Sambas, Vejas, Jordans – everyone has a preference when it comes to their favourite type of trainers. Die-hard fanatics will line up for hours just to get their hands on the latest colourway, while some brands (ahem, Veja) got a royal boost after Meghan Markle was spotted wearing them. If there’s one thing for certain, it’s that the trainer market in the UK is thriving, with Mintel stating that the UK footwear market increased by 8 per cent in 2023 alone, and that it’s estimated to increase by £15 billion across the next four years.
Sneakers, in particular, are seeing a surge of popularity and Brits opt for them as their footwear of choice – using them for the gym, multiple sports, walking to the office, wearing at the office, and using them as the perfect finishing touch to their weekend athleisure uniform. “Spending on footwear has defied the cost-of-living crisis, boosted by strong demand for trainers, sneakers and school shoes that shows no sign of abating,” Michael Oliver, Mintel’s senior retail analyst, said in the brand’s latest report. Trainers are so popular that JD Sports releases its annual list of the bestselling sneakers of the year – with last year’s list dominated by Nike, Adidas and New Balance.
The best-selling shoe of 2023, according to the store, was Nike's Jordan 1 , followed by Nike’s Air Force 1 , Dunk , and Jordan 4 , with New Balance’s 327 coming in fifth place. Yet, while having the same shoes as everyone else can be a good .