# Knitted Sock Sneakers The Flyknit Racer Athletic Shoes Offer a Featherweight and Formed Fit By M | Published 2016-02-06 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/athletic-shoes References: [highsnobiety](http://www.highsnobiety.com/2016/02/06/nike-flyknit-racer-blue-glow/) & [footlocker](http://www.footlocker.com/) The [Nike](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flyknit-venture) Flyknit Racer athletic shoes offer consumers a formed and tailored wear thanks to the engineered knitted upper coupled with a molding design. The shoe creatively forms to the foot and has a second skin fit to provide an incredibly [lightweight and functional wear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/floatzig-2-running-shoes) during all sorts of sporty activities. Adorning a pair of the [Flyknit Racer sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tracksmith-eliot-racer) gives the wearer the feeling of a second skin that is ideal for improved performance and comfort. The shoes are extremely slim as the Flyknit fabric wraps the material fibres closely around the foot -- like a sock would. The upper runs right up to the heel with a tight band design that allows the wearer to adorn the sneakers comfortably without socks, if so desired. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.6/10 - Popularity: 92% | Activity: 97% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/shoes) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Formed Fit Footwear:** Creating footwear that is engineered to mold to the foot for a tailored and comfortable fit. - **Second Skin Wearables:** Designing wearables that provide a lightweight and close-fitting experience, mimicking the sensation of a second skin. - **Knitted Material Innovation:** Developing innovative manufacturing techniques for knitted materials that offer improved performance and function in athletic wear. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Athletic Footwear:** Opportunities for athletic shoe brands to incorporate engineered knitted uppers and molding designs in their product lines. - **Sportswear:** Exploring the use of knitted materials in the production of lightweight and form-fitting sportswear apparel. - **Textile Manufacturing:** Advancing the manufacturing processes for knitted fabrics to create higher-quality, performance-oriented materials for various industries. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Knitted Breathable Dynamic Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flyknit-venture.md) - [Bulbous Dynamic Knitted Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-max-flyknit-venture.md) - [Bulbous Knitted Sneaker Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flyknit-haven.md) - [Sustainable Knitted Toddler Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/swoosh-1-trainer.md) - [Inclusive Road Runner Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-vaporfly-3.md) - [Merino Wool Sock Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/uynner-hero-shoes.md) - [Secure Cable-Accented Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-lunar-roam.md) - [Hyper-Futuristic Running Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fast-rb-nitrotm-elite.md) - [Autumnal Aerodynamic Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dfranklin-aero-sneakers.md)