Have you heard the infamous quote, “Good shoes take you to good places?” The indian author, Chetan Bhagat commented once on his social media page, stating that “Your shoes are the first thing people subconsciously notice about you. Wear nice shoes”. Perhaps Bhagat was well aware of the following research findings about the way people size each other up on first contact by targeting the feet first.
The writer Vinay Goyal in his online article (dated October 15, 2018) titled ‘Feet First: Why Shoes are the First Thing People Notice about you’ pointed out the findings of researchers at the University of Kansas in a recent study, where is was discovered (quoting Vinay) that “people can make accurate predictions about an individual’s personality traits based solely on the type of shoes they wear. In the study, the accuracy of such predictions was as high as 90 percent. This clearly demonstrates that shoes say a lot about a person. It also underscores the importance of wearing the right shoes”. This simply translates to your choice of a good quality shoe brand being a strong indication of your taste for good things.
Top 10 Shoe Brands in the World
In fact, the design of a shoe and the shoe brand immediately tells any observer what your general preferences in life could be. Do you desire comfort? Do beautiful things appeal to you? How classy are you? Are you ready to spend a decent amount to get the good things of life (including a good quality shoe brand), or are you less concerned about such niceties? Do you have a keen eye for the finer details in clothes, shoes, even other possessions? Your shoes will speak loud and unashamed to testify to your overall taste for what is good or otherwise. Not surprisingly, a stylish shoe combined with a stately dressing can easily usher you into esteemed offices and palaces without much questioning.
Note here, we are not merely referring to the well-known sporting brands of everyday shoes – we simply cannot ignore well-crafted designer shoes from shoe brands across the world that speak opulence and comfort from afar. That being said, we dare to make a foray into the world of shoes and shoe brands across the globe that appeal to the high and mighty, the average Joe, and everyone in-between who simply love good shoes!! A pick of just ten each of the most adored shoe brands in the world (both luxury and sports brands) side by side and in no particular order as at the current year 2022-23, to whet your appetite in this article, are here on display – as widely acclaimed by notable fashion reviewers on the internet. We may just discover why they are favorites.
TOP 10 SPORTS SHOE BRANDS | TOP 10 DESIGNER SHOE BRANDS |
Nike | Prada |
Adidas | Jimmy Choo |
Reebok | Bottega Veneta |
Kering (Puma) | Christian Louboutin |
Air Jordan | Manolo Blahnik |
Vans | Hermes |
Asics | Alexander McQueen |
Converse | Stuart Weitzman |
New Balance | Chanel |
Sketchers | Dior |
Top Sports Shoe Brands in the World 2023
Nike
The undisputed leader in the sports wear industry, Nike was set up in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports, but renamed as Nike in 1971. The iconic sports shoes, sports apparel and sports equipment manufacturer with the slogan ‘Just Do It’ and the tick logo is unmistakable anywhere. With an amazing array of shoes, socks, bags, balls, bats and more, Nike sells in almost 1,100 stores worldwide. The Air Jordan and Converse shoe brands are two of its famous subsidiaries.
Adidas
Adidas AG originated in Herzogenaurach, Germany, in the year 1949. The second largest manufacturer of sportswear worldwide (after Nike), Adidas is reputedly a shareholder in the German sports club Bayern Munich. It reigned mighty right from after World War I to the turn of the 21st century, and is still the biggest sportswear manufacturer in Europe.
Reebok
Reebok was set up as a companion company to J.W. Foster and Sons in England (itself a sporting goods manufacturer) in 1958. Reebok International has since domiciled in Boston USA as part of the American Great Brands Group. The company debuted the famous ’spikes’ shoes in the world of sports; and designed the ‘Reeboks Freestyle Aerobics’ shoes which happened to be the first set of athletic shoes designed for women.
Kering (Puma)
Puma SE is another German giant in the sportswear industry, and the third largest sports gear manufacturer in the world is the darling of golf players with its attractive and comfy array of sports shoes and accessories that set golfers apart. It is also famous for designing a special brand of soccer boots promoted by the famous Pele of blessed memory. Puma was set up by the younger sibling of the two founders of Adidas as they went their separate ways following a split in 1948.
Air Jordan
Air Jordan is a vigorously promoted basketball shoes brand under the parent company Nike Incorporated, made famous by the legendary basketball payer Michael Jordan. It was set up in 1984 and has since become a favoured product in the basketball world.
Vans
The Vans brand was set up in 1963 (California, USA) under the company name, Van Doren Rubber Company (now VF Corporation) by Paul van Doren along with two other partners. Vans has become a leading brand servicing skateboarding, snowboarding, BMX, motorcross and surfing sports industries with suitable shoes and apparel.
