For those who say the sneaker scene is dead, they clearly have no idea what releases are coming up. In recent years, the industry has been dominated by YEEZYs, Dunks, and Jordan releases. As of 2025, the brand landscape has completely opened up, and it seems like everyone is contributing their own piece. A positive development, in my opinion.
Sneakers in 2025
YEEZY is gone, Jordans are less interesting these days, and collaborations seem to be losing power. The sneaker landscape seems to have made a complete 180, and honestly, I think that's exactly what it needed: a drastic change.
Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I miss the battle on SNKRS for a release like a Dunk SB or a Jordan, but now that those silhouettes seem to be less dominant, sneakers have, in my opinion, become fun again. There’s more experimentation with design, various brands are introducing cutting-edge technologies, and there’s something for everyone.
Resell made a 180
Just look at resell. Where people used to pay hundreds of euros for a limited release, it seems like resell is taking a hit these days. At least, it's mostly the general releases that are available on marketplaces now. From the adidas Handball SPZL to the ASICS GEL-Kayano 14, classic colorways of sneakers seem to be winning out over collaborations with artists or brands these days.
It's hard to pinpoint exactly why this is happening. The designs haven’t necessarily gotten worse, and the artists or brands involved are just as relevant as they were ten years ago—at least, most of them are. There's no single clear factor that has caused this shift, but I can think of a few reasons.
Under the motto "never change a winning team," it seems like big brands are repeating themselves these days with collaborations. Where collaborations used to be unique and limited, you can now name dozens of collaborations that we can expect just in 2025 alone. The balance between demand and supply has been disrupted, and limited sneakers are no longer exclusive, so why pay hundreds of extra euros?
It also seems like brands are stuck in collaborations that worked well in the past. Collaborations from years ago are making a comeback, but due to overproduction, they no longer feel interesting. And rightfully so, because I'd personally rather have the OG release than a copy that's available years later. Big brands that made this mistake in the past seem to be slowly losing their strong position.
Broader landscape of brands
Now that the biggest players are less dominant, emerging (niche) brands are stepping into the spotlight. Brands like Oakley, ON, and HOKA are bringing the latest technologies, and even PUMA and ASICS are big players again in 2025. Each brand has created its own league, releasing one drop after another within their own lane.
Nike remains dominant in the OG silhouettes, adidas is the king of football-inspired designs, ASICS is the go-to brand for Y2K sneakers, and Salomon and Merrell have made their names in the gorpcore trend with their outdoor sneakers. And we haven’t even touched on non-sneakers yet.
Because alongside sneakers, models like loafers, boots à la Timberland, and silhouettes from Birkenstock, such as the Boston and Arizona, have become more popular than just a few years ago.
Even UGGs, which were considered a no-go just a few years ago, have now become an undeniable part of the current street scene.
Creativity
More space means more creativity, and it shows. Brands are daring to take risks again, and more often than not, these risks are well received. A great example of this is the New Balance 1906L, a hybrid between loafers and sneakers. A silhouette that, on paper, shouldn’t work—but in execution, it stands out above the rest.
The recent release of the adidas Megaride Mary-Jane 'Iron Metal' in collaboration with Taqwa Bint Ali is another great example of what happens when brands think outside the box. Coming back to collaborations—don’t worry, they’re still relevant, as long as they bring something new to the table.
The HUF x Nike Air Max 1, which was re-released in 2024, quickly ended up on sale, while just a few years ago, people were paying hundreds of euros for the exact same design. Meanwhile, a Wales Bonner release of a hairy adidas Samba with a bold leopard print in that same year was crowned "Best Sneaker of the Year", and gets sold for four times its value.
Resell isn’t dead—you just have to play it smart.
Technologies
Another major aspect of footwear today is technology. The world is moving forward, and so are sneakers. Brands are using the most advanced technologies in their shoes and can even 3D-print models nowadays. Think of the Nike Air Max 1000 or the adidas 4DFWD.
Running shoes are getting faster and faster thanks to innovative features like Air Zoom units, carbon fiber plates, and cushioning pods. But it’s not just running shoes that are benefiting from the latest innovations, lifestyle sneakers are also becoming more modern, both in technology and design.
Recently, the New Balance 1906W was released, a variation of the classic 1906 featuring FantomFit on the upper. A modern-looking sneaker with the latest technologies, designed for everyday use. Or take the designs from Oakley or Merrell, or the Mafate Speed 4 Lite STSFY from HOKA—all created with innovation and lifestyle in mind.
And we haven’t even mentioned the PUMA Mostro 3.D yet.
Future of the sneaker
If you ask me, the current sneaker landscape is on the right track. Plenty of competition keeps brands on their toes and creates an environment where creativity plays a bigger role than ever before. I’m optimistic about the coming years, and the upcoming releases only reinforce this feeling.
Take PUMA, for example, which has big plans for the Mostro in 2025. Or adidas, which has transformed the Megaride into a Mary-Jane silhouette. The loafer trend seems to be continuing and even blending into sneaker designs, while gorpcore is set to play an even bigger role in contemporary fashion.
Even for those who stick to the classic silhouettes, there’s plenty to look forward to this year. The Air Jordan 1 has a strong lineup, the adidas Superstar is making a comeback, and the New Balance 1500 is available once again.
So no, the sneaker scene is not dead. Quite the opposite.
