Ex-Adidas Exec Eric Liedtke on Adidas' Rise, Yeezy, and His Departure | The Complex Sneakers Podcast

[@heskicks]

Legendary podcast dudes. Adidas boost is still life, i want to see lightstrike pro flourish now

[@BookerT69]

The BOX SHOULD NEVER BE THE BEST PART OF A SHOE

[@Orich123]

Big shout out to the trio for giving us such a quality content every friday

[@bobrossatron]

Excellent guest this week! His personality and knowledge was great. It's also refreshing to see someone so passionate about a sneaker/attire company that is completely free of harsh chemicals.

[@diegoeffio]

Love the way Brendan asks the last couple of questions. A sensible subject, but he nailed it

[@hiruys]

Excellent episode, and it's great to see that there are genuine, good people like Eric Liedtke in the sneaker industry. I will be definitely checking out Unless Collective's products.

[@lucaslanier5866]

Big respect to Eric for maintaining his pursuit of a more sustainable fashion industry.

[@tommysu3245]

This show is goated. Y’all make every Friday morning lit haha

[@brendandunnecomplex]

Thank you for watching, Tommy.

[@12w0]

Mrrrrp goated!

[@JT-wv2yt]

Crazy that Ye wouldn’t let adidas talk to virgil …selfish move . Probably coulda kept their momentum going

[@nickz5986]

Man there is so much sneaker history to be learned through these podcasts its actually nuts

[@ballgameshoes8583]

Weak history

[@lewisbrown6199]

I would enjoy a 2hr Dunne special report on sneaker lawsuits

[@bilgeratbozza1090]

That 'Unless Collective' brand that Eric was promoting actually sounds pretty cool

[@jedijooj]

I started reselling NMD and Yeezy during the craze at university . I want to thank you for the money I made I’ve been able to go on so many holidays and travel the world because of it !!

[@brunodominic3218]

I'm a simple man... I see a NMD in the thumbnail- I like the video

[@kyleelliott512]

Brendan really tried to break through him with his jokes and I don't think he ever made it through.

[@davezinni]

Fantastic episode, one of my favorites. Loved the conversation with Eric.

[@AyyRios]

its always a joy to see the podcast pop up on my new feed. thank you guys

[@671oneblood]

😂🤣😭 Welty getting shut down by the guest over the fit of Adidas recently, was HILARIOUS. Dude schools him on it and he almost stays completely silent for the rest of the show 🤣😂😭

[@coldpressdesign3293]

Homie rides Welty every time he pipes up after too

[@Resist_Oppression]

Let's be honest, Welty sounds like the "gatekeeper" he keeps raging about. He's taking random accounts and random convos on Twitter seriously, then getting bent cuz they Twitter people say "the top shoe?" Have a Snickers, Welty. Btw, Fridays are dope cuz of this Cast.

[@DaNewWaveLee]

Yeah unfortunately there was no value to having him

[@SevenHunnid]

I do food reviews on my KZbin channel , tryna get out the hood before im 30

[@p1trickcdn]

And after gatekeeping, he'll say "nobody can take a joke anymore these days"

[@traxaber]

100%, that was an awkward part of the podcast. Joe and Brendan awkwardly didn’t address it because the reality was he totally was gatekeeping lol

[@traxaber]

Nvm still watching and when Welty calls out adidas on their sizing right in front of an ex-exec, that was even worse 😂

[@nwat3348]

17:10 Welty cracks me up... "get outta here with the old head gate keeping nonsense".... then craps on people for picking the AF1 Tiffany over the dunk. "They dont get it, they dont know the back story"..... some people might just like the way the shoe looks. I grab a lot of shoes bc of the colorway. I got the AM bacons recently bc of the fire materials and I love the red/pink/brown. I could care less about the 2004 DQM backstory. STOP GATEKEEPING WELTY!!!!! Haha.... but really love the podcast guys, keep up the good work.

[@x9Stei]

Great Episode!! Loved the candid insight from Eric and understanding more about what goes on behind the curtain. Great to hear about his thoughts on the future too!

[@AHenryAdventure]

i agree a lot of people don’t care about the history, ebay dunks for example. no, it’s not the best design ever but the history is what makes it incredible which individuals just don’t take the time to learn about it.

[@sevendaysin8374]

Hm, definitely noticing the 24fps on the vid...Y'all testing this out or is this the way going forward?

[@WhoIsKirk]

We need the triggered meter for Welty on this show too.

[@MrTeeBonilla]

Mannn I seen the thumbnail and thought that was Tony hawk 🤣

[@CIP3RM]

Best episode yet. A lot of insight into the sneaker business.

