The days of white trainers with everything are behind us. Over the last few years, sneakers have secured their status as a true fashion and lifestyle statement. The statement you make is completely up to you. Chic and effortless, chunky and loud, retro and sporty, slim and bright, rare and luxurious, trendy and sustainable.
Whatever your style, on any given day, there’s a sneaker to help you strut it out. But which trainer brands and are set to release the iconic styles of year?
Here are the top 10 trainer brands shaping trends in 2025 and their must-have designs this year.
Adidas
Let’s kick things off with the reigning sneaker king of the high street. While the Samba OG and its siblings will continue to be seen on every second pair of feet around London, there may well be a new “it girl” in town in very chic, sporty Adidas Originals Taekwondo.
Alongside their everyday originals are the more innovative sustainable collaborations like the Parley Ocean Plastic collection and the Ultraboost X Stella McCartney range.
Adidas Originals Taekwondo, £80
A chic white trainer without laces. A sporty, slim, slightly retro design.
Adidas Ultraboost Made To Be Remade 2.0, £180
If sustainability is high on your list, this fully recyclable trainer is hard to beat.
Puma
Sleek, sporty silhouettes, a big presence at the Paris Olympics and a whole host of celebrity ambassadors (including Usain Bolt, Cara Delevigne, Selena Gomez, Dua Lipa and A$AP Rocky), Puma is certainly sprinting up the list of people’s must-have sneaker brands.
The Puma Speedcats are being heavily endorsed and with eight bold colourways to choose from, they’re certainly tapping into the trend of brightly coloured, slim fitting everyday footwear. Of the eight, we predict the racing red will be the standout look this year.
Last year Puma also made great strides forward in sustainability too, with their 2-year trial into making compostable suede ending in success. The Re:
Puma Speedcat OG Sneakers, £90
A unisex sneaker that’s inspired by the racetrack.
Puma Palermo Vintage Sneakers, £75
An 80’s terrace shoe revamped in textured suede, bright bold colourways and a gum sole.
Nike
The theme this year for Nike is 90’s revival. Expect some vintage classics reinvented, and a very special 90s icon brought back for a 30th anniversary celebration.
As always for Nike, sustainability is at the fore front. You can now find some iconic 90s designs with sustainable innovations. Both the Air Max and Dunk series can now be found made from post-consumer and/or post-manufactured waste, which reduces the shoe’s carbon footprint by up to 70%.
Nike Cortez Vintage Suede, £89.99
Suede is having a quiet comeback. And here, the slightly rough suede texture really complements the vintage vibe of the Cortez.
Nike Air Max 95 ‘Pink Foam’, £185
The iconic Nike Air Max 95 celebrates its 30th birthday this year. And to mark the occasion, Nike are relaunching its most iconic colourway: pink foam. Look out for updates on when it’ll be released. It’s tipped to be sometime in April.
Converse
While the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star never exactly went out of fashion, it’s certainly coming back in full force. A collab with last year’s biggest popstar, Charli XCX is surely helping things along.
In 2023 we saw a comeback with the run star hike hi. But this year’s iteration returns to the classic silhouette, featuring recycled materials and bold colourways. Bang on trend for 2025.
Converse Upcycle Chuck 70 Crochet Blankets, £100
Upcycled crochet blankets are attached to the canvas upper. Each pair are completely unique and save beautifully crafted blankets from ending up in landfill.
Veja
We’ve mentioned sustainability a few times already, but there’s one brand who’ve used it as their starting point.
Veja remains a pioneer in sustainable sneaker design, using wild rubber and organic cotton to create minimalist designs. But what really sets them apart is the production process, mixing social projects, economic justice, and ecological materials to create high-quality products.
Veja Rio Branco II Ripstop Kaki Pierre, £125
Sleek yet bold, these vintage style trainers are inspired by the colours of Rio Branco in Brazil. The ripstop fabric is tear resistant yet lightweight for the ultimate style on outdoor adventures.
Volley Suede Veja X Make My Lemonade Collab, Cognac Mary, €150
As we’ve mentioned, suede is set to be a big trend across the board this year. And as we can all already see, brown is the tone of the season. So it’s no surprise that this recent Veja collab with the joyful French brand Make My Lemonade in brown suede is already sold out. Get your hands on a pair if you can!
Balenciaga
Fancy dipping your toes into the world of luxury? Balenciaga’s bold, avant-garde silhouettes merge high fashion and streetwear seamlessly. If you’re looking to make an ultra-chic statement, these are the ones for you.
Balenciaga Defender / Bouncer 2.0, £965
A bold, outlandish take on chunky sneakers.
Balenciaga Triple S, £825
Balenciaga’s Triple S sneakers have become something of an institution. Each season they come back in fresh colourways.
Alohas
If TikTok is your thing, you’ll probably already know and love this brand. The Tb.490 Rife is a star in its own right. Low top, slim fit, gum sole, lots of colourways and a tonne of influencer endorsements.
The variety of looks to choose means there’s something for almost everyone; single bold colours, contrasting combinations, patters, frills, metallics. It’s got the lot.
Tb.490 Rife, £160
Classic style with exposed stitching and a whole lot of colour options.
New Balance
As the undisputed OG dad shoe, New Balance has always been ahead of the trends. Their sell-out 90s icon, the New Balance U991 was discontinued in 2010 and has since been hailed as somewhat of a cult hero. And 2025 is the year it makes its official comeback.
New Balance U992 X Joe Freshgoods Made in USA ‘Aged Well’
The relaunch of the U992 will be spearheaded by a whole host of collabs. This one, the first of many, is certainly setting a high standard with its warm, earthy pink tones.
New Balance 990v7, £220
The 990 series is already hugely successful, and the v7 is set to continue the trajectory. We’re yet to get wind of an official launch date so for now, here’s the v6 in all sepia orange
Gola
Cool-girl certified, Gola is enjoying its Saturn return. And the heading up the transformation are the Tornado Trainers; another terrace shoe with the comfort and colour combination that’s very hot right now.
But it’s the authentically old-school look of a Gola trainer that’s making these stand out, especially with Gen Zs.
Gola Classics Tornado Trainers, £80
Sporty and stylish, slim and comfy, they’re a great alternative to any other terrace shoe on the market.
Gola Classics Elan Trainers, £90
A modern update on their heritage ‘Harrier’ style, these are a fresh take on their oldest, most iconic design.
Hoka One One
Known for its ultra-cushioned soles, and high-performance running trainers, 2025 is the year Hoka starting its expansion into lifestyle sneakers. The designs will draw on technical expertise.
Hoka Anacapa Low, £140
Versatile, waterproof sneaker for urban and outdoor adventures.
Hoka Tor Summit, £175
Unisex with an alpine-inspired silhouette and extra grip underfoot. As they put it “Trail vibes with city-ready design cues”.
