Latest news with #Haines
Malaysian Reserve
6 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Snoafers become footwear's hottest trend
Brands bet on snoafers as comfort meets street style IN THE world of fashion hybrids, there are skorts (shorts that look like skirts), jeggings (leggings made of stretch denim) and shackets (shirt-jackets). The latest style mash-up: Snoafers. One of the biggest trends in footwear combines the cushioned sole of a sneaker with the upper of a loafer, for a comfortable business-casual shoe that is meant to be worn anywhere. Although their divisive appearance initially generated backlash, snoafers have emerged as a viral breakout category for major sneaker brands including New Balance Atheltics Inc, Hoka and Puma SE, selling out quickly and landing on online marketplaces at wildly inflated prices since last year. Joining the trend late is Nike Inc, which recently introduced its Air Max Phenomena, created through the company's Serena Williams Design Crew apprenticeship programme. Prior to its release last month, the US$155 (RMRM728.50) snoafer was listed on StockX LLC for as much as US$500, fuelling buzz for the sportswear giant after a year-long sales slump. In a US$457 billion global footwear market loaded with sneakers, 'customers are looking for something different,' said resale marketplace, StockX senior marketplace director Drew Haines, which has seen an influx of shoppers vying for the latest snoafers. Sneakerheads seem to be more open to unconventional silhouettes developed by a wider selection of brands, he said, an encouraging sign for footwear designers eager to experiment and stand out from the competition. When trends in fashion arise, they historically tend to have short lifespans — something that has become more pronounced in a culture driven by social media, forcing companies to constantly innovate to stay ahead. 'I do think brands are going to start to take some of these risks… to produce and release products that are outside of the traditional scope,' Haines said. 'Whenever they do that, it seems to really resonate.' New Balance began selling its snoafer, the 1906L, in September and is credited with popularising the silhouette. 'We've been blown away by how the 1906L has been embraced — not just by sneaker fans, but by a broader audience,' said New Balance design manager Charlotte Lee. 'It's opened up a new design space for us and we're definitely planning to explore that further.' That includes new colours and materials expected to be released soon. New Balance did not provide sales figures, but the shoes quickly sold out online in the US and Lee said demand has remained strong beyond the initial drop. 'We wanted to challenge the perception of loafers,' she said. By fusing the performance of a sneaker with the 'dressier' look of formal footwear, the 1906L is 'a product that fits how people actually live and move.' Shoppers vying for the latest snoafers, a sneaker-loafer hybrid gaining traction in the RM2.2t footwear market Hoka, known for its running shoes, is currently sold out of its all-gender Speed Loafer, which retails for US$185. Puma debuted its Sophyr loafer last year and is still sold out in multiple sizes. Nike-owned Converse is also getting in the game, unveiling its All-Star Coinloafer in the US in June. Different variations of the shoe have been offered in Japan as early as 2022, according to Women's Wear Daily. The hype hasn't let up: Online searches for New Balance's 1906 L have increased 3,700% on StockX since the first quarter last year (1Q25) — months before its release. Kelly Baartman, 27, bought a pair of Rich Oak 1906Ls from a shoe store called Archive in June and said she loves the formal-meets-athleticwear versatility of the shoes. 'I love wearing a sneaker and I love wearing a loafer,' the content creator from South Africa said. 'To see that concept come together, just based on my personal style, I was like, 'Oh, this is literally perfect.'' Angel Edme, a content creator from Brooklyn, said she loves when brands try new things. 'It was something different,' she said of her 1906Ls, which she wears to run errands and attend creator events. 'It was something fresh and it was something playful that I can possibly mess around with and find new ways of styling.' Even big apparel companies are taking note. 'The loafer is 100% making a comeback in every single form,' Gap Brand president and CEO Mark Breitbard, said in an interview with Bloomberg. He said Gap takes into account what shoe styles are trending when the company designs its jeans, to ensure its clothes will look good with what shoppers are wearing on their feet. — Bloomberg This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
