(Lead image via Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)
Earlier this week, Ye revealed in an interview with Bloomberg that he no longer wanted to work with corporate partners after his deals with GAP and adidas expire. While his partnership with adidas seems to still be in standing, The Wall Street Journal reported that Ye has decided to terminate his deal with GAP.
Ye’s legal team sent a letter to GAP to formally notify the retailer that YEEZY LLC was ending the partnership because of unmet expectations and agreements. Over the past few weeks, Ye has been very vocal on his Instagram about GAP’s failure to release apparel and open YEEZY retail stores as planned.
The short-lived partnership began in 2020, with the “Round Jacket,” hoodies, hats, and tees finally releasing earlier this year. Ye also delivered the YEEZY Gap “Engineered by Balenciaga” line, which dropped at pop-ups in July.
As for what happens next, the remaining collection pieces are set to arrive in stores before the end of the year, but once it’s gone — it’s gone. No further YEEZY GAP products will be created, but GAP will continue to sell YEEZY Gap items until the collection is sold out. It’s unclear if these terms stand for the YEEZY GAP SHDZ that have been seen all over NYFW, as well as a digital campaign led by Ye and chosen tastemakers. However, the termination of the agreement does not affect the merchandise GAP has made in partnership with Balenciaga.
The world can only wonder what will happen between Ye and adidas, with his deal set to expire in 2026. Based off a video Ye posted on Instagram, his main frustration seems to be with GAP at the moment. In the video of him speaking to GAP executives he’s heard saying, “[GAP has] to really give me the position to be Ye and let me do what I’m thinking or I have to do the thinking somewhere else.”
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