When people say fashion and comfort can’t go hand in hand, please remind them of shoes. Yes, if you talk about heels some can make your legs cramp but women can kill for a good pair of shoes. Shoes are a way of lifestyle which comes in every color, every style. The range of shoes is endless and one’s shoe is a personal choice. People want their shoes for something different, i.e unique but also trendy. Depending upon preference the wide variety of shoes and shoe brands has something for everyone. If you look into the average sales or consumer rate of shoes, it has been reported an American woman buys at least five pairs of shoes in a year. Quite unbelievable? Quite not, because shoes don’t serve only as a necessity now, it is about luxury and fashion. Here, let’s know about Top Shoe Brands.
When investing in branded shoes it is highly recommended to stick to a shoe brand you fell in love with. Do you have a particular go-to shoe brand? As different brands stick to a specific style, promote comfort, and the best of quality. The market grows, the competition rises, and many shoe brands are emerging every single day. To pick from all the various brands, dupes, local brands is way too confusing when you go out shoe shopping. So, what about discovering a brand for you? What are the top shoe brands rolling in the market right now? Let’s find out.
Well, the information provided for a brand will be based on what you look into a brand? Because obviously, people aren’t interested in the market value of a shoe company. What people like you and me want to know are the quality and price. As there are some high-end brands out there that may provide good quality & comfort but are too expensive for middle-class people to purchase. Come let’s see the top 10 shoe brands which should be on your racks once in a lifetime.
THE TOP 10
This list of top shoe brands is curated given the criteria of durability, material, style, price, and comfort. Regarding usage, footwear can be made for various needs. So, style, comfort, and price are the things kept in mind while manufacturing.
1. NIKE
Who hasn’t heard about the brand Nike? It is one of the largest shoe brands in the market which are most reliable and famous. The company Nike has been in business since 1964 and has never disappointed the customers with trends and super comfortable designs. The company believes in reinvention, advancement, and innovation within footwear designs. Nike has gained its name as the billion-dollar multinational shoe brand, situated in America, was founded by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman. The company got global in 1981 and has spread to almost every country around the world today. The company operates all its business from their headquarter in Washington County in the US. The net worth of Nike goes up from $23 to $30 billion in a single year.
Today, Nike not only sells shoes but also, clothes, accessories, and sports equipment. And have shown excellence in every industry it has stepped into. Nike reflects great designing, marketing, and selling of their products worldwide with much appreciation. Some of the best creations Nike has are Nike Air Presto, Nike Air Huarache, Nike Lunar Fingertrap Cross Trainer Sneakers, and many more. Nike has associated with celebrities like Neymar, Ronaldo, Tiger Woods, Ronaldinho, and Rory Mcllroy. Also, the company has been sponsoring the Indian Cricket Team since 2005.
2. ADIDAS
Coming from a German origin, Adidas has offered top-notch stylish, versatile, and ultra-comfy pairs of shoes. Adidas’ specialty is of the cushioning system, with the tagline of the company ‘Impossible is nothing. Adidas looks up to advance technology to provide comfort which has put Adidas on the list of top shoe brands. The company focuses on the manufacturing of sports, lifestyle, and running shoes.
Adidas was founded in 1924 by Adolf Dassler with the vision of serving every person of every class. Located at Herzogenaurach, Germany, and has spread the business to most countries. The company had started as an athletic shoe brand. But now, it has widened the range of products to apparel, accessories, etc. Though the company bears an image of sports fashion, it still lives up to the image of the street, pop culture, music, and sports which marks the establishment of communication bonds over the years. The net sales the company makes are $16 to $25 billion, which has grown to be a household name; every nine out of ten people wear Adidas.
Adidas has done many collaborations and sponsors UEFA Champions League & New York Yankees. Also, the brand has joined its name with celebrities like Sachin Tendulkar, Lionel Messi, Stefan Edberg, Ivan Lendl, Kevin Pietersen, and Jake Dalton.
3. REEBOK
The top-class brand signifying fitness, comfort, and luxury is Reebok. The one-billion-dollar company offers spiked running shoes and premium looks enhancing the luxury side of the company. Reebok was founded by Jeff and Joe Foster in 1958 and has been a subsidiary brand of Adidas since 2005. Situated in Boston in the US the company serves worldwide with its innovative designs and ultimate running comforts.
Reebok has successfully transitioned from a traditional footwear brand to a brand focused on fitness with the manufacturing of shoes. The companies work with excellent quality material and provide lucrative zigzag foam soles in the shoe which ensures a comfortable experience all day long. Reebok is officially tied up to sponsor Spartan races, CrossFit, and Ultimate Fighting Championship. Also, provided sponsorship in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings.
Other than introducing new technologies for footwear, the company has done charitable work for US school children with physical activities before the school day by operating the Build Our Kids’ Success (KOBS) program. Also, the company has focused on manufacturing and marketing for women since 1982.
