After Adidas' 'Samba' dominated the scene last year, this year’s sneakers are expected to offer a wider variety. Customization, classic styles, and skate shoes are all making comebacks, while soccer culture and dynamic collaborations promise to influence the next big trends.
Few fashion items generated as much buzz last year as the Adidas Samba. These sneakers were everywhere before they became a craze, with some stashing them away while others continued to wear them despite the trend. However, a new sneaker trend is emerging, with many seeking out designs that stray from the mainstream. A new wave of fashion-forward individuals is customizing their shoes with charms, chains, ribbons, and colorful laces or reviving lesser-known archive models.
Similar to the Samba, cult sneaker styles are popping up globally, favored by celebrities and trendsetters alike. In 2024, we saw the release of Onitsuka Tiger's Mexico 66, Puma's Speedcat, New Balance's 9060, 530, 574, and collaborations with Aimé Leon Dore. Expect Adidas sneakers to make a major appearance at Oasis' reunion tour this summer, with Liam Gallagher collaborating on the Spezial line in recent years.
As my colleague Daisy Jones mentioned, 2025 will bring a resurgence of sneakers that “look like they were borrowed from your best friend’s brother’s room next to his PlayStation 2 in 2002.” Expect the popularity of Goopcore shoes from Salomon, Hoka, and Merrell, along with a continued craze for football-inspired styles, particularly with the upcoming Women’s Euros. Collaboration releases will remain a key part of the sneaker scene.
1. Collaboration After Collaboration
Collaborations are still one of the hottest topics in the sneaker world, with “it” shoes commanding high prices long after their release. Last year saw the success of ongoing collaborations such as Wales Bonner x Adidas and Miu Miu x New Balance. With more brands jumping on the collaboration bandwagon, 2025 is shaping up to be another year where these partnerships take center stage.
2. A Nod to the Past
Nostalgia plays a significant role in the current sneaker trends. Look for a return of classics like Nike Shox, reimagined by Martine Rose as mules, and the re-release of iconic models like the Air Max 95, Air Max 97, and Air Max 1. Even Converse is seeing a revival. As Daniel Rogers and I discussed, even modern classics like the Balenciaga Triple S—only seven years old but already nostalgic—may make a return to our wardrobes.
3. The Appeal of Unique Sneakers
Unusual footwear is capturing attention. Alex Kessler was spotted wearing New Balance's 1906L loafer-style sneakers ahead of their release, one of many hybrid models hitting the market in 2024. Other standout releases include a sporty Mary Jane from Cecilie Bahnsen x ASICS, a track-soled ballerina from Simone Rocha, and the Salomon x MM6 Maison Margiela XT-4 mule collaboration.
Salomon also teamed up with Sandy Liang on a pair of flirty, bow-adorned sneakers. This fits into a broader trend sweeping social media, where people are customizing their shoes with charms, chains, and jewelry. Molly Ruyackers, founder of Style Analytics, notes that this trend allows individuals to "take ordinary pieces and make them their own."
4. Skate Shoes Are Back
Billie Eilish wearing skates. Photo: PG/Bauer-Griffin
Skate shoes are making a return, but bulky styles like the Samba could affect their appeal. Sneakers are moving away from slim silhouettes, requiring new styling techniques to pull off. Still, more streamlined skate shoes like Vans’ slip-ons and Old Skool styles are likely to resonate with a wider audience, particularly among those who were early adopters of the Samba trend.
5. Sneakers That Shine on the Pitch
With the Women’s Euros in 2025, expect football-inspired footwear to be everywhere. As Rachel Makar, senior director of merchandising at StockX, points out, football fever sparked a fashion trend during the Men’s Euros, and off-pitch football gear, like shirts and scarves, became staples. Similarly, Adidas sneakers are sure to make a strong presence at Oasis' reunion tour, as Britpop and football culture have always been intertwined.
6. Goopcore: Not Just a Trend, But a Lifestyle
Goopcore is no longer just a trend—it’s a lifestyle. In my hometown of East London, men are often seen in Gramicci trousers, Needles track pants, Beams cardigans, and waterproof gear like Arc'teryx bags. They’re also sporting performance sneakers from brands like Salomon, Merrell, Hoka, and Asics, which Emily Minear, Merchandising Director at GOAT, describes as “the ultimate understated running brand.” I’ve overheard discussions in Hackney about Vibram’s V-Trail five-toe shoe, and I wonder if Tabi sneakers will go mainstream. Molly predicts that “highlighted toe detailing may become popular in 2025.”
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