Top Shoe Brands in the World

Top shoe brands have continued to connect with the masses through their offerings like sneakers, dress shoes, boots, flats, sandals, athletic footwear, sporting shoes, luxury footwear and even clothes and accessories. The multi-billion USD global footwear market is a part of the clothing and apparel industry which is in high demand all over the world.

A collection of unique shoes, clothing and accessories is a wardrobe necessity for men and women.

Top shoe brands often use materials like leather, synthetic and textiles to create a new pair of stylish women’s shoes, unique men’s footwear or casual kid’s shoes in different shapes, sizes and styles. They often surprise shoe lovers with related accessories like women’s bag collections, handmade purses or leather belts.

Special offers for regulars to save and shop online and enjoy free shipping are some of the popular gimmicks of footwear brands to stand out amongst other brands and connect with regular customers.

An Overview of the 15 Top Footwear Brands in the World in 2022 Based on Popularity

1. Nike

• Origin Country: United States of America
• Founder: William Bowerman and Phil Knight
• Founded: 1964
• Headquarters: Beaverton, USA
• Employees: 79,100
• Annual Revenue in 2022: 46.710 billion USD
• Net Income in 2022: 6.046 billion USD
• Annual Sales in 2022: 44.54 billion
• Market Cap in 2022: 160.65 billion USD

There are so many brands in the market but with innovative designs, unique styles and quality materials Nike continues to dominate the footwear industry compared to other brands. It is one of the largest sneakers brands that designs, sells, manufactures and develops Nike footwear, Nike accessories, Nike sports equipment and Nike Clothing.

Nike is the largest supplier in the world of athletic shoes and clothing for men and women and one of the largest manufacturers of sports equipment in the sportswear industry. The top sneakers company offers shoes for baseball, volleyball, cycling, cross-training and aquatic activities etc.

The innovative company collaborated with Apple Inc for the Nike+ product line that helps in monitoring the performance of a runner. The newest pair of shoes has Lunarlite foam and flywire for minimizing weight. Nike Air Zoom has an air-cushioned sole and a crashpad inside the heel for shock absorption and other shoes like Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT include VaporWeave fabrics and ZoomX foam.

Unique shoes from Nike

• NIKE AIR MAX RUNNING SHOES
• NIKE AIR JORDAN AIR FORCE 1
• NIKE CHUCK TAYLOR ALL-STAR MODERN SNEAKERS

2. Adidas

• Origin Country: Germany
• Founder: Adolf Dassler
• Founded: 1924
• Headquarters: Herzogenaurach, Germany
• Employees in 2022: 61,401
• Revenue in 2022: 24.559 billion USD
• Net Income in 2022: 2.206 billion USD
• Market Cap in 2022: 24.71 billion USD

Adidas is one of the largest sneakers brands and the second-largest sportswear manufacturer in the world in 2022. The German corporation manufactures and designs sports shoes, accessories (socks, eyewear and baseball caps etc.) and athletic clothes (clothing for both men and women like jackets and hoodies etc.) and sells them through 1000 stores all over the world.

Adidas is an innovative brand that has designed Adidas running shoes, Adidas sneakers and Adidas lifestyle shoes including the renowned running spiked shoes, moulded boots and spring-blade trainers. Other shoes from the company are “The Adidas Futurecraft Biofabric” which was made from biodegradable “Biosteel” materials and the “Adidas Adizero Adios 4” which was a lightweight footwear with a comfy feel.

Unique shoes from Adidas

• ADIDAS TERREX SPEED ULTRA TRAIL RUNNING SHOES
• ADIDAS FORUM 84 LOW SNEAKERS
• ADIDAS SAMBA CLASSIC SNEAKERS

3. Reebok

• Origin Country: United States of America
• Founder: Jeff Foster, Joe Foster
• Founded: 1958
• Headquarters: Boston, U.S.
• Parent Company: Authentic Brands Group

A pair of Reebok sneakers are a coveted item as the American manufacturer Reebok is one of the best shoe brands in the world in 2022. It is a designer, distributor and seller of fitness shoes and athletic clothing.

Customers can access Reebok shoes in various styles, shapes, sizes and designs. The high-quality materials with zigzag foam insoles make for a comfy feel for people that have to be on their feet for long hours.

Reebok Women’s shoes like the Reebok Freestyle were a hit and accounted for 50% of the sales for the brand in 1984. This led to similar product styles like the Dutchess, Empress and Princess lines of women’s shoes. The Reebok Ventilator line was a lightweight footwear with vented side panels and Reebok Zig had zigzag foam insoles to push the athletes forward.

