LUXURY SNEAKER TRENDS FOR 2027 AND BEYOND

WHAT THE SERIOUS LUXURY SNEAKER MARKET IS MOVING TOWARD AND WHY CRAFT IS THE DIRECTION

TREND FORECASTING IN LUXURY SNEAKERS IS A CONTRADICTION. THE ENTIRE POINT OF A LUXURY OBJECT IS THAT IT DOES NOT RESPOND TO TRENDS. IT PRECEDES THEM. OR IGNORES THEM ENTIRELY.

WHAT CAN BE OBSERVED, HOWEVER, IS A DIRECTION. A SHIFT IN HOW A GROWING PART OF THE MARKET UNDERSTANDS VALUE IN SNEAKERS. THAT SHIFT IS AWAY FROM NOVELTY AND TOWARD PERMANENCE.

THE DIRECTION

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT IN CONSIDERED SNEAKERS IS THE RETURN TO CRAFT SIGNALS. HAND STITCHING THAT IS VISIBLE AND INTENTIONAL. LEATHER THAT IS SELECTED RATHER THAN STANDARDISED. CONSTRUCTION THAT IS LEGIBLE AND HONEST. PROVENANCE THAT CAN BE STATED WITH SPECIFICITY RATHER THAN IMPLIED WITH GEOGRAPHY.

THE BUYER WHO IS DRIVING THIS DIRECTION IS NOT MOTIVATED BY HYPE. THEY ARE MOTIVATED BY AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE OBJECT IS AND HOW IT WAS MADE. THEY ARE BUYING THE PROCESS AS MUCH AS THE PRODUCT. THE DECISIONS MADE IN THE WORKSHOP AS MUCH AS THE FINISHED SNEAKER.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR LUXURY SNEAKERS

THE LUXURY SNEAKER THAT WILL ENDURE BEYOND 2027 IS NOT THE ONE WITH THE LARGEST MARKETING BUDGET OR THE MOST VISIBLE COLLABORATIONS. IT IS THE ONE THAT CAN BE HELD, EXAMINED AND FOUND TO BE EXACTLY WHAT IT CLAIMS TO BE. THAT HOLDS UP UNDER SCRUTINY. THAT IMPROVES OVER YEARS. THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE EXPLANATION TO BE UNDERSTOOD BY SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO READ OBJECTS.

AT 1812, THIS IS NOT A TREND TO BE ADOPTED. IT IS THE POSITION FROM WHICH WE STARTED. MADE IN ENGLAND. HANDMADE. BUILT TO BE KEPT.