Sneakers have undeniably carved a place for itself in the fashion scene, evolving from mere athletic gear to coveted style statements. The inception of sneaker collecting culture and its community of sneakerheads is only the tip of the iceberg of its influence; with fashion houses and style mavens concurring in tandem, from unreleased collaborations on the runway (when Miu Miu met New Balance) to taking the streets by storm at fashion weeks and beyond.
Above all, sneakers make the perfect blank canvas for collaborations—as designers and tastemakers never seem to shy away from pairing up with footwear giants, to put their own spin on the brands’ iconic silhouettes. Think Grace Wales Bonner’s rendition of the Adidas Samba and digital creator Nicole Mclaughlin’s partnership with Hoka. Not forgetting Travis Scott’s twist on the Nike Jordan 1’s, resulting in a series that drove sneakerheads into a frenzy. Through a sneaker, contrasting visual identities find a way to harmoniously converge.
The fashion industry is a transitional one; the trend charts are ever-changing and often shifting in the blink of an eye. Beyond the buzzing fads that appeal to the masses, you’ll find indie subcultures marked by a distinct style, unwavered by the mainstream talk of the town. The same goes for sneakers, as trailblazers make a name for themselves in the footwear stratosphere, eventually creating a zeal they can only call their own. From the comeback of retro silhouettes and hyper-femininity extending its influence to the sneaker realm, we’ve spotted a couple of subculture trends for you to covet this season.
Peruse the best niche sneaker trends below.
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Utility tech
The spotlight certainly favours this sneaker style, thanks to the rise of the Gorpcore aesthetic and utility wear. Typically crafted for great outdoor living, these shoes now sit at the intersection of fashion and function as they steadily become a newfound staple amongst the style savants. Think hiking boots, traditional running shoes and mountain climbing footgear in sleek, inky tones.
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Retro classics
Old is gold they say, and this definitely rings true in the sneaker realm, as silhouettes from past archives take over the world by storm. Classics like the Samba and Gazelle, originally introduced in the ’50s and ’90s from footwear giant Adidas, have found their place amongst the fashion-forward, cementing its evergreen status.
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Hyper-femme
Fancy a pep in your step? Swayed by the alluring ways of balletcore, comes the hyper-feminine, which takes on iconic silhouettes in an overthrow of frilly embellishments and intricate detailing.
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Simone Rocha beaded criss-cross tracker ballerina, $1,041
Available at Simone Rocha.
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Sneaker mules
There are mules and then there are sneaker mules, which combine the best of both worlds as streetwear sensibilities meet accessibility and functionality. If the Nike x Martine Rose drop is anything to go by, nothing is more persuasive than a silhouette that screams ‘business in the front, party in the back’.