In the men’s section, Reebok products include classic, running, training and basketball shoes.

Unique shoes from Reebok

• REEBOK CLASSIC LEATHER SHOES
• REEBOK CLUB C SNEAKERS
• REEBOK NANO X2 TRAINING SNEAKERS

4. New Balance Athletics

• Origin Country: United States of America
• Founder: William J Riley
• Founded: 1906
• Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
• Employees in 2022: 5,900
• Annual Revenue in 2022: 4.5 billion USD

If you are looking to meet the current fashion trends and connect with fashion lovers with impeccable style then look no further than New Balance Athletics. It is one of the top shoe brands that boast technical features like blended gel inserts, greater size selection and heel counters and contemporary designs to please its customer base.

New Balance Athletics is one of the best manufacturers of sports shoes, fitness clothing and accessories with products ranging from running sneakers, everyday sneakers, sports shoes for skateboarding, baseball and basketball, track pants, windbreakers, sweatpants, athletic socks, running caps and water bottles.

Unique shoes from New Balance

• NEW BALANCE WHITE RUNNING SNEAKERS
• NEW BALANCE CARAVAN MID-MOC V2 UNISEX SANDALS
• NEW BALANCE FRESH FOAM X MORE V4 WOMEN’S SHOES

5. Converse

• Origin Country: United States of America
• Founder: Marquis Mills Converse
• Parent: Nike
• Founded: 1908
• Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
• Annual Revenue in 2022: 2.346 billion USD

The lifestyle brand Converse boasts classic style and awesome design. It is one of the most popular shoe brands in the world that licenses, distributes and markets clothing, athletic shoes and accessories. With time Converse has taken its place as a casual fashion accessory that can connect deeply with customers.

In the initial years, the shoe company manufactured rubber-insole winter shoes and boots and later boots for the military. Innovative product offerings include a basketball shoe titled The Weapon, which had leather construction and padded inside heels and Chuck Taylor All-Star II with new materials for the insole. Special editions include Super Mario and Black Sabbath.

Unique shoes from Converse

• CONVERSE CHUCK 70 HI SNEAKERS
• CONVERSE PRO LEATHER SNEAKERS
• CONVERSE JACK PURCELL SNEAKERS

6. Vans

• Origin Country: United States of America
• Founders: James Van Doren, Paul Van Doren, Gordon Lee
• Founded: 1966
• Headquarters: Costa Mesa, California, U.S.
• Parent: VF Corporation

The American manufacturer Vans is associated with the fashion world and deals in skateboarding shoes and associated clothing. At the onset, the company manufactured shoes with a thick insole and sold them directly to the public through its shop. The affordable price range and good product quality have helped the business to flourish and grow with time.

Vans offerings include products for men, kids and women like clothing (hoodies, t-shirts, pants and tanks), shoes (classics, surf & sandals, snow and skateboarding) and accessories (hats, socks, sunglasses, laces and shoe care).

In the year 2022, Vans launched VR3 where 30% of products are recycled and renewable. Customers can purchase products from retail stores and also enjoy free shipping and special offers on online stores.

Unique shoes from Vans

• VANS OLD SKOOL CLASSIC SNEAKERS
• VANS AUTHENTIC PIG SUEDE SNEAKERS
• VANS HALF-CAB SNEAKERS

7. Puma

• Origin Country: Germany
• Founder: Rudolf Dassler
• Founded: 1948
• Headquarters: Herzogenaurach, Germany
• Employees in 2022: 14,606
• Revenue in 2022: EUR 6.8 billion
• Net Income in 2022: EUR 0.262 billion
• Market Cap in 2022: 8.25 billion USD

The German company Puma is one of the renowned sneakers brands and the third-largest manufacturer of sportswear in the world that manufactures and designs casual and athletic footwear, clothing and accessories.

The product portfolio of Puma includes sports shoes and sandals for both boys and girls and running, walking, training, gym, casual, skating and sports shoes for men and women. The company also sells clothing like leggings, shorts and jackets for women and girls and polos and jerseys for men and accessories like socks, wallets and caps for men and women.

When it comes to price, Puma is considered expensive but the style, design and quality of the products make it a worthy purchase. If you enjoy free shipping, want to look at the latest collection and know more about the special offers visit the online Puma site.