4. JORDAN
You are the one who will choose fashion over anything else, then Jordon is for you. In a short time, Jordan has gained immense success and became a personal choice of many athletes and sportspersons. Jordan is one of the most famous fashion statement shoe brands without compromising the durability of the footwear. Jordan provides a diversified range of products that promote diligence towards fashion and sport. The headquarters of Jordan is located in Chicago in the US. There is an interesting story behind the logo of Jordan and not many people know that Jordan started with a different logo. In 1988, Tinker Hatfield was inspired by a sketch idea which was a rendered version of Michael Jordan’s (the company’s owner) Jumpman photo. And hence, the new logo was formed.
Jordan aka Air Jordan was founded in 1984, and again became a subsidiary of Nike in 1997. Jordan is known for its ideas in sportswear, apparel, and especially basketball shoes. Michael Jeffery Jordan was a professional basketball player who came up with the splendid creation of “Jordan”. Thus, in the beginning, the company focused on basketball shoes. In 2019, Jordan launched various models of shoes that are innovative and creative with high-quality soles and fabrics.
5. PUMA
Puma is a renowned brand that offers products for training and fitness, running, football, basketball, motorsport, and golf. Puma comes from a German origin founded by Rudolf Dassler in 1948. The name sounds similar to the founder of Adidas, then yes you are thinking right. At first Adidas and Puma came to the market as brothers’ companies as the founders were brothers. But due to business and financial conflicts, they got separated and found their ways of business. And see today, both Adidas and Puma are multinational companies that are on the list of top shoe brands across the world.
Puma’s logo is quite impressive. It was created by Lutz Backes, a famous cartoonist 70 years ago. The logo holds a deep meaning, that is, the sign represents courage and power inspired & illustrated from the species of big cat ‘Puma’.
The range, design, durability, and comfort of Puma are remarkable and they provide a comprehensive product portfolio in the market. Puma has sponsored big personalities like Diego Maradona, Virat Kohli, Colin Jackson, etc. And Puma has collaborated with music sensations like Rihanna, Selena Gomez, and Big Sean.
6. SKECHERS
Now the fastest-growing shoe brand in the US, ‘Skechers’ founded in 1992, a billion-dollar company that has gained a lot of attention recently. Skechers comes under the third largest brand in athletic footwear with both the active & casual footwear range of products. The company is quite famous for its reasonable price in footwear and merchandise. Skechers is preferred by all men, women, and kids because of the comfort and quality offered at affordable prices. Well, the low prices don’t mean cheap quality, the price range is set low due to the economical sourcing base. The headquarters of Skechers is at Manhattan Beach, California. The company values providing comfortable and good cushioning with memory foam insoles.
The company focuses on the customers between the ages of 19 to 40 and picks trendy & casual styles to meet their needs. Skechers has won awards for its high-quality, cutting-edge print and advertising, and diversified distribution of channels for which the company is loved the most. Skechers includes a wide variety of products i.e boots, sneakers, training shoes, oxfords, sandals, and semi-dressy shoes. The company objectifies the need of youngsters that offer street fashion under Zoo York, Marc Ecko, and Mark Nason. Skechers has grown to sell their products in 160 plus countries with 390 or more company outlet stores around the world. Skechers has been associated with celebrities like Camila Cabello, Demi Lovato, David Ortiz, Kelly Brook, Brook Henderson, and Tony Romo.
Skechers is known to participate in charitable events with the friendship foundation to raise money for nonprofits and to have ‘The Skechers Foundation’.
7. CONVERSE
Remember the wrap-around strip, rubber sole, smooth and round toe? These are the features one can distinguish converse with. Everyone had at least one pair of Converse in their teenage years back in the day. The most common shoe brand out there is quite famous among teens and is recognizable because of its logo star insignia. The unique style and structure of converse shoes make it remarkable to outshine its presence among youngsters. Because of the usual go-to style and offers comfort and multipurpose design.
Converse was founded in 1908 by Marquis Mills Converse and emerged as an American billion-dollar company headquartered in Boston in the US. The company sells apparel, accessories, and sporting goods as well in the production of lifestyle footwear. In 2003 the brand became a subsidiary of Nike and has been in great business ever since. The products range from day-to-day lifestyle footwear to skating shoes, and other products. The converse is associated with celebrities like Rihanna, Kristen Stewart, and Snoop Dogg.
8. BATA
C’mon, we all have worn Bata, it is one of the oldest shoe brands. You won’t believe Bata is 130 years or more and led by the third generation of the Bata family. The brand holds a legit position in the market for authenticity and classic style. This is one shoe brand that can last for decades quite literally. The company was founded in 1894 by Tomas Bata situated at Lausanne, Switzerland. In recent times, Bata has a net worth of $1 million and exhibits the most genuine style of retro look. The materials and innovative technologies are incorporated in the classically styled shoes to provide comfort and fashion. The company values the aspect of manufacturing products according to style by blending fashion statements with comfortable designs.
