What has happened so far
The first half of 2024 is already behind us, which is the perfect time to evaluate: What are the sneaker trends for 2024? Will something new appear? Will we still wear Adidas Samba? Or has the Y2K trend already taken over? Are we still interested in running and tech sneakers, or are we only wearing slippers made of a blend of synthetic resin and suede now? We will answer all your questions. We can tell you one thing in advance: the boundaries are fluid, and there is no single trend sneaker for 2024.
Casual sneakers aka Terrace Sneakers
Thanks to the powerful comeback of the Adidas Samba model, the sneaker world has turned Adidas upside down in 2023. From basketball to football. The revival may or may not have started in Tokyo. We were the first to notice the growing popularity of this silhouette in the streets there. Through TikTok and the stars of this world, it has made a comeback globally. Along with the casual - aka terrace core of the trend. But it's not just the model Samba that has made an impact; Adidas has also offered us other alternatives from archival silhouettes throughout the year. Among them are Gazelle Indoor, HandballSpezial, SL 72 and some really crazy Spz styles.
Did you know?
Casual aka Terrace Core has its roots in football. In the late 70s, some fans changed their style from baggy pants and Dr. Martens to slim pants and Adidas boots. In England, the stands at the stadium are also called 'Terrace', hence the term Terrace Culture, better known as Casual Culture. Fans flaunted their Adidas boots at every opportunity, and over time this style transitioned to the music scene and eventually into the mainstream. For a long time, there was silence about archival silhouettes and casual style, but now you can finally buy them everywhere again.
And if you feel that in 2024 you won't be able to look at Adidas alternatives anymore, we have a solution for you: if you want to adapt to the current casual spirit, there are plenty of other brands and models you can wear. First of all, it’s the closest competitor to the Adidas brand - Puma. As you may have noticed, we just released our own design of the silhouette Palermo, the model Scopa. We can also recommend the models Army Trainer and Suede. However, the Nike Cortez fits well into the casual core, even though this silhouette was not originally worn by the subculture and has nothing to do with football. An alternative worn by models in the streets of New York is the popular shoe worn by Uma Thurman in the movie Kill Bill, the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66. It’s not a football shoe either, but we are sure we will see it more often this year.
As you can see, the buzz around the Adidas Samba may have quieted in some parts of the sneaker community, but we will continue to see the football silhouettes from the 2024 Archive of the brand from Herzogenaurach.
Y2K and 2000s running sneakers
In addition to the Adidas Samba model, we also saw increasingly bold silhouettes in 2023, such as Campus 00s Especially among Generation Z, reinterpreted, robust silhouettes are in vogue: wide pants, jerseys, crop tops, and underneath, a really chunky shoe. Or just an old Adidas shoe, as we said, the boundaries are fluid this year. Adidas leads the way, but brands like Vans and Puma have taken existing silhouettes and literally inflated them to match the current spirit of the 20s. And they have done a great job. We see Campus 00s, Vans Knu School everywhere on the streets or Fenty Puma Creeper Phatty or Suede XL.
Old running silhouettes from the 2000s are still in fashion this year. Last year, brands like Asics and New Balance captivated the masses with their archival sneakers. New Balance 1906 and the new Asics GT-2160 also fit perfectly into the current Y2K and casual spirit. There is also a lot of buzz this year around the Nike Zoom Vomero 5 sneakers, which are often sold out immediately. So keep your eyes open - new colorways are disappearing quickly.
Trekking and outdoor sneakers
Trekking and outdoor sneakers are not only comfortable and functional, but they also look really good. This trend is now coming more and more to the forefront. Suddenly, influencers who are far from the tech wear movement are wearing Salomon XT-6s in all colors at fashion week. Perhaps it's thanks to Rihanna and her legendary performance at Super Bowl 2023 in bright red Salomon x MM6 shoes. Or maybe it's simply because outdoor sneakers look great and are very comfortable. Either way, if you want to keep up with the times, we recommend getting functional sneakers Salomon, Hoka One One, Arc'teryx, orNike ACG.
Croc shoes, Birkenstocks, and ballet flats
This year, however, we have also noticed that more and more other shoes are being worn within 'our sneaker scene'. Leading the way areCroc shoes and Birkenstocks . We have often heard the term 'loungecore aesthetic' in this context. It doesn't matter what the street slipper trend is based on. This year, you can confidently wear your favorite sweatpants and slip on any slippers of your choice. Even brands like Nike and New Balance are now bringing their sneakers to market in slide form.
What is completely outside our bubble but should not go unmentioned: ballet flats are making a comeback in 2024, even with socks.
Design and aesthetics in 2024 and what will fade into the background
Trends in sneakers have changed a lot this year and last year. Instead of purely white sneakers , silver and metallic colors are appearing more frequently on the streets. One of the reasons is certainly the collaboration Adidas Samba x Wales Bonner. But that's not all: white sneakers on a white background are simply not in vogue this year. Trendy sneakers are colorful. You can dare to try wild color combinations. By the way, the trendy color of the year according to Pantone is 'Peach Fuzz'. And you can even shine with a leopard print (here's a little thank you to Wales Bonner and Adidas). Classic platform soles are no longer the hit of the season; we see more interesting running soles, such as designs from Asics and Kiko Kostadinov, on the new Air Max DN or more complex sole constructions like Gazelle Bold. Basketball sneakers, especially high-tops like Nike Dunk and the Air Jordan line, do not play an important role. In general, it can be said that the buzz around hype sneakers has quieted down. This year, you can wear sneakers with general releases, you don't have to camp outside the store or sit at your laptop at midnight.
It is still exciting to see what else awaits us this year in terms of sneaker trends for 2024. In our online store, you will definitely find a wide selection of all the trendy sneakers for this year.