Several factories across China have damn near perfected the art of replicating and producing fake sneakers and apparel, including highly coveted gear like Kanye West's Adidas Yeezy line. Now, these manufacturers are taking their counterfeit merchandise to the next level, opening up actual storefronts that strictly sell knockoff Yeezys.
Located in Wenzhou, China the first "Yeezy" store features a variety of replica Adidas Yeezy Boost sneakers, as well as some never-before-seen colorways. And every last pair is as fake as the ones you might find online.
An authentic pair of Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2s bought at retail will run you $220, but the knockoff kicks at the fake Yeezy store are reportedly going for roughly $151 (999 yuan). Additionally, some of the kicks are noticeably different from the real deal. For instance, instead of the familiar "SPLY-350" text on the Primeknit upper, the fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2s simply read "Yeezy 550." According to Mashable, the Yeezy store even offers custom-made, hand painted personalized "Yeezys" that feature a range of graphics on the upper including snakes and flowers.
Despite the fact that the company is blatantly ripping of Kanye's Adidas Yeezy line, the store owner believes he's in the clear. Per Mashable,
The trademark to "Yeezy" was registered in 2013, by a Mr. Hu, the owner of the store that the news outlet spoke to.
"Some time ago, the relevant authorities have ruled that the Yeezy trademark, which we registered with our company, is valid," he told the China Network.
That said, China's Supreme Court has previously ruled in favor of Michael Jordan in his lawsuit against Chinese sportswear company Qiaodan, for using MJ's Chinese name, as well as an eerily similar Jumpman logo, for their products. So should Kanye and Adidas choose to file suit against the fake Yeezy store, they might be in luck.
Check out some images and video of the shop below.