Currently, Bata owns 5000 retail stores with 24 fully owned factories in over 60 countries across the globe. Bata has a dedicated team to operate e-commerce sales and combine the best local and global strategies to overcome issues in the market. The outlook of a Bata shoe is quite high with flexibility, easy to wear, and lightweight. The price of a pair of good old Bata can be expensive but is worth it.
9. WOODLAND
One of the most recognizable brands around the world, and stands on the top in India. Woodland has a Canadian origin founded in 1992 by their parent company Aero Group. Before the birth of Woodland, the Aero group used to export its products to Russia, but then the division of Russia forced the company to export to India. And that’s the story of how Woodland entered Indian territory and served it for 25 years now. Woodland got famous when it came to India. Thus, many a time people ask, Is Woodland an Indian company? Woodland was the first company to launch hand-stitched leather shoes in India which created a great impact and attracted a huge audience at that time. It all started with 3 small shops in Delhi, India from which the chain of Woodland grew immensely.
The products made by Woodland are for heavy-duty usage and can last up to 5 to 6 years in harsh conditions as well. The leather quality, comfort, and stylish finish look are Woodland’s signature. And if you invest in a pair of Woodland shoes, it will be worth it for a lifetime. Woodlands takes a step greener by valuing and investing to manufacture almost 100% eco-friendly shoes. Now, Woodland can be considered as the brand for adventurers. The durability and great performance in rough places make it the choice of young adults. An unbelievable fact about Woodland is that Woodland’s Brand Ambassador is an Indian teenager, Malaika Vaz who is an adventure enthusiast and extremist.
10. VANS
The brand which pleases their customer with performance and aesthetics, “Vans”. Being in the market since 1966, Vans is an American company founded by James Van Doren, Gordon C Lee, and Paul Van Doren in Anaheim, California. Currently, the company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. The story behind the company’s beginning is rather a story influenced by people. At first, they started with a Van Doren Rubber company skilled in manufacturing canvas deck shoes with grippy soles. And people gave a good response and coined its name as ‘Let’s head over to Van’s and grab shoes’. Thus, the company liked the nickname and got on board with it. Vans is operated as a subsidiary of VF Corporation.
The Vans Era shoes were vastly adopted by skateboarders and so, you can say Vans has influenced skateboarders. The company aims to provide super-stylish footwear which lasts long and is designed to meet the needs of athletes. Vans has designed special sports footwear by using contemporary designs with the younger generation in mind. Vans shoes can be categorized as ‘Old Skools’ and have created a huge impression in pop culture. Vans later in the 1970s became the company to get hired to model shoes for the air force by the US defense. The shoe Vans created for US defense were a canvas-based model with a mukluk style boot having a wool lining. And then, ever since Vans has got great opportunities and delivered the best every time. Vans was Lil Wayne’s go-to brand for a while which caught the eyes of most people in the rapper community.
Vans has impacted its customers with a positive awareness by event sponsorships and creating skateboarding parks. Since 1996 it has been sponsoring The Warped Tour and the title sponsor of the US Open of Surfing in 2014.
CONCLUSION
The shoe industry blooms in every situation or occasion. A few decades back, shoes were a symbol of royalty and luxury. But today it is a necessity and a choice. Thus, the shoe industry never sleeps. Though due to the pandemic, the shoe industry had been badly affected by a decrease in twenty-three to thirty-five percent of sales. Because China used to serve as a major manufacturing location and transit hub. However, other companies like Nike have benefited from it. The fact is humans can’t live without fashion and luxury nowadays and hence, shoe brands will never run out of business.
Well, the purpose is to find your shoe brand among all the different shoe brands and look out for something you want. The shoes you wear become a part of your personality so feel it. And no matter what the majority says, if a brand doesn’t work for you, it is what it is. The options of different brands give a choice for styles, durability, rate, and comfort. Therefore, explore and have fun with shoe shopping!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
- What is the most popular shoe brand?
The most famous and loved brand is Nike. There is a reason why it is on the top of the list, right? Though a pair of Nike shoes can cost a fortune or be cheap, the beauty of Nike is that it has something in each range for every budget. And Nike never disappoints with quality and comfort. So, pay for what feels the best for you
- What is the most expensive shoe brand?
Maybe you haven’t heard of it, because it is the brand for billionaires. ‘Stuart Weitzman’ whose average ‘normal’ shoes range between $400 to $800. Quite a catch isn’t it. And it’ll blow your mind how much their highest price can go i.e $3 million! Yes, for a pair of shoes. Though the quality and luxury are never compromised with all products being exclusive and one of a kind. Yet, an average person can’t afford it.
- What is the oldest shoe brand in the world?
The first shoe brand was started in Munich, Germany in 1596 by Hans Mayr. Surely, Germany has a thing for shoes occupying the first tier even today with Adidas and Puma. The oldest shoe-making company is known as Ed Meier which is still in business. The craftsmanship and vintage look of Ed Meier has stayed with its name, considered to be a royal supplier of shoes. The products Ed Meier sells now are leather goods, jet-set shoes, clothes, and accessories.