Fashion Network
01-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
From loafers to sneakers: why snoafers are dominating 2025 footwear trends
In a $457 billion (£333.6 billion) global footwear market loaded with sneakers, 'customers are looking for something different,' said Drew Haines, senior marketplace director at resale marketplace StockX, which has seen an influx of shoppers vying for the latest snoafers. Sneaker enthusiasts appear more receptive to unconventional silhouettes being developed by a wider array of brands, he said—an encouraging sign for footwear designers eager to experiment and differentiate themselves in an increasingly saturated market. When trends in fashion arise, they often have short lifespans—something amplified by a social media-driven culture—forcing companies to continuously innovate to stay relevant. 'I do think brands are going to start to take some of these risks… to produce and release products that are outside of the traditional scope,' Haines said. 'Whenever they do that, it seems to really resonate.' New Balance began selling its snoafer, the 1906L, in September and is credited with popularising the silhouette. 'We've been blown away by how the 1906L has been embraced—not just by sneaker fans, but by a broader audience,' said Charlotte Lee, a New Balance design manager. 'It's opened up a new design space for us, and we're definitely planning to explore that further.' That includes new colours and materials expected to be released soon. New Balance did not provide sales figures, but the shoes quickly sold out online in the US, and Lee said demand has remained strong beyond the initial drop. 'We wanted to challenge the perception of loafers,' she said. By fusing the performance of a sneaker with the 'dressier' look of formal footwear, the 1906L is 'a product that fits how people actually live and move.' Hoka, known for its running shoes, is currently sold out of its all-gender Speed Loafer, which retails for $185 (£135.05). Puma debuted its Sophyr loafer last year and is still sold out in multiple sizes. Nike-owned Converse is also getting in the game, unveiling its All-Star Coinloafer in the US in June. According to Women's Wear Daily, different shoe variations have been offered in Japan as early as 2022. The hype hasn't let up: online searches for New Balance's 1906L have increased 3,700% on StockX since last year's first quarter—months before its release. Kelly Baartman, 27, bought a pair of Rich Oak 1906Ls from Archive, a shoe store, in June and said she loves their hybrid versatility. 'I love wearing a sneaker and I love wearing a loafer,' said the content creator from South Africa. 'To see that concept come together, just based on my personal style, I was like, 'Oh, this is literally perfect.'' Angel Edme, a content creator from Brooklyn, said she enjoys it when brands take creative risks. 'It was something different,' she said of her 1906Ls, which she wears to run errands and attend creator events. 'It felt fresh and playful—something I could experiment with and style in new ways.' Even big apparel companies are taking note. 'The loafer is 100% making a comeback in every single form,' said Mark Breitbard, president and chief executive officer of the Gap brand, in an interview with Bloomberg. He said Gap takes into account what shoe styles are trending when the company designs its jeans, to ensure its clothes complement what shoppers are wearing on their feet. (Exchange rate: $1 = £0.73)
Fashion Network
01-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
From loafers to sneakers: why snoafers are dominating 2025 footwear trends
In a $457 billion global footwear market loaded with sneakers, 'customers are looking for something different,' said Drew Haines, senior marketplace director at resale marketplace StockX, which has seen an influx of shoppers vying for the latest snoafers. Sneaker enthusiasts appear more receptive to unconventional silhouettes being developed by a wider array of brands, he said—an encouraging sign for footwear designers eager to experiment and differentiate themselves in an increasingly saturated market. When trends in fashion arise, they often have short lifespans—something amplified by a social media-driven culture—forcing companies to continuously innovate to stay relevant. 'I do think brands are going to start to take some of these risks… to produce and release products that are outside of the traditional scope,' Haines said. 'Whenever they do that, it seems to really resonate.' New Balance began selling its snoafer, the 1906L, in September and is credited with popularizing the silhouette. 