TULSA, Okla. — For the first time, since a deal was signed in 2020, Yeezy Gap clothing can be bought in stores.
Gap Inc., which also owns Old Navy and Banana Republic, teamed up with rapper and fashion designer Kanye West in hopes of revitalizing their brand.
Gap sales had been declining long before the pandemic. In 2020, they announced plans to close 350 North America locations.
Around the same time, the sneaker collaboration between West’s fashion line, Yeezy, and Adidas was valued at as much as $3 billion in 2019, Bloomberg reported, citing a document from Bank of America.
West also seemingly had a soft spot for Gap, working there in his teens.
“One of my dreams was to be the head creative director of the Gap. I’d like to be the Steve Jobs of the Gap,” West said in a 2015 interview.
It seemed like the perfect collaboration.
Investors instantly recognized the significance, sending shares up to the highest they had been at in at least 40 years when the deal was announced, according to Bloomberg.
In nearly two years, a limited amount of products were sold online. It wasn’t until French luxury brand, Balenciaga, joined the collaboration that a more steady stream of items were rolled out.
This week, however, was the first time customers could see and touch the clothes in a store. The unisex shirts and sweatshirts range from $120 to $240.
Tulsa’s Utica Square Gap was one of just 45 stores across the country, and the only Oklahoma location, selected to sell the line.
The store manager there told FOX23 merchandise came in Saturday. Right now, they are not sold out but there are only select sizes left in the store.
©2022 Cox Media Group