I did. And what I found is one of the most fascinating stories in fashion history — a story that stretches back over 200 years, crossing continents, sports arenas, countercultures, and celebrity closets. Sneakers didn’t just happen. They were invented, reinvented, fought over, and turned into icons. Let me take you through every chapter of that story.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The word “sneaker” was coined in 1917 because the rubber sole was quiet enough to sneak up on someone.
• 2. The global sneaker market was valued at approximately $79 billion in 2023 and is projected to cross $120 billion by 2030.
• 3. Nike’s Air Jordan 1, released in 1985, was fined $5,000 per game by the NBA — and that fine turned it into the most iconic sneaker ever made.
• 4. Adidas and Puma were founded by two brothers who had a bitter falling-out that split an entire German town in half.
• 5. Sneaker culture has roots in Black American communities, particularly hip-hop, which drove demand, hype, and resale markets worth billions today.
• 6. The resale sneaker market alone was valued at over $6 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $30 billion by 2030.

The Very Beginning: Rubber Changes Everything

Before rubber, shoes were stiff, loud, and entirely impractical for anything athletic. Leather soles clicked and clacked against hard floors. They wore down fast. They offered zero grip on wet surfaces.

Everything changed in 1839 when Charles Goodyear — yes, the same name on your car tires — discovered the process of vulcanization. He figured out how to treat natural rubber with sulfur and heat to make it durable, flexible, and weather-resistant. This was a genuine revolution. Before Goodyear’s discovery, rubber became sticky in summer and cracked in winter. After it? Rubber became the most useful material in the footwear world.

By the 1860s, manufacturers were attaching vulcanized rubber soles to canvas uppers. The result was a shoe that was light, flexible, quiet, and grippy. People called them “plimsolls” in Britain — named after Samuel Plimsoll, a politician known for the load line marked on ships. The line on the side of the shoe’s sole somewhat resembled that marking. Simple origin. Elegant name.

In America, these rubber-soled canvas shoes were initially marketed as “croquet sandals” and sold primarily to the wealthy who played lawn sports. Croquet, tennis, and leisure walking were the original intended uses. Not exactly the streets of Brooklyn or the courts of Chicago. But give it time.

The Word “Sneaker” Is Born

Here is a detail most people don’t know: the term “sneaker” was first used in print in 1917 by Henry Nelson McKinney, an advertising agent working for Keds. He used it in a campaign because the rubber sole was so quiet compared to leather that you could sneak up on someone while wearing them.

Keds, founded in 1916, was among the first brands to mass-produce and market canvas rubber-soled shoes directly to American consumers. They called their flagship shoe the “Champion.” Simple name. Massive impact. The Champion became the default sneaker of American childhood for decades.

Around the same time, in 1917, Converse launched the All Star — initially designed as a basketball shoe. Charles “Chuck” Taylor, a basketball player and salesman, started wearing them, promoting them, and eventually suggesting design improvements. By 1932, his name was on the ankle patch. The shoe was renamed the Chuck Taylor All Star. It became the standard basketball shoe in America for nearly 50 years. As of today, Converse has sold over a billion pairs of Chuck Taylors. One billion.

Two Brothers, One Town, and a War That Built Two Empires

In the small Bavarian town of Herzogenaurach, Germany, two brothers — Adolf and Rudolf Dassler — started making athletic shoes together in their mother’s laundry room in 1924. Their brand was called Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik. Their shoes became famous fast.

The 1936 Berlin Olympics was their breakthrough moment. Jesse Owens, the American sprinter who won four gold medals right under Hitler’s nose, wore Dassler brothers’ shoes. The publicity was extraordinary. The brothers had a nose for athlete partnerships decades before Nike made it a science.

But then World War II happened. And the two brothers fell apart — badly. The exact reason is still debated. Some say it was about who had to hide in a bomb shelter during an air raid. Others blame wartime politics and accusations of Nazi collaboration. Whatever the cause, by 1948 the split was final.

