Entertainment
Kanye West is Latest Non-Athlete Celebrity with a Sneaker Tie
[The Oregonian]
In this Sept. 7, 2012, file photo, Kanye West attend at the Alexander Wang collection during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York.West continued to vent at former partner Nike, taking to the mic during a concert again this week to complain about his treatment by the sports apparel company. West spent more than 6 minutes talking and singing about the company during his “The Yeezus Tour” stop Wednesday night, Nov. 27, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by Dario Cantatore/Invision/AP, File)
Since at least the time actress Farrah Fawcett wore a pair of Nike Senorita Cortezes while skateboarding in a 1970s episode of “Charlie’s Angels,” sports footwear brands have hooked their wagons to celebrities.
In the past few days, rapper Kanye West may have caused Nike to rethink that strategy.
West has behaved as a man possessed, touting his footwear and apparel vision during radio interviews. His targets have included Oregon-based Nike in general and Nike chief executive Mark Parker in particular. West has said he will design in the future for Adidas, not for former partner Nike. It cannot be described as an amicable split.
West said Monday he departed Nike because the company wouldn’t give him 5 percent royalties in a proposed deal calling for two West-designed shoe styles a year. West designed the Air Yeezy for Nike in 2009 and the Air Yeezy II last year, selling in limited editions and appealing primarily to shoe collectors.
