Sneakers are a year-round staple, but with a new academic year and fashion month on the horizon, they’re really top of mind leading into fall. And already, we’re seeing a handful of trends emerge and make the case for something other than a Samba.
As Fashionista reports, while Adidas has had a hold on fashion people for some time now, it seems shoppers are looking to diversify their brand roster. According to Kendall Becker, Director of Fashion and Editorial Strategy at Trendalytics, Asics is coming for its crown: “Searches are up 37% in comparison to last year, and posts mentioning the brand online have increased steadily at 8% to last year.”
As far as specific styles go, we’re seeing red, leopard-print, suede and metallic sneakers lead the Fall 2024 offering. However, there’s also a surprising newcomer: “The ballet sneaker is owning the the top spot in search growth, seeing a 2,305% increase in average weekly searches,” Becker says. “The style leans into the romantic aesthetic that’s sweeping the ready-to-wear market and adapts it well into footwear.”
Ballet
Coquette fever may have died down, but not before the ballet aesthetic infiltrated the shoe department. Propelled by collaborations like Sandy Liang x Salomon and Gola x Anthropology, ballet sneakers are on the rise.
Metallic
Onitsuka Tiger’s metallic sneakers as a recent favorite among shoppers, seeing a nearly 50% increase in weekly searches on Trendanalytics, per Becker. Recent footwear launches from Balenciaga, Kenzo and Advisry embrace the sheen, positioning this trend as a winner for fall.
Animal Print
Cheetah and leopard sneakers are up on Google Trends, with interest up by 59% and 39% respectively. Maybe the “mob wife” is going comfy for fall.
Pops of Red
Pops of red ruled Copenhagen Fashion Week street style — which means we’ll likely see even more of them outside the Spring 2025 shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris. (It helps that the latest Nike x Jacquemus drop put the color in the spotlight.)
Suede
Shoppers are favoring suede over smooth leather styles when it comes to their footwear. Trendalytics reports that searches for suede sneakers are up by 36% from this time last year.
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