Did Kanye West and Pharrell Save adidas Originals? The Numbers Say They Did

John Kim March 31st, 2021 (updated)

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Kanye West Pharrell Saved Adidas

Don’t believe the hype? Industry journalists are reporting that adidas Originals sales have grown 29% throughout the first quarter of 2015 (January, February, and March), and they have Kanye West and Pharrell to thank for that. Arguably the brand’s most prized endorsers (yes, more than athletes), the two hip-hop megastars have created some great footwear and merchandise that have proven itself in sales. To compare, adidas Originals’ growth in the first quarter of last year was 3%. Industry experts still don’t buy into the Kanye effect, but the numbers don’t lie – the hype is certainly real and things are only getting better for the three stripes, and both are probably getting paid a lot more than $4 million a year. However, the figures could be misleading because the adidas Originals umbrella is quite large and it likely factors several other categories. Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Adidas Originals category sales grew 29% in 1st quarter, led by Pharell Williams Superstars and Yeezy Boosts. In Q1 ’14, Originals rose 3%.

— Sara Germano (@germanotes) May 11, 2015

Written by

John Kim, Editor-in-Chief

John Kim is the current Editor-in-Chief of Sneaker News, taking over the role in 2014 after joining the company in 2009. Born and raised in Queens, NY, John has published interviews with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, Pusha T, Pharrell, and more. He is considered among the most trusted voices in the industry and is a fixture at important brand events across the globe.