Adolf — called “Adi” — founded Adidas. Rudolf founded Ruda, which he later renamed Puma. The town of Herzogenaurach literally divided into two camps. Adidas workers and Puma workers didn’t mix. They didn’t marry each other’s children. They went to different butchers and different bars. The river running through town became an informal border. This level of corporate rivalry sounds absurd, but it was very real — and it produced two of the most powerful sneaker brands in history.

Adidas went on to outfit entire national football teams, create the Stan Smith tennis shoe in 1965, and partner with Run-D.M.C. in what became the first major non-athlete sneaker endorsement deal in history. More on that in a moment.

Nike: The Brand That Changed Everything

In 1964, a University of Oregon track coach named Bill Bowerman and his former student Phil Knight started a company called Blue Ribbon Sports. They imported and sold Japanese running shoes — specifically Onitsuka Tiger (now ASICS) — out of the trunk of a car at track meets.

By 1971 they had broken from their Japanese supplier and created their own brand. Knight paid a graphic design student named Carolyn Davidson $35 to design a logo. She created the swoosh. Later, after Nike went public, Knight gave her 500 shares of stock in gratitude. At the time of her gift in 1983, those shares were worth around $1 million.

The brand name “Nike” came from Jeff Johnson, the company’s first employee, who dreamed of the Greek goddess of victory one night and suggested the name. It stuck.

What truly launched Nike into the stratosphere was the 1974 Waffle Trainer, born from Bill Bowerman literally pouring rubber into his wife’s waffle iron to test a new sole pattern. The resulting sole gave runners dramatically improved traction. Bowerman was obsessed with making shoes lighter — he reportedly cut up his runners’ shoes, removed material, and rebuilt them just to shave a few grams. That obsession with performance engineering became Nike’s founding DNA.

Then came 1978, and the Nike Air technology — a pressurized gas cushioning system developed by aerospace engineer Frank Rudy. Rudy had tried to sell the idea to other shoe companies. Everyone passed. Nike said yes. The result was the Nike Tailwind in 1978, and later the Air Force 1 in 1982 — the first basketball shoe to use Nike Air. The Air Force 1 became one of the best-selling sneakers in history and remains in continuous production today.

Michael Jordan and the Shoe That Broke the NBA’s Rules

In 1984, Nike was struggling. Running was their strength. Basketball was an afterthought. They needed a star. They signed a rookie named Michael Jordan to a deal worth $500,000 per year plus royalties — at the time, the largest endorsement deal ever given to an NBA rookie. Jordan himself preferred Adidas but was convinced by his mother to at least hear Nike out.

The Air Jordan 1 debuted in 1985. Nike designed it in University of North Carolina blue and black — not the red and black that became iconic — but legend has it the final colorway violated the NBA’s uniform rules, which required shoes to predominantly match team colors. The NBA fined Jordan $5,000 for every game he wore them. Nike paid every fine. And then ran ads about it.

That controversy was worth billions in free publicity. The Air Jordan 1 generated $126 million in sales in its first year alone. It sold out everywhere. It turned a basketball shoe into a cultural statement. And it launched the Jordan Brand, which today generates over $5 billion annually as a standalone label under Nike’s umbrella.

The Air Jordan line didn’t just sell shoes. It established the idea that a sneaker could be art. That wearing the right pair said something about who you were. That scarcity created desire. Every single principle driving the modern sneaker hype economy traces directly back to what Nike and Jordan did in 1985.

Hip-Hop Claimed Sneakers Before Anyone Else Did

While Michael Jordan was selling shoes to basketball fans, something else was happening on the streets of New York. Hip-hop culture — emerging from the Bronx in the early 1970s — had its own relationship with sneakers long before corporations noticed.

B-boys needed shoes that gripped the floor for breakdancing. Adidas Superstars — the ones with the shell toe — became a go-to because they were flat, grippy, and wide enough to pop and lock in. Run-D.M.C. wore them without laces. Fat laces, no laces, unlaced at the top — these were style choices that carried meaning. They said: I’m from here. I know something you don’t.

