Have you heard the infamous quote, “Good shoes take you to good places?” Indian author Chetan Bhagat once commented on his social media page that:
“Your shoes are the first thing people subconsciously notice about you. Wear nice shoes.”
That is why we will sojourn into the classy world of the top 10 shoe brands in the world. There is no doubt about the way people size each other up on first contact by targeting the feet first.
While we examine the top 10 shoe brands in the world, let us ponder a little on why people adore them. Another writer, Vinay Goyal pointed out research findings at the University of Kansas in a recent study. In his online article ‘Feet First: Why Shoes are the First Thing People Notice about you’, Goyal stated:
“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”.
Simply put, your choice of a shoe brand is a strong indication of how refined your tastes are. Find out why fashion lovers and classy people are in love with the top 10 shoe brands in the world as you read along. Please enjoy sampling them by all means; and happy reading.
Top 10 Shoe Brands in the World (2024)
Choosing at least one of the top 10 shoe brands in the world indicates that you are a person of excellent taste. Do you desire comfort? Do beautiful things appeal to you? How classy are you?
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). And not surprisingly, a stylish shoe combined with stately dressing can easily usher you into esteemed offices and palaces without much questioning.
We have segregated these shoes into two broad categories. There are the well-known sporting brands loved by everyone, both the rich and not-so-rich. And surely, we cannot ignore the second category of well-crafted designer shoes from top brands across the world. They speak opulence and comfort from afar; they are masterpieces in footwork. That being said, we make a foray into the world of the top 10 shoe brands in the world. They appeal to the high and mighty, the average Joe, and everyone in-between who simply love good shoes!!
A pick of the top 10 shoe brands in the world in each category will stand side by side. And in no particular order, for the current year 2023-24, to whet your appetite.
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 10 SPORTS Shoe Brands in the World 2024
Nike
The undisputed leader in the sports wear industry, Nike was set up in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports. But it was renamed 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. Additionally, 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 said to be 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 it 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. This happened to be the first set of athletic shoes designed for women.
Puma
Puma SE is another German giant in the sportswear industry, and the third largest sports gear manufacturer in the world. It 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 (who 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. It was made famous by the legendary basketball player Michael Jordan. Air Jordan 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). The founders were Paul van Doren, along with two other partners. Vans has become a leading brand servicing skateboarding, snowboarding, BMX, motocross and surfing sports industries with suitable shoes and apparel.
Under Armour
The Under Armour brand was established in 1996 by Kevin Plank, an ex-captain of the University of Maryland football team in Baltimore, USA. He started out from his grandmother’s basement, and moved along the East Coast with his sportswear merchandise in his car. Nevertheless, Plank made a decent US$17,000 in sales at the end of 1996. He thereafter moved from his grandmother’s house in Washington DC to Baltimore.
Plank’s breakthrough design in sport T-shirts began with using synthetic fabric to evaporate sweat quickly from the body. He donated a few samples to his team mates and friends after graduating from the University of Maryland. Thereafter, he applied microfiber material and achieved a similar result. From Georgia Tech (his first customer) to other Division 1 football teams, Plank gradually expanded his sales, stores and customer base. Over the years, Under Armour created a variety of sports kit and product labels, and entered into significant deals with different sport teams and brands. The company continues to wax stronger.
Converse
The Converse Rubber Shoe Company, founded in Massachusetts, USA (1908) to manufacture sports shoes and apparel, has survived years of changing ownership. It 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 choice amongst athletes in the track-and-field and skating sports. Many soldiers reportedly use the brand in large numbers.
New Balance
The New Balance Athletic Shoe Company is very keen on delivering research-backed products that do not negotiate on good quality. It chooses not to seek for endorsements by any celebrity or famous athlete since its inception in 1906. The company manufactures 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
Sketchers USA Incorporated was set up not too long ago in California, USA (1992). The company brandishes an impressive collection of comfortable, sleek designs in street shoes, sporting footwear, accessories and clothing for all genders and ages. Its shoes were once made jest of; but nevertheless they 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 in the World 2024
A brief look at the top exquisite designer labels in the shoe industry for 2024 is worth the journey.
Prada
The Italian luxury brand Prada S.p.A. is the brainchild of Mario Prada. Right from its inception in 1913, the brand has been wowing the fashion world (and now the sports world). Its impressive range of carefully-crafted fashion pieces include leather bags, shoes, clothes, fragrances and eye glasses for both men and women. 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. He 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. He began to cater to top fashion icons from his East London base since the year 1996. Jimmy Choo’s range of shoes, bags, fragrances and accessories are highly priced and sought after as we speak.
Christian Louboutin
The French designer Christian Louboutin is renown for his high-heeled spike shoes with red soles for women. The brand has been around since 1991. He is famed to have created shoe designs for high-end fashion brands like Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. Not stopping there, he created 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. He rose to become a world-acclaimed luxury women’s shoes designer. Today, he has a collection of elegant and eye-catching shoe designs truly worth the hype and cost to his credit.
Alexander McQueen
Alexander McQueen is a British tailor and fashion designer who set up his luxury goods outlet in London, 1992. His creative designs are the result of a fairly long list of experienced bosses he has worked with in the fashion industry. Strong hints of British tradition appear in his shoes, clothes and bags. This distinct fashion style helped to propel him to the forefront of the fashion industry.
Stuart Weitzman
Weitzman is an American women’s shoes designer, with detailed and precisely-cut Spanish craftsmanship pervading most of his designs. His manufacturing outlet is located in the Elda area of Spain. He has been drawing inspiration from that environment since 1993.
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. He transformed women’s fashion with exciting designs that became famous worldwide.
Gucci
One of the oldest fashion labels worldwide, Gucci is a world-famous fashion brand set up by Guccio Gucci in Florence, Italy in 1921. Family feuds led to the uprooting of the business from its initial operational base in 1993, which affected the business. But in 1999, the Gucci brand was revived again. It became a subsidiary of the French conglomerate PPR – which later renamed itself to Kering. The ‘double G’ logo of Gucci is well-known everywhere.
Guccio Gucci started out as a seller of imported leather luggage. He eventually opened his own workshops, and employed craftsmen to create his own brand of leather goods. A trade ban imposed on Italy in 1935 pushed Guccio Gucci to experiment with other materials in alternative to scarce leather. These included raffia, wicker, wood, linen and jute. And by 1937, Gucci launched its handbags.
Products such as gloves, wallets, belts, keychains were introduced. Even the Italian infantry boots of World War 2 were created by Gucci, his family and workers. With shops in key locations around the world, the Gucci brand now produces iconic bags, loafers, glasses, jewelry, leather and metal fashion goods as well.
Miu Miu
Set up in Italy in the year 1993, Miu Miu is a top women’s clothing and accessories brand owned by fashion giant Prada. Miu Miu stores are now located in key cities around the world. That includes London, Hong Kong, Paris, New York and Glasgow. Miu Miu started out by creating cowgirl-themed fringed suede jackets and patchwork prairie skirts. It has since included fragrances, and restyled vintage dresses for women.
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton is a world-class French luxury fashion goods brands set up as far back as in 1854 by Louis Vuitton himself. The brand makes and markets prominent leather goods such as bags, shoes, sunglasses, jewelry, perfumes and other accessories. The unmistakable LV logo can be seen conspicuously displayed on all its products. Its product range consist mostly of hand-made leather and canvas (aside from the clothes). Louis Vuitton now operates in 50 countries, and has more than 460 stores across the world.
