Kanye West has ended his partnership with Gap Inc., claiming the company failed to keep up its end of the contract.
The “Power” rapper announced Thursday that his time with the company had ended a little after one year. In June 2021, the Yeezy Gap Line released a blue puffer jacket that was the collab’s first offering. After selling out hours later, it appeared that the deal would be a lucrative one. However, in documents submitted this week by West’s lawyer, Nicholas Gravante Jr., Gap failed to place additional Yeezy goods in stores by the end of 2021 and never opened the five Yeezy Gap retail stores as promised in the original agreement. Though the company had until 2023 to get the stores open, the letter said Gap hadn’t launched one location.
Ye sat down with CNBC’s Closing Bell to discuss his frustrations with Gap. The 45-year-old acknowledged that when building something new, there would be struggles. However, he found Gap’s lack of compromise “very disheartening.” Ye also felt that the company was not allowing him to be a leader or offer his input in the creative process. Ultimately, the fashion designer decided that the brand was no longer worth the headache.
“I’m not gonna argue with people that are broker than me about money,” he stated on the show.
Gap CEO Mark Breitbard also confirmed that the company would “wind down” its Yeezy collaboration because their visions were “not aligned.”
“While we share a vision of bringing high-quality, trend-forward, utilitarian design to all people through unique omni experiences with Yeezy Gap, how we work together to deliver this vision is not aligned,” Breitbard said in the memo, according to CNBC.
The partnership termination allows Gap to continue selling remaining Yeezy Gap merchandise before it stops using the brand’s name. The Yeezy Balenciaga collaboration that is sold in Gap will not be affected as of yet by this split.
However, Ye’s disapproval of Gap is no shocker. Last month, he shared an Instagram video criticizing the company for stealing designs and failing to consult with him. He now plans to open his Yeezy stores worldwide.
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