Unique shoes from Puma include

• PUMA CALI DREAM PASTEL SNEAKERS FOR WOMEN
• PUMA BOBBLE YOUTH SANDALS GIRLS
• PUMA POPCAT 20 X 1DER YOUTH SNEAKERS GIRLS

8. Under Armour

• Origin Country: United States of America
• Founder: Kevin Plank
• Founded: 1996
• Headquarters: Baltimore, Maryland, US
• Employees in 2022: 17,500
• Annual Revenue in 2022: 5.683 billion USD
• Net Income in 2022: 360.06 million USD
• Market Cap in 2022: 4.59 billion USD

The American company Under Armour is one of the best sneakers and sports brands in the world in 2022 that manufactures casual and sports clothing and footwear. The company uses sponsorship deals with professional teams and sports celebrities to market its products successfully.

Under Armour sells products for both men and women like athletic shoes, jackets, protective gear, caps, gloves, shorts, hoodies, t-shirts and uniforms for sports like basketball and soccer etc.

Innovative products include Infrared, The Wounded Warrior and Coldblack. The Speedform shoe is produced without an insole and has become the fastest-growing line for the company. In 2018 a new pair of running shoes was introduced with a Bluetooth module and in 2020 a partnership was formed with Stephen Curry for the Curry Brand.

Unique shoes from Under Armour include

• UNDER ARMOUR GIRLS GRADE SCHOOL UA ASSERT 9 RUNNING SHOES
• UNDER ARMOUR WOMEN UA HOVR SONIC 5 RUNNING SHOES
• UNDER ARMOUR WOMEN UA IGNITE MARBELLA GRAPHIC SANDALS

9. Skechers

• Origin Country: United States of America
• Founder: Robert Greenberg
• Founded: 1992
• Headquarters: Manhattan Beach, California, U.S.
• Employees in 2022: 11,700
• Annual Revenue in 2022: 7.196 billion USD
• Net Income in 2022: 0.700 billion USD

The multinational company Skechers is the leading specialist footwear global retailer and the third-largest shoe brand in the USA. It has spread its product presence to international markets with help of 4,458 stores and several brand names like Skechers Sport, Bobs, Skechers Work, Go Golf and Go Run etc.

Skechers designs, markets and develops performance and lifestyle shoes, clothing like jackets and accessories like socks for men, women, boys and girls. The company also offers comfort technologies like Relaxed Fit, Ultra-Go and Goga Mat etc.

The brand’s unique shoes include

• SKECHERS SLIP-INS GO WALK FLEX-RELISH WOMEN
• SKECHERS RAINBOW RACER SANDALS-SUMMER SKY GIRLS
• SKECHERS MECCA MITIGATE BOYS

10. Balenciaga

• Origin Country: Spain
• Founder: Cristobal Balenciaga
• Founded: 1919
• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Parent: Kering

The Spanish fashion house Balenciaga is a luxury designer brand that produces footwear, ready-to-wear, accessories and ladies’ handbags. The company also licenses the brand name to Coty for its fragrances and is currently in the limelight for Sock Sneakers (Speed Socks).

It is one of the shoe brands that believe in pushing boundaries in women’s fashion through bold and sporty women’s shoes (sneakers, boots, pumps and heels, sandals, crocs and mules) and ready-to-wear (coats, jackets, t-shirts, dresses, activewear and hoodies) collections. The shoe collection for men consists of sneakers, sandals, mules, boots & derbies.

The brand’s unique shoes include

• BALENCIAGA TRIPLE S SNEAKERS
• BALENCIAGA BULLDOZER CHELSEA BOOTS
• BALENCIAGA BOX SANDALS

11. Saucony

• Origin Country: United States of America
• Parent: Wolverine World Wide
• Founded: 1898
• Headquarters: Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.

The American company Saucony is one of the top shoe brands in the world associated with the clothing and athletic footwear industries. Products from the brand include sweatpants, socks, shorts, jackets, athletic shoes like sneakers and accessories like backpacks and hats.

Saucony footwear includes shoes for walking, running, racing and trail running shoes. The company puts special focus on the runner’s feet size and the insoles inside the shoes for comfortable running.

Saucony is a renowned producer of racing shoes in the global shoe industry producing cross-country racing flats and track spikes. It is also known for manufacturing shoes for a specific field and track athletics.

Unique shoes from Saucony include

• SAUCONY X DUNKIN’ KINVARA 9
• SAUCONY ORIGINALS JAZZ 81 SNEAKERS
• SAUCONY XODUS 11 SNEAKERS

12. Timberland

• Origin Country: United States of America
• Founder: Nathan Swartz
• Owner: VF Corporation
• Founded: 1952
• Headquarters: Stratham, New Hampshire, U.S.
• Annual Revenue in 2022: 1.8 billion USD

The American company Timberland is one of the best retailers and manufacturers of outdoor footwear. It also sells clothes like sweatshirts, pants and jackets and accessories like leather goods, socks, handbags, eyewear and watches for men, women, girls and boys.