In 1986, Run-D.M.C. released “My Adidas” — a song literally about their shoes. During a concert at Madison Square Garden, they held up their Adidas Superstars and 38,000 people in the arena pulled off their own pairs and raised them in the air. A Adidas executive in the crowd watched this happen in real time. Shortly after, Run-D.M.C. signed a $1 million deal with Adidas — the first non-athlete endorsement deal for a sneaker brand in history.

This moment proved something massive: athletes weren’t the only people who could move sneaker culture. Musicians could do it. Communities could do it. Hip-hop showed the world that sneakers were not just sporting goods — they were identity.

The 1990s: When Sneakers Became Religion

The 1990s were the golden era of sneaker obsession. Every major brand was fighting for dominance. Nike had Jordan. Adidas had its heritage. Reebok had the Pump — a sneaker from 1989 with an actual inflation mechanism built into the tongue that allowed you to customize the fit. Kids pumped their shoes in classrooms, hallways, and playgrounds across America.

Reebok dominated the early 1990s. Their aerobics shoes sold massively to women — a demographic the sneaker industry had largely ignored. The Classic Leather became a staple. By 1987, Reebok had actually overtaken Nike in total US sales. That supremacy didn’t last, but it showed that the market was enormous and had room for multiple champions.

Meanwhile, a Japanese company called ASICS — born from the rebirth of Onitsuka Tiger — was quietly building running shoes that athletes swore by. New Balance, founded in 1906 in Boston (originally making arch supports, not shoes), was gaining a cult following among serious runners for their wide-width sizing and American manufacturing. They never chased hype. The hype eventually chased them.

The decade also saw the rise of the “signature shoe” as a genuine business model. Charles Barkley, Penny Hardaway, Scottie Pippen — every major NBA player had a shoe. The commercial battle between Nike and Reebok played out on feet during every single NBA game.

Luxury Fashion Meets the Sneaker

For most of the 20th century, fashion houses looked at sneakers as working-class footwear. That changed rapidly in the early 2000s.

In 2000, Gucci released a rubber-soled sneaker that sold for prices previously reserved for dress shoes. Louis Vuitton began producing sneakers. Prada launched the America’s Cup sneaker — a sleek, minimalist design that became a quiet status symbol among those who knew.

But the real turning point came from an unlikely partnership. In 2002, Nike collaborated with Japanese streetwear brand A Bathing Ape (BAPE) founder Nigo on a limited edition release. The concept was simple: take an existing silhouette, produce it in extremely limited quantities, release it with almost no marketing, and let the underground do the rest. Lines formed around the block.

This was the birth of the modern “drop” culture. Limited supply plus massive demand plus cultural cachet equals hysteria. Brands learned that scarcity wasn’t a problem to solve — it was the product itself.

Then came 2002’s collaboration between Nike and Japanese streetwear store SOPHNET, followed by Dior’s 2020 Air Jordan 1 collaboration — 13,000 pairs made, sold by lottery only, reselling immediately for $14,000 and up. High fashion had not just accepted sneakers. It needed them.

The Resale Market: Billions Built on Hype

The sneaker resale market is one of the more extraordinary economic phenomena of the 21st century. When a limited release sells out in seconds online, those pairs immediately appear on StockX, GOAT, and eBay for two, three, or ten times their retail price.

StockX, founded in 2015 in Detroit, treats sneakers like stocks. You can see real-time price charts for individual styles and sizes. The platform processed over $1.8 billion in gross merchandise value in 2021. GOAT, their main competitor, raised over $200 million in funding as of 2022 at a $3.7 billion valuation.

Some sneakers have become genuine investments. A pair of Nike Air Yeezy 2 “Red Octobers” — released by Kanye West in 2014 with no prior announcement — retails for $245 and has sold on secondary markets for over $10,000. The original Nike Moon Shoe, one of twelve pairs hand-made by Bill Bowerman in 1972 for the Munich Olympics, sold at Sotheby’s in 2019 for $437,500 — the most expensive sneaker ever auctioned at the time.

The same pair of shoes means wildly different things to different people. To one person it’s a shoe. To another it’s $15,000 in a shoebox.