[@kyleelliott512]

This guy was really interesting to listen to and well spoken, he needs his own podcast.

[@donovanvelez7469]

Just another absolutely amazing episode 💯

[@rabarberellum1017]

Adidas/Yeezy making the jump was the best thing that could happen for all sneaker lovers, wether more Nike/Jordan oriented or else. Hope there will be a similar wave in the future.

[@Shopgirlchicago]

Cap

[@kikodiberlino]

Eric = Inspiring personality

[@Sneakahead555]

Couldn’t wait to come home and watch this after having a not so great Friday but you guys of course made it better ! Kick game proper !!! Knew this was going to be gooooood ! Very cool dude ! Such an amazing conversation. Really enjoyed the football topic because I grew up playing and wore adidas boots on the field. Great job guys !

[@JZ_3]

In 10-15 yrs JLP is gonna look like Big Pus from Sopranos you heard it here 1st

[@BookerT69]

😂

[@younglloyd101]

Amazing stuff gentlemen, keep up the good work!!!

[@nickmcdonald1540]

Legend! E is a phenomenal leader and innovator. Love his new passion and vision on sustainability

[@samleejessop]

Funny that he used the example of NMD R1 and S1, cause I had to size .5 down in the S1’s cause they were too big in the toe

[@zackgoering1662]

I never understood the allure of bape. I remember it getting popular back in highschool. I get it’s been around forever but right from the start it was just a knockoff Air Force. And still today it’s just knock off air forces priced to 300 dollars.

[@Devananta-Rafiq]

Eric was sharp. Goated CEO. Miss him so much. Adidas is a mess rn, so does Nike btw.

[@theicemankk]

Fantastic episodes guys….

[@franalations]

Great episode yall

[@andytorres3962]

I think it should have been an actual silver swoosh on the black suede with Tiffany blue accents

[@newpickupsstore]

Really really good interview 💯💯. I love how he stays in his lane and leave things he’s not knowledgeable about to people that’s more informed. Seems like he would’ve been a great CEO at 3 stripes.

[@nhlanhlazwane9465]

From the soundtrack to the hosts and some influential figures as the guests! s/o from South Africa

[@parkergalloway4533]

Keep gatekeeping Welty for the real ones

[@magnussmith9733]

19:40 I dont think it is because people dont know about the history behind the dunks, its probably just because people have at chance at buying the AF1 that they vote for that as the pair they would want

[@terryhamilton2.0]

Great episode gentleman

[@vincenttyler4667]

How do you guys feel about the sample Tiffany AF1 🤔

[@dwaynebaskets7662]

Brendan wearing a flannel without a shirt underneath is wild b.

[@klizzyykicks1712]

This was a great interview

[@FFBL2020]

Tiffany AF1 should have had laser engraving.

[@lukarumsey4892]

Cmon I love to see Welty messing with the Corteiz 95s

[@DaNewWaveLee]

Tiffany could’ve done a silver shoe but I think the black is cool and I understand why.

[@illumineddiie]

Adidas sizing is all over the place, this dude getting defensive and saying he’s a 12 in all of them and all adidas fit the same, nah bro, I have Adidas ranging from size 10-11 to fit my TTS 10.5

[@alanaraujo3896]

What shirt is Brendan Dunne wearing? Thank you in advance.

[@BWen3]

Weltys aside about gatekeeping is exactly what a gatekeeper would say. 😂😂

[@ErrydayYe]

Nice zebra hat 🧢

[@BookerT69]

NOT 👨🏻‍🦱

[@cavemanvi]

He looks like Tony hawk with the old man Snapchat filter

[@teknique8292]

I seriously love this guy!!! “And cleaned out Yay’s entourage”. It’s funny but, maybe you should’ve done it first.

[@bern717]

Did you not listen to the conversation? They tried talking to Virgil, Trav, etc. but Kanye demanded that he was the guy and they talk to him only.

[@oli.y]

@@bern717 to be fair, I think Ye is better than both of them but it's just hard to work with him.

[@bern717]

@@oli.y oh, no argument there. Ye - despite what he’s become - is a legend in music, sneakers, culture. But I was replying to the guy who said the Adi president should have recruited Ye’s entourage when Ye was shutting down any talks between them

[@217supermoto]

I’m not gonna lie now that I know next weeks pod was recorded before this one I will not be listening to that ep lol

[@BookerT69]

Who’s on next weeks?

[@juanmenchaca6470]

Amazing ep

[@youngwasabi9135]

I asked Ismaila when the corals were dropping.

[@mokgethwamachaka8385]

Great episode.

