Not long ago, attending a special event in a pair of sneakers was a surefire way to present yourself to your peers as a fashion outcast. However, attitudes have changed unexpectedly, and what was once the scruffy outlier is now the benchmark for footwear.
The transition from the racetrack to the runway has been slow and gradual, but in recent years, it has reached a crescendo. A crescendo that seems to fade indefinitely.
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This is largely due to a number of key designers and shoe brands that have pushed the sneaker to its limits in every imaginable direction.
Some have created white leather boots that look at home with tailoring. Others are inventing technologies that could just as easily have come straight out of a lab in Area 51 (or simply Back to the Future). Meanwhile, there are those who have elevated the sneaker from its utilitarian roots to the absolute pinnacle of haute couture today.
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Here, we examine the most influential sneaker brands in the world right now and what they are doing to help create the world’s favorite shoes.
Nike
The undisputed masters of hype
Yeah, in 2016, Nike really went Back to the Future and produced Marty McFly’s self-lacing sneakers. But that’s just one example where the brand seemingly reached through a tear in the space-time continuum and brought us something straight from the future, making it the greatest pioneer in sneakers and a reliable barometer for what’s around the corner.
The brand has a long history of performance footwear and technological innovations (Flyknit uppers and NikeID customization over the last decade). More than that, Nike knows how to create products that live up to their considerable hype. It has more icons in its back catalog than any other sneaker brand. Air Max, Air Force 1, and Air Jordan are all sneaker dynasties in their own right, and go back further and you’ll find even more classic retro sneakers like the Cortez and the Blazer.
Still the most recognizable. Still the most sought after. Still the ones to beat.
Adidas
The brand that turned sneakers into a science
The ongoing technological arms race between the big hitters in the sportswear world has produced some of the boldest innovations in footwear. Fortunately for us, it shows no signs of letting up.
Ask any sneakerhead on the street who is in pole position, and they will tell you it’s Nike. However, with lightweight materials and mind-bending flex sole technology, one could easily argue that good old three-stripes is maneuvering for an overtake.
Yes, there are beloved classics — the Superstar, Stan Smith, and Gazelle all come to mind — and they’re not going anywhere, but in recent years, the brand’s R&D lab has become the Q branch of the sneaker world. Forget the Yeezy collab; it’s the Ultra Boost that changed the game, and more recently, the German sports giant has experimented with 3D printing as a production method for revolutionary cushioned sole units. Don’t count them out for a second.
Converse
The century-old design icon
It’s amazing (and a little terrifying) to think about how the world has evolved over the last 100 years. Commercial flights, television, mobile phones, and the internet are just a few of the inventions that have revolutionized our way of life.
With that in mind, it’s a true triumph of design when something introduced a century ago is still used worldwide today.
The famous high-top from Converse, the Chuck Taylor All Star, is one of those items. Born in 1917, the iconic basketball shoe has remained 99.9% unchanged and is now the best-selling sneaker in the United States, the UK, and beyond. Yes, the brand has other great shoes, but this is arguably the most iconic sneaker ever made. And on top of that, it’s for everyone.
Common Projects
The luxury trendsetter that made minimalism cool
When the New York luxury sneaker brand Common Projects launched its Achilles Low model in 2004, the men’s world went crazy. But why? Was it innovative? No. Was the upper comfortable? – Not bad. Did it come at bargain prices? Quite the opposite.
This shoe was nothing more than a plain leather sneaker. However, the thing that had the fashion pack buzzing about this minimalist trainer was that every little detail was meticulously executed to the nth degree. It was a sneaker created like a handmade Oxford shoe from Northamptonshire.
Buttery Italian leather, a refined silhouette, and timeless wearability made each pair the perfect accompaniment to anything from a suit to shorts. It arguably started today’s thriving luxury sneaker market, and all of this, in a world now dominated by Balenciaga’s chunky trainers, should not be taken for granted.
Balenciaga
Making ugly trainers a must-have
Balenciaga’s production, under the direction of Demna Gvasalia, may be the equivalent of Marmite or Björk, but no matter what you think of his work, you can’t deny that he is changing the face of fashion, one broken ankle at a time.
