Sneakers: a lively niche

Within footwear, sneakers have become a complement that deserves a single category. What was originally an exclusive garment for exercising, has gone straight in the most formal outfits.

 

You may be thinking that precisely because sneakers have such a widespread use they are far from being considered a niche.  We are not going to talk about all types, but focus on those that stand out the most within a casual but elegant fashion approach.

In effect: in this article we are not going to talk neither about big eCommerce like Zappos nor about sports specialists such as Hypebeast.

 

The best way to explain what we are getting at is always by studying a few cases. The first of all is that of Barqet, which we already analysed back in 2018 - you can read analysis on depth on our blog

 

Why take as a reference an online store that no longer exists? There are many reasons, but the most important one is that a good idea and a great way of doing things is not exclusive to the longest-lived projects.

 

Barquet managed to show that there was a clear demand for footwear with Mediterranean design, casual but at the same time very careful. Sneakers that can be used on a daily basis for going out or for work without losing their sporty essence.

 

Barquet has been followed by other worthy successors both made in Spain and abroad. Some more sporty and others more formal, but with much in common.

Unless you have been really into your own stuff, you are probably already familiar with this brand that is a sensation. Hoff's are sneakers with a similar profile to classic brands like New Balance or some Nike models.

What makes them very different is the type of materials used to make them (such as leather and suede), the harmonies of colors in the same shoe and the concept behind each shoe and each collection (special mention to the soles, which tell stories about each design).

 

We can say that we are dealing with markedly hybrid models, which have sporty elements but also more conventional footwear. This has been understood by market, who have embraced them both for going out and for work.

 

Another aspect that gives them that premium touch is the very careful packaging, with high quality boxes, cloth bags to store the shoes and even wipes for proper cleaning.

Another brand that has grown on the back of this trend is Pompeii. Their sneakers have a slightly more vintage style: wide rubber soles with toe reinforcements on some models. To give you an easily recognizable example, they are more similar to that of VANS or even the classic Converse All Star.

 

Once again, they give a new twist by using more noble materials than canvas, which is usually used in shoes like the ones mentioned above. Pompeii makes its footwear using leather, split leather, suede... and also applies a revolutionary water-repellent treatment that significantly extends the life of your shoes. This is important because it equates it in durability with leather, despite being a more delicate leather in appearance.

 

While we are on the subject of materials, it is worth noting that this is a brand aligned with sustainability thanks to measures such as saving water, reducing carbon emissions, using certified materials, recycling... In short, an eco-friendly niche brand.

We cannot conclude this post, as we are talking about sporty, retro and sustainable footwear, without mentioning Saye. Their boots and sneakers immediately take us back to the 80s. They are very reminiscent of the classic Reebok (or the Yumas of a lifetime). With that look of leather and stiff rubber for the soles and modest details in color in the form of bands or heel pads.

 

But we said that they are ecological and we are not lying, in fact they qualify as vegan footwear. Not only do they use materials of biological origin such as corn, bamboo, organic cotton or natural rubber, they also take the utmost care of their production processes so that you have sneakers that are manufactured leaving a carbon footprint 50% lower than the market average.

 

They are in a higher price range than the other brands mentioned above, but we already know that the customer who makes an ethical purchase is willing to pay a little more, as long as the product complies with a series of basic precepts that Saye has in its DNA, mission and vision.