As reported by FN, the footwear market is booming with more unisex options than ever. And the spring ’15 market has a number of sneaker options for him and her.
Sportswear brands like Vans and Converse have long offered his-and-hers styles, including the classic Chuck Taylor and the Sk8-Hi high-tops. And the Adidas Stan Smith has become one of the most popular styles of the year.
Now, luxury labels are also tapping into the unisex market, designing sneaker styles meant for both men and women. For spring, Saint Laurent offers a fringed suede high-top sneaker — a riff on the 1970s trend — while Givenchy continues its classic high-top, adding a star-embellished ankle strap.
Brands like Eytys and Feit have made unisex their signatures, offering larger size runs to cover both sexes. “I never have a specific gender in mind in my design process,” Eytys co-founder Max Schiller told FN. “I don’t even know what it means when a color or material is ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine.’ To think in those terms is a dated, conservative mindset.”
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Retailers are embracing these unisex designs.
Selfridges recently launched its Agender concept in March, which offers three floors of genderless shopping at its London flagship location. Concept shops like Dover Street Market also divide its spaces by designer, not gender.
For spring’s best unisex sneakers, click through the gallery.
