Kanye West kicked off 2016 with his scathing New Year’s Eve-released Nike diss track “Facts,” which proclaimed that “Yeezy just jumped over Jumpman.” West’s statement was a reference to the Adidas Yeezy Boost line’s popularity surpassing that of Jordan Brand. While it remains to be seen if the Yeezy franchise can outperform Air Jordan in the long term, it looks like the “The Life of Pablo” rapper can add yet another feather in his cap: The Yeezy has outsold one of the best-selling sneakers of all time.
According to a report by StockX that cites sales figures from SportsOneSource’s SSIData, the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 “Beluga” was the top-selling retail sneaker in the U.S. — in terms of total dollars made — during the week ending Sept. 24.
This is noteworthy for a few reasons. For starters, it means that the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 managed to generate more revenue than the mighty Nike Air Force 1, a shoe that is famous for being one of the best-selling athletic sneakers ever. The Yeezy Boost 350 V2 was the week’s highest-selling sneaker, with the Nike Air Force 1 Low and Nike Air Force 1 Mid coming in at number two and number three, respectively.
Watch on FN
Although StockX does not provide the exact sales numbers, it mentions that the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 generated 60 percent more money in sales than the Air Force 1 Low. This figure would be staggering on its own, but it’s even more awe-inspiring when you factor in that the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 was released on Sept. 24, meaning it drove sales higher than the competition in just 24 hours.
Another important fact: The Adidas Yeezy Boost V2 retailed for $220, while the Nike Air Force 1 Low is priced at $90. This $130 price difference means the Yeezy Boost V2 had an advantage in terms of total dollars made, as it would require far fewer pairs sold to make more money than the Air Force 1 Low, but regardless, it’s hard to dismiss what could be a major shift in the industry.
