How much do Adidas Yeezys cost?
Answering the question ‘How much do Adidas Yeezys cost?’. On the face of it doesn’t take much thought. The three most popular Yeezys on the market the numerical 350, 500 and 700 models. All come with consistent retail prices dependant on the silhouette. All Yeezy Boost 350s (regardless of whether they are v1 or v2 editions) retail at £180. The same goes for the Yeezy Boost 500 product line, that shares the £180 retail price. While the Yeezy Boost 700, Kanye Wests answer to the ‘Dad Shoe’ trend commands a significantly higher retail price of £250. This doesn’t tell the whole story, however, because people are still wondering, but ‘Why are Yeezys so expensive?’…
How much are Yeezys?
If you look at the retail prices of the three most popular Yeezys models. You definitely couldn’t describe them as cheap but I’m not sure you could describe them as incredibly expensive. It really does depends on the parameters you set. Compared with outlet trainers like Air Max 90s and Adidas Ultra Boost that typically retail around the £100 mark they are expensive of course. If you compare them with luxury trainers from brands like Balenciaga or Alexander McQueen then the Yeezy brand is actually a more affordable alternative.
I think when people ask the question ‘Why are Yeezys so expensive?’ however. I don’t necessarily think they are talking about retail. As for the vast majority of people, they don’t pay retail for Yeezys due to the limited availability of most of their products. Instead, they have to pay secondary market prices that as we all know fluctuate massively. The simple explanation for this is availability. Yeezys are always limited, it is ingrained into their business model.
For example, if the newest Yeezy Boost 350 v2 was going to be launched tomorrow, and the brand knew that 10,000 were going to buy the shoes, if they made 15,000 pairs available then everyone who wanted them would be able to get them at retail with no threat of a sellout. Instead what Yeezy do is, they cap the pairs available to a number less than the demand. When demand outweighs supply it is going to leave people disappointed when they can’t get hold of a pair at retail and forced to pay more from resellers for the chance to purchase. The more limited release is, the higher individuals with the product price them at for those who are coveted them.
What are the most expensive Yeezys?
As I’ve just explained the fewer the pairs available, the more expensive they ultimately become on the secondary market. So the most expensive Yeezys on the market to this day are the rarest so to speak. This is also why when you go onto resale platforms you notice that prices fluctuate dependent not only on the model but also on the size. This is because naturally, some sizes are in much higher demand than others. As well as the fact that some sizes have much higher availability than others.
As time has gone on, the older the Yeezy model usually the more expensive it is. This is due to the fact it is obviously increasingly difficult to find unworn pairs of that particular design. Think of Yeezys like you think of fine wine, both are a naturally appreciating asset. Every time a bottle of wine from a certain year is drunk, remaining bottles from that year go up in price. Every time a pair of Yeezys is worn, the remaining unworn pairs prices go up in value. Hence why shoes like June 2015s Yeezy Boost 350 Turtle Dove are now reselling upwards of £1000.
In fact, all five of the first Yeezy Boost 350s ever released (Turtle Dove, Pirate Black 2015, Moonrock, Oxford Tan, and Pirate Black 2016) have all consistently resold about £1000 on the resale market. While other rare models like the Yeezy Boost 750 Grey Gum which was the first model Kanye West-produced after making the switch from Nike to Adidas is also an incredibly rare and coveted pair also reselling upwards of the £1500 mark.
In summation, Yeezys aren’t all that expensive, to begin with, compared with some brands. The price elevates over time due to the significant demand for each product. Partly from an excellent marketing strategy, slick design, and beyond all else, the reputation Kanye West’s Yeezy brand has been able to maintain in the market. Everyone knows Yeezys are cool.