Timberland offers kids, men’s and women’s shoes like hiking boots, sneakers, waterproof shoes, boat shoes, ankle boots, winter boots and work shoes. The company is famous for Timberland PRO industrial boots, The Yellow Boot and the shoes made from renewable, organic and recycled materials.

Timberland has collaborated with other fashion and footwear brands to create special models like collaboration with New York Yankees for Yankees-Logoed Boot.

Unique shoes from Timberland

• MEN’S TIMBERLAND PREMIUM 6-INCH WATERPROOF BOOTS
• TIMBERLAND WOMEN’S EARTHKEEPERS BY RAEBURN GS EDGE WATERPROOF BOOTS
• TIMBERLAND SKYLA BAY WARM-LINED SLIP-ON SHOES

13. Gucci

• Origin Country: Italy
• Founder: Guccio Gucci
• Parent: Kering
• Founded: 1921
• Headquarters: Florence, Tuscany, Italy
• Brand Value: 37.9 billion USD

With an estimated 501 retail stores in the global market, the Italian fashion house Gucci is one of the most coveted luxury brands in the world. The brand name is synonymous with high-end quality and an exorbitant price tag. Customers can visit online stores to enjoy free shipping and special offers that will drag down the price of the products.

Product offerings include footwear, ready-to-wear, leather handbags, accessories and home decoration. The fashion house offers both men’s and women’s shoes like boots, ballet, flats, sneakers, mules, loafers, pumps, sandals and dress shoes

The brand’s unique shoes include

• WOMEN’S PYTHON PRINT HIGH-HEEL PUMP
• WOMEN’S PYTHON PRINT PLATFORM SANDAL
• MEN’S LEATHER BOOTS

14. Steve Madden

• Origin Country: United States of America
• Founder: Steve Madden
• Founded: 1990
• Headquarters: Long Island City, New York, U.S.
• Employees in 2022: 2,800
• Annual Revenue in 2022: 1.9 billion USD

The public company Steve Madden is one of the top shoe brands in the world that markets and designs fashion accessories and shoes. The company operates 220 retail stores and eight online stores through its brands like Betsey, BB Dakota, Dolce Vita etc. Customers can shop online to enjoy free shipping and know about the latest special offers.

The product portfolio of Steve Madden includes men’s and women’s boots, shoes, heels, booties, loafers, sneakers, flats, slippers, sandals, platforms, tops, jackets, workwear and partywear etc. The brand has a wide collection of stylish handbags like mini bags, crossbody bags, backpacks and shoulder bags.

The shoe brand is the recipient of numerous awards like the “Footwear News Company of the Year Award” and “Footwear News Reader’s Choice: Best Performing Wholesaler Award”.

Unique shoes include

• STEVE MADDEN POSSESSION CHUNKY LACE-UP SNEAKERS
• STEVE MADDEN COBRA BLACK LEATHER
• STEVE MADDEN MARCELLO SUEDE BLOCK HEEL TALL BOOTS

15. Maison Margiela

• Origin Country: France
• Founder: Martin Margiela, Jenny Meirens
• Parent: OTB Group
• Founded: 1988
• Headquarters: Paris, France

The French house Maison Margiela is associated with luxury fashion and produces ready-to-wear collections and artisanal collections. The product portfolio of the renowned brand includes menswear, womenswear, footwear, fine jewellery, accessories like women’s purses and bags, fragrances and home goods.

It is a popular name in the global footwear market especially known for the use of unconventional fabrics and provocative designs for the brand’s shoes for instance the forked shoes. One of the unique shoes is the Tabi Boot, inspired by the Japanese Tabi sock separating the large toe. It has also collaborated with the Converse sneakers brand in 2013 for shoe designs.

Unique shoes from the brand include

• MAISON MARGIELA REPLICA SUEDE LOW TOP SNEAKERS
• MAISON MARGIELA DISTRESSED POINTED-TOE PUMPS
• MAISON MARGIELA TABI LEATHER ANKLE BOOTS

Conclusion

Global trends show that the top shoe brands in the world have dominated the 382 billion USD worth of the global footwear market. The revenues of the global athletic footwear market and global leather footwear market are estimated at 60.9 billion USD and 124.7 billion USD respectively.

The year-on-year revenue growth rate is estimated at 32.3% and this is a huge improvement in the post-pandemic era where innovative designs, unique styles and exclusive prints continue to stand out, connect and be noticed by one and all.

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