Latest news with #SpeedLoafer
Malaysian Reserve
3 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.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hoka is getting in on 2025's most controversial shoe trend with its latest launch
From dad sneakers to granola sandals, supportive yet 'ugly' shoes have been trending over the last few years, once again proving that comfort is ultimately more important than style when it comes to footwear. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that the latest unexpected shoe trend is the 'snoafer,' a playful mix of sneakers and loafers. They first became popular this past fall with the now sold-out New Balance 1906L's but if you didn't hop on the trend then you've now got another chance. Today, Hoka launched its own version of the controversial hybrid shoe with its Speed Loafer. A cross between a leather dress loafer and a performance trail runner, these lightweight kicks feature the same functionality as the brand's beloved Speedgoat 5 sneakers. With cool features like a patented Vibram Megagrip sole for enhanced traction on tricky terrain, a cushioned insole for extra comfort, and reflective piping for visibility, these shoes truly blend style and function. And while Hoka is known for its vibrant knit uppers, the Speed Loafer features a sleek leather and suede upper, a tasteful leather lining, and even an adorable tassel to polish off the look. 'We're a trail running brand, that's what we do day in and day out. We're always trying to find ways to blur the lines of style and performance in a way that feels authentic to us but also feels, at times, a bit disruptive,' Travis Wiseman, director of lifestyle product at HOKA said in an interview with Highsnobiety about the launch. Whether you call them disruptive or just plain fun, these hybrid snoafers are sure to catch attention and spark some great conversations. The unisex shoe comes in all-black and ranges in size from men's 4 to 13 and women's 5 to 14.. If you're tempted to snag a pair for yourself, we recommend adding them to your cart ASAP — these trendy kicks just dropped this morning and certain sizes are already selling out!
