European | Black-Owned | Expensive | Old School | Sustainable
Top European Sneaker Brands
#1. Adidas
The Brand: Adidas was founded in 1924 by Adi Dassler in Germany when he started making sporting shoes in his mother’s kitchen. After creating a shoe factory, by the 1930s Adidas was sponsoring Olympic-level sprinters with their shoes.
Need To Know: To this day, they still stand by their sports-centric mission. Although they also offer a wide variety of shoe types for every style.
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#2. PUMA
The Brand: Puma was founded in 1948 in Germany by the Dassler Brothers. They have continuously worked to bring sports culture a faster, more reliable shoe. The brand’s initial name was Ruda, a combination of the company founder’s name Rudolf Dassler. It shortly became Puma to better bring forth a branded sports brand.
Need To Know: Puma founded the elemental strip that sits inside the soul of the shoe, to enforce stability and better footing while running. Puma was founded as an athletic sneaker brand but has also evolved to support people through all walks of life.
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#3. Hummel Hive
The Brand: Hummel Hive was founded as a Scandinavian brand in 1923. They stick closely to designs that reflect their culture, and shoes that reflect comfort, style, and functionality.
Need To Know: Hummel Hive shoes gained traction in the 1970s for working with various football teams, but they believe in constant innovation. They continue to expand their shoes to accommodate everyone’s needs.
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#4. Karhu
The Brand: Karhu is self-proclaimed as Finland’s legendary sports brand since 1918. The companies name is Finnish for “bear.” Their shoes helped Olympic Gold Medalist Paavo Nurmi win nine medals, and was the start of their prestige.
Need To Know: They trademarked their legendary M symbol to represent “Mestari,” the Finnish word for “champion.” There shoes us a specific design sequence that guarantees a near-custom fit right out of the box.
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#5. Novesta
The Brand: Novesta is a Slovakian brand founded by Jan Antonin Bata in 1939. They are most known for their colorful and playful printed sneakers, with durable wear. The goal of this brand has always been comfortable, fashionable, and easy to wear sneakers.
Need To Know: The brand also uses eco-rubber, organic canvas, and designs built for consumer functionality.
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Top Black-Owned Sneaker Brands
#1. NinetyNine
The Brand: NinetyNine was founded after Jeffery Alan Henderson spent years working for Nike, and producing designs for other shoe brands. He decided to found his own global Harlem company, to create a culture and style that reflected his love for shoe design.
Need To Know: They continue to expand their brand from just running shoes, and are working towards an exquisite collection that offers style and fashion shoes.
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#2. Keexs
The Brand: Keexs is Nigeria’s leading footwear line. It was founded when Jide Ipaye found it hard to find shoes for his 48 size foot, so he decided to craft his own inclusive line of footwear. They are the first social African footwear line, and with that, they hold great prestige for their brand’s success.
Need To Know: They are in partnership with NGO and help provide kids in Ajegunle with shoes and training resources of their own. Keexs was able to be created through community help, and they work hard to do the same for others.
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#3. Nagast Footwear
The Brand: Nagast is a 100% black-owned business pioneered on stylish African influences, and they create shoes that support people of African descent. They just released a show collection named after influential black leaders, to promote the future education of black history for everyone.
Need To Know: Nagast cultivates a community of quality shoes as well as philanthropy. They believe giving back to the community with every purchase will help make the world a better place.
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#4. Armando Cabral
The Brand: Armando Cabral takes a collaborative approach to their unique sneakers. They combine African textiles with Italian craftsmanship to create luxury products. In 2021, they started donating to Black Lives Matter, and Education in Guinea Bissau.
Need To Know: In 2019, Armando Cabral was one of the first luxury brands to start a give-back program. They continue to expand their shoe design to create more inclusive, quality styles.
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#5. Enda
The Brand: Enda is a Kenya-based shoe brand that works to create diversity, representation, equality, and a more just world with every product. Their slogan is “run Kenyan”, and they make shoes that keep your foot landing on your center of mass.
Need To Know: With tested design methods, this brand gives back to their native communities and creates a running shoe that supports you. They built a shoe for training that optimizes your workout and keeps you going for longer.
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Top Expensive Designer Sneaker Brands
#1. Y-3
The Brand: Y-3 was created as an extension of the Adidas brand, where the expert designer Yohji Yamamoto created an unparalleled shoe line. The goal was to create a futuristic sportswear line that pulled inspiration from global design, and innovative approaches.