ASICS
ASICS is a Japanese-owned multinational company (set up as Onitsuka Company in 1949) is quite popular for its sneakers, sporting equipment and sports clothing targeted at volleyball, basketball, wrestling, and track-and-field running athletes. Some of its most popular shoe models include Corsair, Marup Nylon SP, and Bomber (soccer shoes).
Converse
The Converse Rubber Shoe Company set up in Massachusetts, USA (1908) to manufacture sports shoes and apparel has survived years of changing ownership; and is now officially owned by the Nike Company. It is famed to be the creator of basketball shoes; its Chuck Taylor All-star sneakers won over the basketball arena for many years since 1922. It is also a top player amongst athletes in the track-and-field, and skating sports; and many soldiers have also been reported to use the brand in large numbers.
New Balance
The New Balance Athletic Shoe Company has been far more keen on delivering research-backed products that do not negotiate on good quality; and choose not to seek for endorsements by any celebrity or famous athlete since its inception in 1906. From manufacturing orthopedic shoes for track-and-field as well as baseball players, it has since included running shoes, tennis shoes, basketball and hiking shoes in its collection.
Sketchers
Skechers USA Incorporated was set up not too long ago in California, USA (1992); brandishing an impressive collection of comfortable and sleek designs in street shoes, sporting footwear, accessories and clothing for both genders and all ages ever since. Its shoes were once made jest of, but nevertheless continued to grow in popularity. Since 2020, some of its outstanding shoes have been reportedly made from rubber produced by the Goodyear brand.
Top 10 Designer Shoe Brands Worldwide 2023
A brief look at some exquisite designer labels in the shoe industry is worth the journey.
Prada
The Italian luxury brand Prada S.p.A. is the brainchild of Mario Prada, and right from its inception in 1913 has been wowing the fashion world (and now the sports world) with an impressive range of carefully-crafted leather bags, shoes, clothes, fragrances and eye glasses for both men and women of excellent taste. It is undoubtedly one of the leading fashion brands worldwide.
Jimmy Choo
The Malaysian-Chinese shoemaker Jimmy Choo opened his first shop in 1986 in East London and soon became famous for his top-quality and attractive shoe designs. Along with his British partner Tamara Mellon of Vogue magazine, he set up the Jimmy Choo Company and began to cater to top fashion icons from his East London base since the year 1996.Jimmy Choo range of shoes, bags, fragrances and accessories are highly priced and sought after as we speak.
Bottega Veneta
Yet another Italian luxury goods company, Milan-based Bottega Veneta was found in 1966 and boasts of beautiful leather shoes and bags, jewelry, ready-to-wear clothes and accessories. Its unique inter-woven leather bags set it apart from inception.
Christian Louboutin
The French designer Christian Louboutin is renown for his high-heeled spike shoes with red soles for women; and has been around since 1991. He was famed to have created shoe designs for high-end fashion brands like Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. Not stopping there, he has his own range of beauty products and fragrances.
Manolo Blahnik
Born to a Spanish mother and a Czech father, Manolo Blahnik opened his first boutique in London, around 1970 and rose to become a world-acclaimed luxury women’s shoes designer, with a collection of elegant and eye-catching pieces truly worth the hype and cost..
Hermes
Right from 1837, Hermes International has stood out, a family-owned luxury products company passed down the generations and dripping class, style and opulence in all its product range of leather bags, shoes, briefcases, and more; and definitely far above the yearnings of people on a low budget. It began as a household business pursuing the craft of creating high-end leather harnesses and saddles for horses belonging to the upper-class. It clearly and boldly targets a rich clientele!!
Alexander McQueen
Alexander McQueen is a British tailor and fashion designer who set up his luxury goods outlet in London, 1992. His creative designs gathered from a fairly long list of experienced bosses in the fashion industry; blended with strong hints of British tradition in the shoes, clothes and bags arena propelled him to the forefront of the fashion industry.
Stuart Weitzman
Weitzman is an American women’s shoes designer, whose designs are heavily tinged with detailed and precisely-cut Spanish craftsmanship; his manufacturing outlet being located in the Elda area of Spain and drawing inspiration from the environment since 1993.
Chanel
Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel was a Parisian fashion designer whose name continues to generate waves in the fashion world across the globe right from 1909 when she opened her first shop in Paris as a miliner – with her unique two-toned shoes and gold chain-handled bags, the ‘little black dress’, the classic Chanel No. 5 perfume amongst other simple yet elegant designs women so much adore. She left a convent at an early age of 18 to work in a tailoring shop while pursuing her other dream of training to become a music hall performer; the latter dream faded out naturally to accommodate her fashion destiny.
Dior
Christian Dior SE was founded by the Frenchman Christian Dior in Paris, France in 1946. The brand introduced a stylish range of wristwatches, shoes, perfumes, bags, and clothing to a beaten world following World War 2, and transforming women’s fashion with exciting designs that became famous worldwide.
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