[@williamluong2771]

Yo joe, that hat would look so G with the upcoming air penny 1 tiger stripes ! 🔥

[@kevincollins8620]

17:30 I agree with Welty here.

[@geoffbehrend678]

Shohei Ohtani Signs with New Balance! Complex, is this a first for NB?

[@justinedevlin]

Great episode. As someone who got into sneakers during Eric's reign, this was an awesome episode to listen to. Lots of insight about stuff I've been curious about for years. Also, it sounds like Ye was the reason why Adidas reached atmospheric heights but he was also the reason they petered out. Pusha T didn't help lol. Would have loved to see Adidon, maybe it would have looked better than the boring stuff that is Nocta.

[@keeganmartin7575]

I said it seasons ago on full size run.. Welty ruins the vibe on any unscripted (and probably scripted) shows/videos/podcasts.

[@maybachjb9378]

Bro they really are mad cool tho and be on point with the shoe updates

[@jedijooj]

54:35 NMD and Yeezy talk

[@OTHIAM05]

I love how Brandon just helped him not sound like the gatekeeper he claims not to be

[@WrongWayJ]

1:19:57 Whata do you whaa, I dont owe anybody any money 🤨🤨🤨 That reaction was hilarious lol

[@frankchan5547]

Adidas has the muscle to outdo Nike but apart from the extinct Ye relationship, has missed the mark too many times. Why do they do so well in football but refuse to innovate or market sneakers in same way. Nike might put function over style, but Adidas can't seem to be cool, even when Nike fades for a few years and leaves an opening, Adidas finds a way to mess up the opportunity. How can NB and Asics go from minor players to major contenders while Adidas sits still and goes backwards. I loved the 70s running shoes but Adidas didn't push these enough. Retro is big for youth and older demographics. If I was on the boards, I'd fire marketing team and do a refresh

[@tippylosojos]

Adidas sizing is all over the place and has been for awhile. German companies are massively successful in the US haha

[@DaNewWaveLee]

It’s been bear in 21 Mercer for a while now

[@ballgameshoes8583]

Is Kevin Plank next?

[@Flatbedcruz]

I thought that was tony hawk on the thumbnail

[@drewchisholm7198]

cortez 95 reminds me of the evolution pack 95. anyway

[@modogg-kingofthestreets9843]

Gate Keeping is necessary. Go in Welty.

[@ant_the_rant]

This dungeons & dragons elf sorcerer was very knowledgeable.

[@slickwitdakicks5758]

Tiesto Is Still EDM King 👑

[@nicholasdefranzo6962]

Did Welty really say people don’t call people who wrote history gate keepers? Where you been for all the monuments being destroyed etc? Tell me you’re far removed from society without telling me you’re far removed from society

[@bryanrockwell1003]

No giveaways anymore?

[@filipzaitsov4730]

Dunne, WHAT ARE THOSE!?!?

[@DezG09]

Welty hated to hear that Nike stole Yé entourage 😂

[@dagwoodchat6350]

$400 nubuck airforce1??

[@DaNewWaveLee]

It’s for the items included

[@3d1k3]

I don't think the Tiffany AF1 is that impressive. And I think they should have involved Diamond Supply in the collaboration. That's a major MAJOR miss. However, I am almost certain they will look better in hand. Kind of reminds me of the A Ma Maniere Hand Wash Cold in how people always like them better on foot or in hand.

[@omarmac1]

1:29:00 adidas don’t like Americans to tell them what to do……ye I wan Eric as CEO Or else ….broke the hole thing 🕳 Now half of the company is out . 😢

[@tyleranderson7857]

Love the podcast. This was a great one. But lawd will Brendon ever wear actual heat? Like does he own actual heat. Everything he wears on here is either mid or looks like he worse them everyday for 6 years. 🗑️

[@icysolez23]

Lets go!! 90min! 🤛

[@paulherrera3387]

They needa drop a nigo nike

[@besronsitumorang.9284]

Good news

[@dqsmooth34]

There are too many sneaker "hipsters" serving as gate keepers telling folks what's "hot"... Including these guys. Imo

[@shadetree10000]

Whe is FSR new season start 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@DoFeedThePigeons]

It’s not Tiffany blue, there’s no such thing it’s turquoise 😂

[@jedijooj]

Kanye effect on adidas is real

[@KuKuMcKuFace]

Is Welty sipping on Lean? haha

[@shakool2kool]

big guest

[@rogueslingshot1457]

I see a young ba ba booey!

[@radera5125]

Tony Hawk is a great shoe salesman as well!

[@mrnatera]

Feats of Strength, Festivus for the Rest of Us hahahahahhah

[@PORSCHEVUITTON]

Someone tell joe la puma to stop wearing supreme