creative team, was created to parody and simultaneously demolish Nike's well-known Roshe Run sportswear silohuette. Fans were immediately attracted to the speckled Primeknit upper, encased Boost cushioning, and rope lacing, evident in the ‘Turtle Dove’ colorway.

2. Adidas Yeezy Boost 700

The original Yeezy 700 was released in 2017 as Ye's take on the dad sneaker craze. The original design features a velvety layered upper, an incredibly thick Boost midsole, an OrthoLite inner sole, and thick laces; in other words, it resembles a big 90s sneaker made with high-end materials. Steven Smith, one of the architects of the first dad shoes, also contributed to the design of this shoe. The original 'Wave Runner' version was a major hit among sneakerheads and was hailed for its luxurious material quality, plush padding, and all-around wearability. The sneaker also comes in other colorways including 'Wash Orange', 'Bright Blue', 'Enflame Amber' and more.

1. Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2

The Yeezy Boost 350 V2 debuted in 2016 and is unquestionably the most well-known Yeezy shoe available. Compared to the original 350s which were produced in limited quantities, the 350 V2 went mainstream, spreading the sneaker to consumers all over the world.

The 350 V2 added a patterned design to the Primeknit, which has since become a Yeezy trademark, and had a taller heel and sole than the original 350. The first colorway to be released was the 'Beluga', which had a contrasting orange sidewall stripe with "SPLY 350" lettering. Even though it's unclear what 'SPLY 350' stands for, it's widely believed to indicate either 'Supply 350' or 'Saint Pablo Loves You. The 350 V2 come in many colorways including 'Oreo', 'Zebra', 'Bone', 'Blue Tint' which are amongst some of the most popular.

--

Note: This is a look back on the sneakers from the Adidas Yeezy collaboration, for informational purposes of understanding sneaker history only. We at PUSHAS do not share Ye's personal views. We denounce hate speech and antisemitism.

PUSHAS is Australia’s Premium Sneaker Marketplace based in Sydney and Los Angeles.