Former Gap CEO Claims Yeezy Jacket Made $7 Million Overnight, Says He Advised Kanye Against Partnership

Gap's former CEO Mickey Drexler made the claim during a recent interview, in which he also expressed his opposition to the Kanye x Gap partnership.

Mickey Drexler
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Mickey Drexler

Mickey Drexler admits he doesn’t approve of Kanye West’s 10-year partnership with the Gap—no matter how lucrative the deal may be.

The former Gap CEO explained his position during a recent interview on Yahoo Finance Live, revealing he had advised Kanye not to collaborate with the retailer.

“I probably shouldn’t say this but I told him he shouldn’t do the deal because it doesn’t make any sense in my opinion,” said Drexler, who left his Gap CEO post nearly two decades ago. “I have a lot of friends at Gap still, but it doesn’t work for someone like Kanye. He is not a corporate person and Gap is a big corporation.”

Drexler went on to say that the Yeezy x Gap partnership has already proven to be a commercial success, despite its relatively slow rollout. The retail legend pointed to the release of the Yeezy Gap Round Jacket, which he claims brought in millions of dollars immediately after its release.

“So, I know the jacket sold out. They did $7 million on the jacket overnight,” Drexler said. “[Kanye] is a smart guy but he shouldn’t have done it. And I don’t think they should have done it, either.”

Gap announced its Yeezy deal at the end of June 2020, causing its shares to increase by 42 percent. The partnership, which is reportedly valued at up to $4.7 billion, is expected to deliver “affordable,” elevated basics, including everything from hoodies and joggers to T-shirts and the Gap staple, khakis. 

“We are excited to welcome Kanye back to the Gap family as a creative visionary, building on the aesthetic and success of his YEEZY brand and together defining a next-level retail partnership,” Mark Breitbard, Global Head of Gap Brand, said in a 2020 press release.

Additional pieces from the Yeezy Gap collaboration are expected to arrive later this year.

Stay tuned.

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