The latest buzz to hit the sneaker world this week comes via Sneakers Addict, who claim that rapper/designer Kanye West is ditching Adidas to sign a contract with Vans at the end of the 2016.
A source close to Sneakers Addict says that secret negotiations are underway to get West to sign with Vans in 2017 after his contract with Adidas expires. While this may seem far-fetched given the wild success of his Yeezy Boost line for Adidas, it wouldn’t be the first time West has worked with rivaling companies.
Before signing with Adidas, West previously designed the popular Air Yeezy line for rival Nike in 2010 and 2012. He’s also designed limited edition kicks for the likes of Bathing Ape and Louis Vuitton.
West has been vocal about wanting to lower the price point of his entire fashion range, and so the Vans deal may very well be a play to make his sneakers more accessible to the masses.
“I’m not H&M, I don’t have giant factories,” West told Lou Stoppard in an interview with SHOWStudio in October. “How can I get the price point to what I need it to be if I’m running an eight-person design team… I’m saying it’s going to take time to get there.”
To add even further fuel to the fire, West sent out a tweet over the weekend while sporting a pair of black Vans Full Cabs. West is a known Vans fan, even going so far as to name drop them in his latest song, “No More Parties in LA” – “some days I’m in my Yeezys, some days I’m in my Vans.”
Could that day come in 2017? Stay tuned.