Kanye West, Adidas, and the Yeezy Phenomenon

In 2006, Kanye West was rejected by Nike when he asked for his own signature shoe. He went to Louis Vuitton instead and produced a limited collab. Nike eventually came around, and the two produced the Nike Air Yeezy 1 in 2009 and the Air Yeezy 2 in 2012. Both were massive. But Kanye wanted royalties. Nike said no.

He left for Adidas.

In 2015, the Yeezy Boost 350 launched through Adidas. The silhouette was strange — a sock-like knit upper, a thick Boost midsole developed with BASF, muted colorways that looked almost utilitarian. Fashion people called it genius. Sneakerheads called it revolutionary. Regular people just called it sold out.

By 2022, the Yeezy line was generating approximately $1.5 billion in annual revenue for Adidas — accounting for roughly 8% of the company’s total revenue. When Adidas terminated the partnership with West in October 2022 following his antisemitic comments, the company was left with an estimated $250 million worth of unsold Yeezy inventory and a projected annual loss of $700 million. That is how dependent Adidas had become on a single artist’s shoe line.

Adidas eventually released the remaining Yeezy inventory in 2023 under their own branding, donating a portion of profits to anti-hate organizations. The Yeezy saga is both a story of cultural power and a cautionary tale about brand dependency.

Sustainability: The Uncomfortable Truth and the New Frontier

The sneaker industry has an environmental problem. A typical pair of running shoes generates approximately 13.6 kilograms of CO2 during production. The global sneaker industry produces around 23 billion pairs of shoes per year. The math is alarming.

Most sneakers are made from a mix of synthetic rubber, foam, polyester, and adhesives — all petroleum-based, essentially non-recyclable, and designed to be thrown away. The average sneaker takes 30 to 40 years to decompose in a landfill.

Brands are responding — some genuinely, some performatively. Nike’s Space Hippie line used at least 85% recycled manufacturing waste. Adidas partnered with Parley for the Oceans to create shoes partially made from ocean plastic. Allbirds built an entire brand identity around sustainable materials like merino wool and sugarcane-based foam, releasing their carbon footprint data publicly for every product.

Veja, a French sneaker brand founded in 2005, sources organic cotton from Brazil, uses wild rubber from the Amazon instead of synthetic alternatives, and pays their factory workers above-market wages. They spend nothing on advertising and rely entirely on word of mouth. Despite that — or because of it — they have become one of the most coveted sneakers in the world. Meghan Markle wore them. Emmanuel Macron wore them. The quiet brand has become a loud statement.

What Sneakers Mean Now

Walk into any major city in 2024 and look at people’s feet. You’ll see a pair of New Balance 990s next to a pair of Air Jordan 4s next to a pair of Samba OGs next to a pair of Yeezys. Sneakers have transcended their function so completely that the shoe itself has become a kind of language.

Adidas Sambas — originally a 1950 indoor soccer shoe — became the dominant fashion sneaker of 2023 and 2024. Nobody expected it. No massive marketing campaign. Just a slow-burn cultural drift that pushed a 70-year-old silhouette back to the top of every “best sneakers” list on earth. New Balance had the same revival. The 574, the 990, the 550 — all initially performance running shoes from the 1980s and 1990s — became fashion objects worn by models, musicians, and the fashion-conscious who wanted something that felt decidedly un-hype.

The sneaker is no longer just footwear. It is self-expression compressed into a rubber sole.

Conclusion

Two hundred years ago, a shoe with a rubber sole was a novelty for croquet players on manicured lawns. Today, that same basic concept — canvas, rubber, innovation, and culture — drives one of the most powerful industries on earth.

What makes sneaker history remarkable is that it isn’t just the story of shoes. It’s the story of sport and protest, of immigrants building empires, of brothers becoming rivals, of musicians changing markets, of teenagers turning rubber into religion. Every pair of sneakers you’ve ever owned is connected to that whole long chain of human ambition, creativity, and obsession.

The next time you lace up, you’re not just putting on shoes. You’re stepping into over two centuries of history. That’s worth knowing. And honestly? That’s worth appreciating.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the word “sneaker”? The term “sneaker” was first used in 1917 by advertising agent Henry Nelson McKinney in a campaign for Keds. He coined it because the rubber soles were so quiet compared to leather that wearers could literally sneak up on people without being heard. Before that, rubber-soled shoes were called plimsolls in Britain and canvas shoes or rubber shoes in America.