The sleek, minimalist speed sock was the brand’s first sneaker with Gvasalia at the helm, but it’s the now-iconic Triple S that really took things in a new direction.
This beast of a shoe alone reshaped the fashion footwear landscape and made big silhouettes the new gold standard. Minimalism is giving way to maximalism, and this Spanish fashion house is at the center of it all.
New Balance
Still the choice of the purist
As time goes on, there are fewer and fewer brands willing to take a financial hit in the name of quality craftsmanship and produce products on home turf. When it comes to sneaker companies, the numbers are even lower.
This is what makes New Balance one of the best in the game. Not only is the Boston-based company responsible for some of the most comfortable and iconic running shoes ever made, but it also produces its premium range half in the USA and half in the Lake District in the UK, in factories staffed by highly skilled artisans.
It’s thanks to this approach to manufacturing that New Balance has a glowing reputation among athletes, sneakerheads, and everyday people alike, earning it a place in the FashionBeans Hall of Fame.
Puma
The quiet innovator
It may not make as much noise as some of its contemporaries, but while they all fight to try to find the next big thing, Puma is quietly working in the background, perfecting the classics. And inventing a few new ones too.
A great example of this is the brand’s take on the chunky sneaker trend. Puma took the look, put its own stamp on it, and made it accessible to those whose wallets might not be able to withstand the pressure of a pair of Balenciagas that cost up to a month’s rent.
Opt for the Thunder Electric model for a bulky yet athletic shape and bold ’90s colors, or the highly coveted Tsugi line for a more streamlined fusion of mesh and neoprene on a cushioned midsole.
Vans
The old reliable of shoes
From riding empty pools in the suburbs of Los Angeles to jumping on stage at the Warped Tour. Over the years, Vans has earned a well-deserved reputation as the go-to shoe brand for alternative lifestyles.
Its appeal is largely due to the simple style, timeless look, modest prices, and of course, the many color options offered by its designs. The Old Skool, Classic, and Authentic models are all instantly recognizable designs that haven’t changed in decades, mainly because they don’t need to.
What has changed is how people wear them. Once a shoe for kids and skaters only, it’s now just as comfortable for rock stars and hip-hop icons, paired with jeans or a casual suit. From the mid-1960s to now, Vans has always offered people a way to add a splash of color and charisma to an outfit without breaking the bank. Something that has kept its products relevant over the years, regardless of the passing sneaker trends.
Air Jordan
The strongest collab game in the business
Can you confidently call yourself a sneakerhead if your wardrobe isn’t filled with Jordans? Probably not.
Technically a Nike creation but also a brand in its own right, the story is one of the most successful examples of sports marketing in history. After designing the first Air Jordans exclusively for the basketball legend himself, it wasn’t long before Nike opened production and brought its new creation to the masses in 1984. People went crazy for them, leading to a wave of crime in the U.S. where people were robbed of their sneakers.
One of the main appeals of the shoes for some is the collectible element, with many special releases and collabs being issued in very limited runs. Some recent partnerships have included Supreme, Off-White, Levi’s, and Kaws to name just a few, making this one instance where you should definitely believe the hype.
Reebok
Bringing back retro
Okay, so it’s not exactly shaping the future with its shoe offerings, but when you do the classics (and the Classics) this well, why would you need to?
The British company, now a subsidiary of Adidas, is one of the oldest sneaker brands in the UK. Something that is evident when looking at its retro silhouettes.
Its best sneakers, like the Club, Classic, and Workout, are nothing short of iconic and all exude that retro charm we all love so much. They may not be made of knitted mesh and 3D printed, but they look great, are undeniably comfortable, and will never go out of style.
Gucci
Defining the luxury sneaker benchmark
Gucci’s sneaker game has taken giant strides in recent years, largely thanks to a little TLC from creative director Alessandro Michele.
In fact, one could argue that the Italian house’s offerings have set a new standard for luxury sneakers, with the clean lines and eye-catching embroidery of the Ace making it the new favorite white sneaker of the fashion elite.
And it’s not just classic styles that Gucci has turned its hand to. The brand has also combined two of the most striking trends of the moment with its chunky Rhyton trainer, featuring oversized Gucci branding on the side.
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