'We've been blown away by how the 1906L has been embraced—not just by sneaker fans, but by a broader audience,' said Charlotte Lee, a New Balance design manager. 'It's opened up a new design space for us, and we're definitely planning to explore that further.' That includes new colors and materials expected to be released soon. New Balance did not provide sales figures, but the shoes quickly sold out online in the U.S., and Lee said demand has remained strong beyond the initial drop. 'We wanted to challenge the perception of loafers,' she said. By fusing the performance of a sneaker with the 'dressier' look of formal footwear, the 1906L is 'a product that fits how people actually live and move.' Hoka, known for its running shoes, is currently sold out of its all-gender Speed Loafer, which retails for $185. Puma debuted its Sophyr loafer last year and is still sold out in multiple sizes. Nike-owned Converse is also getting in the game, unveiling its All-Star Coinloafer in the U.S. in June. Different shoe variations have been offered in Japan as early as 2022, according to Women's Wear Daily. The hype hasn't let up: Online searches for New Balance's 1906L have increased 3,700% on StockX since last year's first quarter—months before its release. Kelly Baartman, 27, bought a pair of Rich Oak 1906Ls from a shoe store called Archive in June and said she loves the hybrid versatility of the shoes. 'I love wearing a sneaker and I love wearing a loafer,' said the content creator from South Africa. 'To see that concept come together, just based on my personal style, I was like, 'Oh, this is literally perfect.'' Angel Edme, a content creator from Brooklyn, said she enjoys it when brands take creative risks. 'It was something different,' she said of her 1906Ls, which she wears to run errands and attend creator events. 'It felt fresh and playful—something I could experiment with and style in new ways.' Even big apparel companies are taking note. 'The loafer is 100% making a comeback in every single form,' said Mark Breitbard, president and chief executive officer of the Gap brand, in an interview with Bloomberg. He said Gap takes into account what shoe styles are trending when the company designs its jeans, to ensure its clothes complement what shoppers are wearing on their feet.
Fashion Network
01-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
From loafers to sneakers: why snoafers are dominating 2025 footwear trends
In the world of fashion hybrids, there are skorts (shorts that look like skirts), jeggings (leggings made of stretch denim), and shackets (shirt-jackets). The latest style mash-up: snoafers. One of the biggest trends in footwear combines the cushioned sole of a sneaker with the upper of a loafer, for a comfortable business-casual shoe that is meant to be worn anywhere. Although their divisive appearance initially generated backlash, snoafers have emerged as a viral breakout category for major sneaker brands including New Balance, Hoka, and Puma, selling out quickly and landing on online marketplaces at wildly inflated prices since last year. Joining the trend late is Nike, which recently introduced its Air Max Phenomena, created through the company's Serena Williams Design Crew apprenticeship program. Prior to its release last week, the $155 snoafer was listed on StockX for as much as $500, fueling buzz for the sportswear giant after a year-long sales slump. In a $457 billion global footwear market loaded with sneakers, 'customers are looking for something different,' said Drew Haines, senior marketplace director at resale marketplace StockX, which has seen an influx of shoppers vying for the latest snoafers. Sneaker enthusiasts appear more receptive to unconventional silhouettes being developed by a wider array of brands, he said—an encouraging sign for footwear designers eager to experiment and differentiate themselves in an increasingly saturated market. When trends in fashion arise, they often have short lifespans—something amplified by a social media-driven culture—forcing companies to continuously innovate to stay relevant. 'I do think brands are going to start to take some of these risks… to produce and release products that are outside of the traditional scope,' Haines said. 'Whenever they do that, it seems to really resonate.' New Balance began selling its snoafer, the 1906L, in September and is credited with popularizing the silhouette. 'We've been blown away by how the 1906L has been embraced—not just by sneaker fans, but by a broader audience,' said Charlotte Lee, a New Balance design manager. 'It's opened up a new design space for us, and we're definitely planning to explore that further.' That includes new colors and materials expected to be released soon. New Balance did not provide sales figures, but the shoes quickly sold out online in the U.S., and Lee said demand has remained strong beyond the initial drop. 