Which is the best-selling sneaker of all time? The Nike Air Force 1, first released in 1982 as a basketball shoe, is widely considered the best-selling sneaker in history. It has been in continuous production since its debut and has sold hundreds of millions of pairs across over 2,000 documented colorways. The Chuck Taylor All Star by Converse is the other primary contender, with over one billion pairs sold since 1917.

When did sneakers become a fashion item? Sneakers began crossing into high fashion in the early 2000s when luxury houses like Gucci, Prada, and Louis Vuitton started producing premium sneakers. The shift accelerated dramatically from 2002 onward with the rise of limited-release “drop” culture and high-profile collaborations between streetwear brands and fashion houses. By the 2010s, sneakers were appearing on every major fashion runway as primary footwear.

Why are limited edition sneakers so expensive on the resale market? Limited edition sneakers are produced in deliberately small quantities, creating scarcity. When demand far exceeds supply — and brands like Nike, Jordan, and Adidas have mastered the art of creating that demand through celebrity partnerships, cultural associations, and strategic marketing — the secondary market price rises dramatically. The resale market now operates like a stock exchange, with platforms like StockX showing real-time pricing. Rarity, cultural significance, condition, and size all influence resale value.

Which sneaker brand is the most valuable in the world? Nike is the most valuable footwear brand in the world. As of 2023, Nike’s brand value was estimated at approximately $31 billion. The company’s annual revenue exceeds $50 billion globally. Jordan Brand alone — operating as a division of Nike — generates over $5 billion annually. Adidas is the second-largest athletic footwear brand by revenue, followed by New Balance, Puma, and ASICS.

The global sneaker market was valued at approximately $99.1 billion in 2025, and analysts project it will reach $159 billion by 2034. That is not a niche hobby. That is one of the most dynamic product categories on earth. Nike alone generated $33 billion in footwear sales in 2025, while Adidas followed at $13 billion — together, the two brands account for roughly 57% of global sneaker market share.

But what makes a sneaker truly popular? Is it the technology inside the sole? The athlete who wore them? The celebrity who co-signed them? The answer is usually all three — wrapped inside a compelling story that connects with people on an emotional level. This article breaks down the most popular sneakers in the world, where they came from, why they stuck around, and what the numbers actually tell us.

Key Takeaways

• The global sneaker market is worth over $99 billion and growing at a CAGR of 5–7% annually
• Nike and Adidas together hold about 57% of global market share
• The Nike Air Force 1 is considered the best-selling sneaker of all time
• The Air Jordan 1, released in 1985, generated $126 million in sales in its very first year
• The Adidas Samba has sold an estimated 35 million pairs since its debut in 1950
• Nike dominates Amazon’s top 10 best-selling sneaker list, holding 7 out of 10 spots
• The resale sneaker market continues to grow, with platforms like StockX shaping how people buy and value shoes
• Sneaker culture originated in North America and has become a global phenomenon

What Exactly Is a Sneaker? A Quick Definition

Before we get into the big names and numbers, let’s get the definition straight. A sneaker — also called a trainer, athletic shoe, or tennis shoe depending on where you live — is a flexible, lightweight shoe designed primarily for physical activity. The term “sneaker” was reportedly coined in the late 1800s because rubber-soled shoes allowed wearers to walk quietly, or “sneak,” without making noise on floors. The rubber sole was the defining feature. Everything else evolved from there.

Today, the definition has expanded dramatically. Sneakers are casual footwear, performance tools, fashion statements, investment assets, and cultural artifacts — sometimes all at once.

A Brief History: How Sneakers Took Over the World

Understanding why certain sneakers are popular today requires going back to the beginning. Not the flashy 1980s drops, not even the post-war sports shoe boom. The real origin starts in the mid-1800s.

The first rubber-soled athletic shoes appeared around 1839, following Charles Goodyear’s vulcanization of rubber. By the 1860s, canvas-topped, rubber-soled shoes called “plimsolls” were being made in Britain and sold to the public. These were crude by today’s standards — flat, uncomfortable, and more practical than stylish — but they set the foundation.

