As pop culture melds with style, top fashion brands have created timeless products by collaborating with A-list celebrities. Yeezy slides are one of them. Born from a fashion collaboration between Adidas and American rapper and entrepreneur Kanye West, this footwear has a youthful vibe.
Its immaculate craftsmanship distinguishes it from other slip-on sandals, making it a high-end product that has gained recognition in the past few years. In this article, we look at this footwear, exploring why it’s popular and how to style it for classic casual looks.
A Peek into Yeezy Slides
Yeezy slides are casual slip-on sandals Kanye West’s Yeezy brand and Adidas began producing through their fashion collaboration. The first set hit the market in 2019 in three colourways. Since then, the footwear has become the favorite of sneakerheads and casual footwear enthusiasts.
These slides set a new standard for their counterparts. From their look, one can tell Kanye designed them for everyday wear. They have a simple, one-piece upper made of soft and long-lasting ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam. The upper unit has a contoured footbed for comfort and support for the foot’s natural shape, while the sole unit has an arched footbed liner for extra comfort. Also, the ribbed outsole provides a better grip and added height to the wearer’s feet.
In essence, the slides incorporate a blend of minimalist design, attention to detail, premium materials, and Ye’s creative touch. These distinctive features have cemented their superiority in the world of casual footwear.
According to eBay, many consumers didn’t initially embrace these slides. But when celebrities and influencers began to wear them, people began to love them. This shift in demand inspired Adidas and Yeezy to start manufacturing more pairs and restocking them bi-monthly.
However, in October 2022, Adidas terminated its collaboration with West after the rapper made offensive and antisemitic remarks. At the start of 2024, Adidas announced it would release the remaining YEEZY inventory featuring products from 2022.
ALSO READ: Pink New Balance: How to Style Like a Fashion Icon
What Makes Yeezy Slides Unique?
Like any luxury item, these slides have their competitive advantage. Below, we examine what makes them so:
Scarcity
Yeezy Slides are released in limited editions, meaning supply is low and demand is high. This scarcity increases their prices because people typically pay more to own a rare pair of shoes.
High-Quality Materials and Production
For comfort and durability, the footwear is made of high-quality materials, such as premium EVA foam, and goes through a delicate manufacturing process that inflates its production costs.
Functionality
These slides are versatile. You can wear them indoors like regular slides or use them to create striking casual looks during outdoor activities. They complement many outfits, making them a must-have wardrobe staple.
Also, the slides are waterproof. This factor enhances its usability as you can wear them around the pool or shower while wearing them and still rock them when you go out.
Brand Positioning
Yeezy Slide is positioned as high-end footwear that targets an audience with high purchasing power. Hence, its prices help attract the brand’s ideal customer through this market positioning.
Brand Reputation
Two top brands are behind this classic footwear: Kanye West and Adidas. Their influence and recognition in the fashion and music industry have attracted much attention to the product line.
Packaging
Yeezy Slides have beautiful packaging, which increases the added value of the product.
How to Tell the Difference Between Real vs. Fake Adidas Yeezy Slides
The minimal design of Yeezy slides makes it easy for manufacturers of knockoffs to duplicate. This begs the question: How do you know your slides are actually Yeezy? Here’s how to tell the difference:
Check the Soles
Original Yeezy slides have sharp teeth-like soles that are evenly spaced and close to each other, similar to a serrated knife. For most fakes, the ‘teeth’ are often less pronounced or shorter, as they can’t replicate this feature.
Check the Logos
An authentic Yeezy slide has the Adidas three-stripes logo on the footbed, shaped in a triangle and engraved fairly deep. The interior has “YEEZY”, “MADE IN CHINA”, and a numeric size engraved with a 3-D font. Fake slides, on the other hand, have a shallow Adidas logo or don’t even have one at all and exclude the inner engravings.
Check the Toe Box
Original Yeezy slides have a wide, rounded opening near the toe box. In fakes, the opening is narrow. Also, because counterfeit manufacturers hardly pay attention to details, fake Yeezys have unfinished, string-like pieces coming from the edge of the toe box.
Check the Flexibility
Authentic Slides are rigid with little flexibility. If you can easily twist and fold your slides, you most likely have fake Yeezys. Since counterfeits are made from cheaper materials, the slides aren’t as sturdy as genuine Yeezys.
ALSO READ: White Heels: How to Rock Like a Fashion Icon
How to Style Yeezy Slides
You’d rock Yeezy the same way you’d rock other slip-on sandals like Kappa or Buble slides. So, create any of these stunning outfits with your Yeezy slip-ons:
Casual Wear
Got a casual outing with friends? These slides come in handy for laidback and relaxed dress codes. Pair them with casual pieces, including jeans, tees, shorts, cargo pants, mini skirts, short dresses, sweatshirts, or a tank top. Wear a pair of socks for some extra oomph.
Loungewear
Doing nothing but lounging at home? Wear these slides as you move about the house with your shorts, dresses, rompers, or any outfit you wear when relaxing at home. They let you step in and out and enjoy leisure moments, whether grilling, sunbathing, playing lawn games with family, or reading your favorite book.
Beach Outfits
Slip on your Adidas Yeezy slides to complete your beach outfits. Whether you wear no-coverage clothing, bathing suits that show too much, or simple beach wear, you can’t go wrong with these slides.
Athleisure & Adidas Yeezy Slides
These slides also complement athletic wear. Pair them with leggings, sweatpants, hoodies, yoga pants, and oversized tees or sweatshirts for a chic activewear-cum-leisure style.
Embrace the High-End Comfort of Yeezy Slides
These iconic slip-on sandals have earned a special place in sneaker culture. Their striking look makes them a must-wear, whether indoors or outdoors. Explore their multiple colorways and create stunning outfits with them. Remember, when you wear these slides, you wear the impeccable craftsmanship of Adidas and Kanye West’s creativity on your feet.