'We wanted to challenge the perception of loafers,' she said. By fusing the performance of a sneaker with the 'dressier' look of formal footwear, the 1906L is 'a product that fits how people actually live and move.' Hoka, known for its running shoes, is currently sold out of its all-gender Speed Loafer, which retails for $185. Puma debuted its Sophyr loafer last year and is still sold out in multiple sizes. Nike-owned Converse is also getting in the game, unveiling its All-Star Coinloafer in the U.S. in June. Different shoe variations have been offered in Japan as early as 2022, according to Women's Wear Daily. The hype hasn't let up: Online searches for New Balance's 1906L have increased 3,700% on StockX since last year's first quarter—months before its release. Kelly Baartman, 27, bought a pair of Rich Oak 1906Ls from a shoe store called Archive in June and said she loves the hybrid versatility of the shoes. 'I love wearing a sneaker and I love wearing a loafer,' said the content creator from South Africa. 'To see that concept come together, just based on my personal style, I was like, 'Oh, this is literally perfect.'' Angel Edme, a content creator from Brooklyn, said she enjoys it when brands take creative risks. 'It was something different,' she said of her 1906Ls, which she wears to run errands and attend creator events. 'It felt fresh and playful—something I could experiment with and style in new ways.' Even big apparel companies are taking note. 'The loafer is 100% making a comeback in every single form,' said Mark Breitbard, president and chief executive officer of the Gap brand, in an interview with Bloomberg. He said Gap takes into account what shoe styles are trending when the company designs its jeans, to ensure its clothes complement what shoppers are wearing on their feet.
ITV News
01-07-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Mother and wife of Ashton Town FC chairman killed in jet ski incident in Malaga
Tributes have been paid to a mother and wife who did "so much for our community", after she was killed in a 'jet ski incident' in Malaga. Debra Haines, the wife of Ashton Town FC - in Wigan - Chairman Chris Wright, died on Saturday 28 June near Los Toros beach after a motorboat reportedly collided with a jet ski. In a social media post, her son Stu paid tribute and described Ms Haines as his "best friend". He said: "I don't even know how to move forward without you. You are my Mum, my best friend, I wish I could swap places with you, if I could knowing you would be ok I would do it in a heartbeat. "It would be impossible to Thankyou for everything you have done for us, you loved me when I couldn't love myself, you've backed me every step of the way. I really hope I made you just the tiniest bit proud." In a statement, Ashton Town FC said the club was "in mourning". The club said: "It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that on behalf of Ashton Town FC we announce the tragic death of Debra Wright, wife of Chris our Chairman who was tragically killed whilst on holiday in Spain on Saturday evening. "Our family are in mourning at this sad time and we ask for time for Chris and his family and everyone at the club to be able to start to come to terms with this tragedy." Local councillor Danny Fletcher posted on social media: "Extending my heartfelt condolences following the tragic passing of Debra, beloved wife of Ashton Town FC Chairman, Chris Wright. "What an amazing family, done so much for our community. My thoughts are with Chris, his family and everyone at Ashton Town FC. "Anything that Wigan Council can do to help, they will be there." A number of local clubs paid tribute to Ms Haines and offered their condolences. Local rivals Ashton Athletic wrote: "We are deeply saddened to hear the devastating news of the passing of Debra Wright at Ashton Town. "Everyone at Ashton Athletic sends their heartfelt condolences to Chris, his family, and all at Ashton Town. Our thoughts are with you during this incredibly difficult time." Chorley FC added: "Everybody at Chorley sends their heartfelt condolences to all at Ashton Town. Our thoughts are with you during this incredibly difficult time." Local paper Sur in English reported that the Guardia Civil in Malaga said Ms Haines was a passenger on the jet ski, which was being driven by Mr Wright, when it collided with the motorboat. The driver of the motorboat was arrested at the scene on suspicion of manslaughter and being in charge of a boat while under the influence of alcohol, but has since been released under investigation.
