Some of the biggest and most notable sneaker releases in recent memory push the boundaries of style, materials, and design. Take the Yeezy 450, which looks like an alien grasping your foot and like most Yeezys, doesn’t feature overt branding. Other releases tell vital stories, including the “Raised by Women” A Ma Maniere x Air Jordan 3, a shoe inspired by designer James Whitner’s mother buying the iconic model for him at a young age.
Understanding these sneaker heavyweights is key to understanding who defines sneaker culture today. It’s not purely these brands top-down — the sneaker community is teaming with influential creators, collectors, curators, and yes, resellers*. With that in mind, we surveyed 3,458 of these players to report on the [State of Sneakers] today. In their view, these are the top 10 brands ruling the game right now.
*At SoleSavy, we are firmly against mass reselling and understand the obstacles it creates for everyday sneakerheads. In order to get a full, unbiased pulse on sneaker culture today, it was essential to collect data from everyone in the world of sneakers.
Which Brands Got Love in 2021?
- Nike, Inc. (includes Jordan Brand and Converse)
89.32% (2,275) voting in favor
Key Drops: A Ma Maniere x Jordan, Union Air Jordan 4s, Sacai x Nike Waffle triple collabs (fragment, Undercover, Clot)
- adidas
40.52% (1,032) voting in favor
Key Drops: Rise of the FORUM High/Low
- Yeezy
26.19% (667) voting in favor
Key Drops: Knit Runners, Foam Runners, 450s
- Stüssy
24.46% (623) voting in favor
Key Drops: Stüssy x Denim Tears x Our Legacy, Stüssy x Birkenstock
- KITH
23.71% (604) voting in favor
Key Drops: KITH for Curb Your Enthusiasm, New Balance 990 V2 Kith Grey
- Undefeated
21.48% (547) voting in favor
Key Drops: Undefeated x Nike Dunk vs. AF-1
- Supreme
21.32% (543) voting in favor
Key Drops: KAWS Box Logo, Supreme X Nike SB
- The North Face
21.12% (538) voting in favor
Key Drops: Multiple Supreme collabs
- Off-White
19.04% (485) voting in favor
Key Drop: “The 50” Collection with Nike
- Aimé Leon Dore
15.98% (407) voting in favor
Key Drop: New Balance 550s
The [State of Sneakers Vol.1] is one of the largest studies done on sneakers and the people who love them. To build the report, we surveyed 3,458 sneaker enthusiasts, collectors and resellers; hosted five focus groups with a total of 50 sneaker enthusiasts; completed 25 in-depth interviews; and collected over 500 hours of participant observation in various sneaker forums, subreddits and on SoleSavy. Check out the [State of Sneakers] and get better at copping.
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Read the full [State of Sneakers 2021.]
