Top-5 brands of sneakers
1. Nike
Founded in 1964 in Oregon, USA, Nike is the superb sneaker brand. Phil Knight founded the iconic brand that shaped the athletic footwear industry by making sneakers a part of everyday fashion.
The first Nike shoe, which received the name "Moon Shoe", was created by Bill Bowerman using a waffle iron. The idea for the waffle-sole design came to him over breakfast when he was wondering if the grooves on his waffle maker could provide additional traction during sports. After some experimentation with the waffle maker, the "Waffle Trainer" appeared, with a convenient and productive design, which quickly gained popularity. This prototype became the first Nike shoe, and it was sold for $450,000 at Sotheby's.
Top models available: Dunk + Jordan 1 + Jordan 4
2. Adidas
A sneaker brand that needs no introduction - the three stripes on the logo are familiar to everyone. Adidas is not only one of the world's biggest sneaker brands, but also the company that revolutionized athletic footwear, turning it into mainstream fashion. Founded by Adolf Dassler in Germany in 1949, Adidas became a multi-billion dollar brand following the success of its iconic Superstar and Stan Smith models. Becoming a favorite partner for many, the brand has worked with famous musicians and brands such as: Balenciaga, Gucci, Pharell Williams, Yeezy, Beyonce, Alexander Wang and even The Simpsons.
In addition to its success in fashion and collaboration, Adidas is also known for its commitment to sustainability and innovation. The brand actively implements green practices, such as using recycled materials and reducing waste in production, to reduce the impact on the environment.
Top models: Yeezy Foam RNNR
3. Asics
ASICS, Japan's beloved sneaker brand, has come a long way since its founding as Onitsuka Co. in 1949. The brand that inspired Phil Knight to create one of Nike's models, which we will talk about later, originally aimed to become the world's most favorite shoe for elite runners. However, with the change of name to ASICS (which, by the way, is an acronym for "Anima sana in corpore sano", which means "healthy body - healthy mind"), the brand expanded its appeal and gained popularity among both everyday street fashion lovers and athletes .
ASICS became a major player in the industry alongside Nike, Adidas and New Balance after its global expansion in the 1960s. While the brand's footwear remains the best in sports such as running, athletics and volleyball, ASICS has also built a strong reputation in the lifestyle sector. As a result of collaborations with Ronnie Fieg and Kiko Kostadinov, ASICS sneakers of the 90s and 2000s became popular with fans who prioritize aesthetics and comfort over speed and distance.
Top models available: ASICS UB3-S Gel-Nimbus 9 + Sonoma 15-50
4. Salomon
Salomon's transition from sports shoes to street style favorites is impressive.
Salomon's sudden popularity among niche fashion circles can be traced back to 2015. It all started with The Broken Arm, a French retailer that stocked Salomon sneakers. This partnership led to an ongoing collaboration between the two organizations that contributed to the continued success of the brand.
Comfortable and practical, Salomon's footwear offers the perfect balance between function and style with durable cushioning, market-leading textile technology and durability. From the Paris fashion shows to the snowy mountains, Salomon has something for everyone, but you should expect to pay a premium price for their products.
Top model available: XT-6
5. New Balance
A decade ago, New Balance was far from cool, but instead known as your dad choice. The brand originated in Boston in 1906 as a seller of insoles, and only later shifted its focus to sports sneakers in the 1960s. Its popularity skyrocketed with the release of the New Balance Trackster, which made it the go-to running shoe of the 70s and continues to hold its position as one of the main players in the sneaker scene today.
More recently, New Balance sneakers have become a new sensation, adored by such Hollywood personalities as Timothée Chalamet, Tom Holland, Zoe Kravitz and Rihanna. And after the appearance of President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, in his favorite New Balance pair from the JJJJound x New Balance 990v3 collab, the brand gained tremendous popularity in Ukraine as well.
New Balance is currently enjoying its moment in the spotlight, appealing to both dads and sneakerheads.
Top models available: 2002R + XC-72