Sneaker Trends for this Spring & Summer 2022

Twilight fans will recall Bella Swan ditching high heels and opting to wear Converse footwear to her prom instead. Her real-life counterpart, Kristen Steward, did the same at the 2022 Oscars, donning her comfie sneakers as soon as the red carpet was rolled up. Sneakers have, of course, come a long way, with many celebrities, influencers, and everyday folk with sartorial flair wearing them alongside suits, dresses, and other relatively elegant ensembles. If you are a sneaker lover yourself, start saving for at least one of the following trending styles.

Technical Outdoor Sneakers
Sandy Liang impressed the crowd at New York Fashion Week, pairing causal mini-skirts, mini-dresses, and mid-calf A-cut skirts with rugged technical outdoor footwear by Salomon. It’s all part of the ‘gorpcore’ trend, which blends the outdoors lifestyle with sophisticated urban looks. This type of shoe contains special features such as a highly dense, strong-gripping sole, orthotic insoles, and a lightweight frame. For this look, take your pick from hiking, trail running, and other shoes meant to withstand rocky terrains.


Sparkling White
Plain white sneakers will be one of the most seen looks in the Spring/Summer seasons, with simple designs such as Margaux's The Sneaker and Superga's 2750 Emily White holding sway. To keep your sneakers in pristine condition, choose those made with machine-washable fabrics so you don’t need to clean them by hand. There are tricks and tips for washing footwear in a machine. Remove all laces and removable inner soles, and place the shoes in a mesh bag before popping them into the machine. Make sure your machine isn’t empty so your shoes don’t bump against the metal.


Color Bursts
The 80s will be influencing footwear in a big way in the warmer seasons, with many famous sneaker firms having designed busy footwear complete with splashes of complementary and contrasting colors. For a good example of 80s style at its finest, check out the FARM Rio’s Sunny Day Platform Sneakers, Marni x Veja’s Scribbled Colors low-tops, or Adidas’ Ultraboost 4 DNA Sneakers. Monochrome looks will also be hot, in pastel or vivid shades. For something understated, it’s got to be the light yellow joyfulness of TOMS Fenix Sneakers. By contrast, MG x Veja’s Unisex Sneaker comes in a saturated yellow hue that is reminiscent of the ripest of lemons.


Eco-Friendly Footwear
Sustainability is a big priority for millennial and Gen-Z shoppers, and this is evident in the vast number of eco-friendly fashion and footwear brands that have cropped up in recent years. Examples of the ‘green’ sneaker trend can be found in designs by brands such as Allbirds, Cariuma, and 8000Kicks. These sneakers are made with a significantly lower carbon footprint, thanks to an investment in materials such as sustainably harvested bamboo, rubber, and sugarcane. Most top eco-friendly brands also have vegan lines. Cariuma, for instance, makes its vegan shoes with GRS-certified rPET (from plastic bottles).

Sneakers will be one of Spring/Summer 2022’s hottest trends, which is good news for comfort lovers. Just a few trends to consider include technical wear, plain white sneakers, and colorful designs. Sustainability will also be a priority for the many shoppers across the globe who want to stay fashionable but also be kind to the Planet.