In 1916, the U.S. Rubber Company launched a shoe called Keds, widely recognized as the first mass-marketed athletic shoe in America. That same year, Converse released the All Star — a high-top canvas basketball shoe that would go on to become one of the most iconic silhouettes in history. By 1923, basketball player Chuck Taylor had so heavily endorsed the shoe that Converse added his name to it. The Chuck Taylor All Star became a sneaker legend before sneakers were even called that.

Then came the German brothers. Adolf Dassler founded Adidas in 1949. His brother Rudolf, following a bitter personal falling-out, founded Puma that same year. Both companies set up shop in Herzogenaurach, Germany — a town that was reportedly divided along brand loyalty lines for decades. Adolf, nicknamed “Adi,” launched the Adidas Samba in 1950 as an indoor soccer shoe. It sold an estimated 35 million pairs over its lifetime and is one of the hottest sneakers on the market right now in 2025.

Nike entered the scene later. In 1964, Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman — a University of Oregon track coach — started Blue Ribbon Sports, which became Nike in 1971. The Swoosh logo was designed by graphic design student Carolyn Davidson for $35. The rest, as they say, is history. Nike’s trajectory changed forever in 1984 when they signed a rookie basketball player named Michael Jordan.

The Most Popular Sneakers of All Time

Nike Air Jordan 1

Release year: 1985. Designer: Peter Moore. Price at launch: $65.

The Air Jordan 1 is arguably the most culturally significant sneaker ever made. The NBA actually banned it during Michael Jordan’s first season because it violated the league’s uniform color policy. Nike paid the fines — roughly $5,000 per game — as a calculated publicity move. The controversy worked. In its first year alone, the Air Jordan 1 made $126 million in sales. That number is extraordinary even by today’s standards.

The shoe’s original colorway was “Bred” — Black and Red — which remains the most coveted version to this day. Tinker Hatfield later took over the design of subsequent Jordan models, and the line never looked back. Today, Jordan Brand is worth an estimated $5 billion annually, operating as a separate division inside Nike. Collectors pay thousands on the secondary market for rare colorways. The Air Jordan 1 did not just make sneakers cool. It turned them into something people fight over.

Nike Air Force 1

Release year: 1982. Designer: Bruce Kilgore. Original purpose: basketball.

The Nike Air Force 1 is widely regarded as the best-selling sneaker of all time. Introduced in 1982 as a performance basketball shoe, it was the first to use Nike’s Air cushioning technology in a basketball silhouette. It was briefly discontinued in 1984, then re-released following heavy demand from Baltimore retailers — a grassroots comeback story that helped cement its legend.

The all-white Air Force 1 Low became a staple in hip-hop culture throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Songs were written about it. Rappers wore it on album covers. It crossed into streetwear, luxury fashion, and everyday casual wear without losing its identity. Nike has released hundreds of colorways and collaborations — with artists, designers, athletes, and brands — and the silhouette remains in near-constant production. Its accessibility and neutrality are the secret to its longevity.

Air Jordan 4

The Air Jordan 4 was released in 1989, designed by Tinker Hatfield, and it made history on the basketball court the same year. Michael Jordan hit “The Shot” — a buzzer-beating jumper against the Cleveland Cavaliers — while wearing it. That single moment gave the shoe a permanent place in sports mythology. The Jordan 4’s design features wing eyelets, Durabuck uppers, and enhanced Air cushioning under the heel. In 2025, the Air Jordan 4 and Air Jordan 5 ranked among the most “favorited” sneakers worldwide on StockX.

Adidas Samba

Release year: 1950. Original purpose: indoor soccer and winter football training on icy pitches.

The Samba has one of the longest active runs of any sneaker in history. For decades it lived quietly as a heritage model — worn by football casuals in Europe, adopted by underground music scenes, and gradually absorbed into streetwear. Then, around 2022–2023, it exploded. Celebrities, models, and fashion editors started wearing it everywhere. Lyst named it one of the hottest products of 2025. The black-and-white colorway with the gum sole became the defining look of a generation.

