Category
Fashion
Scaled Restraint
Trend cluster
Category
Specified
Sneaker
Hyper-niche shoe options appeal to consumers with performance-based needs.
6.6
Trend score
Trend
What is the Specified Sneaker trend?
Specified Sneaker: Shoes have long been custom-designed to suit the rigors of highly popular sports, but as the sneaker market continues to crowd, brands are mining increasingly niche activities and interests that have not previously been served by incumbents. In light of markets in which it's nearly impossible for upstarts to succeed as generalists, products that recognize and play to consumers' hyper-specific particularities can grab attention more strongly than those that appeal to more general, wide-spanning interests.
Trend themes
Themes within the Specified Sneaker trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Hyper-Niche Sneaker Market
As the sneaker market continues to crowd, brands are mining increasingly niche activities and interests that have not previously been served by incumbents to grab attention more strongly than those that appeal to more general, wide-spanning interests.
02
Efficiency-Improving Shoes
Design features that have the potential to drastically improve race times are becoming more popular as consumers look for increased performance in their athletic gear.
03
Personalized Footwear Design
Designs that differ for the lead foot and the drag foot for fencers, as well as wearable sock shoes, indicate a growing trend toward hyper-personalized footwear design.
Industry implications
What the Specified Sneaker trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Athletic Footwear
The athletic footwear industry can look to the hyper-niche market and efficiency-improving trends to create innovative, high-performance shoes.
For
3D Printing
The use of 3D printing in shoe design, as seen in the New Balance Study shoes and JS Shoes, presents opportunities for innovation and waste reduction in footwear manufacturing.
For
Space Travel
The Floatride SB-01s designed by Reebok for astronauts aboard the Boeing Starliner demonstrate the potential for stylish and comfortable space travel clothing and footwear.
Workshop question
Identify a hyper-niche interest that appeals to a portion of your consumer base. How could you incorporate that into your brand's offering?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Specified Sneaker
Trend score 6.6 out of 10, from popularity 94%, activity 96%, freshness 8%.
Popularity94%
Activity96%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha (not a primary audience)
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X (not a primary audience)
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Evidence
Examples of the Specified Sneaker trend
8 featured examples from Jan 5, 2017 to Feb 2, 2018CategoryFashion
High-Performance Sock Shoes
The 'KINIS' Barefoot Training Shoe Socks are Ergonomically Designed
The athletic footwear industry should consider incorporating barefoot training and removable foam insoles into their designs.
CategoryFashion
Stylish Space Boots
The Floatride SB-01s Were Developed by Reebok for Boeing Starliner Astronauts
The development of stylish and lightweight space boots presents new opportunities for aerospace companies to enhance comfort and style for astronauts.
CategoryFashion
Urban Commuter-Focused Sneakers
These Porsche Design Sport Sneakers Have a Sleek Streamlined Look
Disruptive innovation opportunity: Merge fashion with performance by creating sneakers that cater to both style-conscious individuals and active city-dwellers.
CategoryFashion
Refined Fencing Sneakers
The New Balance Study Shoes Have Different Designs for Each Foot
Potential for companies to develop and market sport-specific footwear optimized for performance.
CategoryFashion
Colorful 3D-Knitted Shoes
The New Pair of JS Shoes Feature a Clear Sole and Colorful Pattern
The fashion industry can leverage the trend of 3D-knitted footwear to create innovative, sustainable and customizable shoe designs.
CategoryFashion
Updated Trail Running Sneakers
The adidas 'Marathon Tr' is Highly Durable and Chic
Opportunity for brands to develop new and improved products that cater to a growing market of active consumers.
CategoryFashion
Aerodynamic Marathon Sneakers
Nike's Zoom Vaporfly Elite is Touted as Its "Fastest Shoe Ever"
This industry can leverage advances in materials science and data analytics to design and produce increasingly advanced and effective athletic footwear.
CategoryFashion
Efficiency-Improving Marathon Shoes
The Nike Vaporfly 4% Runners Improve Marathon Race Times
Athletic shoe manufacturers can leverage new technologies to develop efficient and marketable running shoes.
