Kanye West wants to produce a million Yeezys in Wyoming by 2021 and create new jobs

Kanye West is aiming to produce a million pairs of Yeezy. Picture: Instagram

Kanye West is aiming to produce a million pairs of Yeezy. Picture: Instagram

Published Jul 2, 2020

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Kanye West is said to be planning on creating new jobs in Wyoming to help him manufacture a million pairs of Yeezys there by 2021.

A rep for the 'Wash Us in the Blood' rapper also told Business of Fashion that his apparel production is to commence in the US "shortly after".

The hip-hop legend has a huge presence in Wyoming already - having purchased a 4 000-acre property in Cody, Wyoming last autumn - and is hoping to create "design and prototyping jobs, with assembly line positions to follow."

The news of Kanye's plans for his popular footwear brand come after he signed a 10-year deal for a new clothing line with Gap.

The 43-year-old rapper will launch Yeezy Gap, a new apparel line for men, women and children, with the American retailer next year.

Kanye tweeted: "YEEZY AND GAP FORM PARTNERSHIP #WESTDAYEVER."

Kanye's wife Kim Kardashian West, wrote on Twitter: "If anyone knows Kanye they know how much the Gap and Yeezy means to him so this partnership is his dream come true! I am so proud of him. You guys are going to love what they have in store for everyone! #WestDayEver (sic)."

As a teen, Kanye worked in a Gap store in Chicago and Mark Breitbard, Global Head of Gap Brand, commented: "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."

As per The New York Times newspaper, the deal is for 10 years with an option to renew after five.

The brand reportedly hopes that Yeezy Gap will be bringing in $1-billion in sales within five years and the company will pay royalties and potential equity to Yeezy based on sales performance.

Kanye previously spoke of his desire to be the "Steve Jobs of Gap" and admitted he couldn't afford the clothes when he worked there.

He said: "It's funny that I worked at the Gap in high school, because in my past 15 years it seems like that's the place I stood in my creative path - to be the gap, the bridge.

"When I was working at the Gap at 15, I don't think I had any desire to actually make clothes, but I always felt like that's what I wanted to be around. I loved the fabrics, I loved the colours, I loved the proportions.

"Abercrombie was too expensive for me and the Gap was too expensive for me. Even though I worked at the Gap, I didn't get enough hours to get a discount because I was a part-time employee, because I went to high school."

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