Need To Know: Many of the shoes are designed with leather and suede products, to create a luxurious unique product line. Styles operate for athletic shoes, as well as high-end fashion sneakers.
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#2. Balenciaga
The Brand: Balenciaga was established in Spain, and flourished once they opened their boutique in 1937 Paris, as a result of the Spanish Civil War. The brand revolutionized fashion through the years and offers a line of luxury sneakers alongside their fashion pieces.
Need To Know: Balenciaga is becoming more well known for its footwear, particularly the sock sneaker. Ever since releasing the Speed Sock, it has become the most loved out of influencers and celebrities alike.
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#3. Saint Laurent
The Brand: Saint Laurent was founded by Yves Saint Laurent, a now-famous French designer. In 1962, they took a different approach to fashion and created the unparalleled pattern for their famous women’s trousers. Their luxury brand has expanded into a line of fashion, perfume, and famous shoewear.
Need To Know: Their approach to footwear ranges from sneakers, heels, and loafers. Their sneakers are fashion-focused, with classic designs and styles that stand the test of time.
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#4. Balmain
The Brand: Balmain is a high-end French brand founded in 1945. Pierre Balmain mastered the art of couture designs that continue to surprise the industry. Balmain has been a major pioneer in the high fashion industry.
Need To Know: The Balmain line of sneakers takes a futuristic approach to footwear, their shoes are platform, high top, and coated with abstract prints. They paved a new road in luxury footwear, and continue to break all the rules.
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#5. Common Projects
The Brand: Common Projects is an exclusive footwear line founded by Prathan Poopat and Flavio Girolami. They have been around since 2004, working out of New York City. Their production takes place in Italy.
Need To Know: The company’s sneaker line started with solely a men’s collection, and now they have evolved to offer unique women’s shoes since 2010. They focus on simple designs that are timeless, crafted with neutral colors made from Italian fabrics and leather.
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Top Old School Sneaker Brands
#1. Nike
The Brand: Nike has been making sneakers, loved by people of all kinds, since 1964. Bill Bowerman was a University track and field coach and felt athletes deserved better shoes. Their biggest passion is continuing sports innovation and finding new ways to give back to their customers.
Need To Know: Their line of sneakers ranges from athletic designs to the vintage classic people still wear today. Their shoes are some of the most widely worn for style or working out.
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#2. New Balance
The Brand: New Balance was founded in 1906 as the New Balance Arch Support Company. The owner William Riley created the three-prong approach to his in-shoe arches and felt this was the new balance of humans.
Need To Know: Theywork towards creating the synergy between sport and craftsmanship and work to spread change in communities around the globe. Their classic vintage sneakers are a timeless statement that still is around today.
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#3. Reebok
The Brand: Reebok was founded in 1890 by English shoemaker J.W Foster. It has grown to be one of the largest sports and shoe brands in the world. Reebok is connected with the Adidas brand now, but they continue to produce clothing and shoes for all ages.
Need To Know: The Reebok old-school style is a classic sneaker that remains one of its best sellers. They create sleek, easy-to-wear designs that make a great everyday sneaker.
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#4. Superga
The Brand: Superga was started in 1911 in Italy by Walter Martiny. There the first shoe started with a classic, rubber sole show marked with the classic Superga logo. In 1925, they made the first collection of vulcanized rubber soles. Ever since they have been making classic well-loved sneakers.
Need To Know: These shoes are predominantly white and neutral-colored leather sneakers. There are soles are thick, reliable, and stand the wear and tear of time.
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#5. Converse
The Brand: Converse started as a line of basketball shoes in 1917. Eventually, in 1922, they rebranded themselves with flexible, more reliable footwear. Since then they’ve been creating shoes loved by athletes, skaters, and street style lovers.
Need To Know: Their famous Chuck Taylor All-Stars got their name once they added basketball player Chuck Taylor’s signature to the back of each pair.
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Top Sustainable and Ethical Sneaker Brands
#1. Sole Rebels
The Brand: Sole Rebels makes footwear handmade in Ethiopia. They harvest sustainable resources and eco-friendly production methods. They use the traditional barabasso shoe style, which is made from recycled tires.
