Inside The Raging Yeezy Boost Aftermarket

In a February 2015 interview Kanye West, speaking about his then-brand new Yeezy Boost line of sneakers said, “I don’t want the price to be $350. I don’t want to play this sneaker culture game where people be reselling them for high prices.” Yet two years since Yeezy Boosts first hit the market, West’s signature sneakers are nearly impossible to buy new but incredibly easy to resell—and at a very healthy profit. If you’re looking for a deadstock pair of the original Yeezy Boost 350, you’ll pay the following: The Pirate Blacks in size 9 clock in at $1,220. Turtledoves in size 9: $2,150. Oxford Tans in size 10: $1,390. Even for the most dedicated sneakerheads, who are no strangers to paying a post-retail markup, a 500%+ price increase is bonkers. As Adidas expands the Yeezy Boost line with new silhouettes like the 700, will re-sellers still be able to rely on them to turn a profit? Or will we finally see Kanye’s dream of Yeezys for all? The question of whether or not these panic-inducing prices are sustainable is a complicated one. Both Adidas and the Yeezy resellers of the world seem to want different outcomes. While resellers are happy with an easy 500% return on investment, Adidas, presumably, wants to meet demand; after all, a sneaker sold on a secondary market doesn’t make Adidas any money. However, the dynamics behind the Yeezy’s exclusivity suggest that neither party, much to Kanye’s dismay, can afford an accessible Yeezy. Re-sellers, despite their sometimes unsavory methods, are actually the backbone of the Yeezy’s position as a hyped-up sneaker. In other words, Adidas, Kanye West, and re-sellers all need each other. Read more at GQ.