Need To Know: Their footwear is unique and focuses on sustainable material, comfort, and production. Their legacy carries forward with supporting the artisan and craft of Ethiopia.
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#2. Rothy’s
The Brand: Rothy’s hosts an array of bags, and sustainable shoes for men and women. They have paved the wave for washable, fabric shoes. With everyone’s purchase, you have the option to donate to the Plastic Pollution Coalition.
Need To Know: Rothy’s believes in circularity, and considers environmental ethics every step of the way. They are constantly working towards better materials, better manufacturing, and better products. They just recently lauded the first recycling pilot project in 2021.
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#3. For Your Earth
The Brand: For Your Earth is a natural shoe line with the environment in mind. All of their shoes from the sole, inner sole, laces, inner lining, and dyes are environmentally friendly. They have pioneered the way for recyclable shoes. Most of the shoes they sell are made from 50% recycled shoe materials, as they meet their goal of lessening landfill waste.
Need To Know: All of their shoes are manufactured in small batches to ensure sustainability and manufacturing quality.
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#4. Allbirds
The Brand: Allbirds is fed up with fashion killing the planet. Since they started, their main priority has been reducing their environmental impact. They are 100% carbon neutral and plan to cut their carbon footprint in half by 2025.
Need To Know: Their shoes use wool, wood, sugar, and trino to craft a sustainable option. They use regenerative agriculture and responsible energy to manufacture all of their products.
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#5. Etiko
The Brand: Etiko believes in wearing no evil. They work to create a more ethical earth with each of their projects. Etiko is derived from the Greek word for ethical. This has been a part of their brand’s mission statement since the beginning.
Need To Know: Since 2005, Etiko has been producing apparel and footwear that impacts social change, and is good for the environment. All of their products focus on sustainability, comfort, and quality.
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Sources
- https://www.apetogentleman.com/best-sneaker-brands/
- https://www.spottedbylocals.com/blog/european-sneaker-brands/
- https://www.shopstyle.com/browse/womens-sneakers?fts=european+sneakers
- https://stylecaster.com/black-owned-sneaker-brands/#:~:text=7%20Black-Owned%20Sneaker%20Brands%20To%20Obsess%20Over%E2%80%94%26%20Why,Sole%20Rebels.%205%205.%20Nagast%20Footwear.%20More%20items
- https://hiconsumption.com/best-classic-sneakers-for-men/
- https://www.adidas-group.com/en/about/profile/
- https://us.puma.com/us/en/home?src=new&mktId=PS:ROI:Bing:%28ROI%29%20Branded%20%7C%20Exact&msclkid=cd77246d3fd7175069f345c01867183e&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BS_BNG-SEA_TXT%20Brand%20Branded_Exact-en_New&utm_term=puma&utm_content=Puma%20%7C%20Exact
- https://www.halo-hasselt.com/en/women/shoes/
- https://us.karhu.com/pages/about-us
- https://isadore.com/blog/article/novesta-and-us
- https://ninetynineproducts.com/faq
- https://nairametrics.com/2018/08/04/jide-ipaye-co-founder-keexs/
- https://nagastfootwear.com/pages/about-us
- https://shop.armando-cabral.com/pages/craftsmanship
- https://www.endasportswear.com/
- https://www.shopstyle.com/browse/mens-shoes/y-3
- https://www.highsnobiety.com/tag/balenciaga/
- https://www.ysl.com/en-us/sneakers/sl24-mid-top-sneakers-in-smooth-and-perforated-leather-6106192W4509063.html
- https://www.balmain.com/us/balmain/sneakers
- https://www.highsnobiety.com/tag/common-projects/#:~:text=Common%20Projects%20is%20a%20luxury%20footwear%20brand%20founded,York%20City%2C%20its%20operations%20are%20based%20in%20two%E2%80%A6
- https://about.nike.com/
- https://www.reebok.com/us
- https://www.superga-usa.com/collections/womens-leather
- https://www.superga-usa.com/collections/womens-leather
- https://www.converse.com/
- https://www.solerebels.com/pages/about
- https://rothys.com/pages/sustainability
- https://www.allbirds.com/pages/our-materials-trino
- https://ethicearth.com/listing/etiko/#:~:text=Etiko%20is%20derived%20from%20the%20Greek%20word%20for,core%20business%20since%20being%20launched%2010%20years%20ago.