The Samba Jane variant — a women’s-focused model introduced in June 2025 — became Adidas’ best-selling new model of the year. The shoe’s slim profile fits perfectly into the “quiet luxury” and minimalist aesthetic that dominated fashion throughout 2024 and 2025. At under $100 retail, it is also accessible. That combination of heritage, simplicity, and affordability is hard to beat.

Adidas Stan Smith

Release year: 1965 (as the Adidas Robert Haillet). Renamed the Stan Smith in 1978.

The Stan Smith began life as a tennis shoe, worn by French champion Robert Haillet. After Haillet retired, Adidas recruited American tennis player Stan Smith to endorse the shoe. Smith’s face and signature are literally printed on the tongue. It became one of the most recognizable tennis shoes in the world and then evolved into something bigger — a minimalist fashion staple worn with everything from jeans to suits.

Adidas strategically removed the Stan Smith from stores in 2012, creating artificial scarcity. When they brought it back in 2014, demand exploded. It reportedly sold 5 million pairs in that year alone. The Stan Smith is a masterclass in how heritage and restraint can outlast trends.

Nike Dunk

Release year: 1985. Original purpose: college basketball.

The Dunk was initially released as a college basketball shoe in 1985, featuring university team colorways — Illinois orange, Georgetown grey, Iowa yellow. It moved into skateboarding culture in the early 2000s through Nike SB collaborations. Then it went dormant. Then it came back harder than ever. The Nike Dunk Low experienced a 340% increase in sales compared to 2023, making it one of the biggest comeback stories in recent sneaker history. Its colorway variety, collaboration culture, and $100–$120 retail price point keep it accessible and desirable simultaneously.

New Balance 550 and 990

New Balance often flies under the radar compared to Nike and Adidas, but the brand’s numbers are significant and its cultural moment has arrived. The New Balance 990, released in 1982, was the first sneaker ever to break the $100 retail price barrier. That was controversial at the time. People thought no one would pay $100 for a shoe. They were wrong.

The 550 — a retro basketball silhouette that had largely been forgotten — was revived through a collaboration with Aimé Leon Dore in 2020 and became a sensation. The “dad sneaker” aesthetic, once mocked, became aspirational. New Balance’s growth in recent years has been driven by a combination of retro silhouettes, performance running shoes, and a loyal customer base that values quality over hype.

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star

Few silhouettes have the longevity of the Chuck Taylor. Released in 1917, it was the dominant basketball shoe in America for decades. Even after it was functionally obsolete as performance footwear — which happened by the 1970s — it never stopped selling. Artists wore it. Punk bands wore it. Grunge bands wore it. Fashion icons wore it. Today it sits in wardrobes across every country on earth, sold in nearly every color imaginable, at a price that makes it accessible to almost anyone. The Chuck Taylor is arguably the most democratic sneaker ever made.

ASICS Gel-1130

ASICS is a Japanese brand founded in 1949, whose name is an acronym for the Latin phrase “Anima Sana In Corpore Sano” — a healthy soul in a healthy body. The Gel-1130, a running-inspired lifestyle shoe with chunky retro aesthetics and serious cushioning, became one of the most favorited sneakers on StockX heading into the holiday season of 2025. Its rise reflects a broader consumer shift toward comfort-first design and the growing appetite for technical aesthetics in everyday footwear.

On Running and HOKA

These two brands deserve special attention because they represent where the market is heading. On Running, the Swiss brand founded in 2010, and HOKA, launched in France in 2009, both built their identities around maximum cushioning and performance running. Neither was particularly fashionable five years ago. Both are now selling millions of pairs to consumers who want comfort, performance, and a clean silhouette. HOKA made significant gains in mid-2025 market data. On Running has attracted a fanbase that skews heavily toward health-conscious, premium consumers. These are not hype brands. They are functional brands that earned their way into the mainstream.

What Makes a Sneaker Popular? The Real Factors

Athletic Heritage

Almost every iconic sneaker has an athletic origin. The Air Jordan came from basketball. The Samba came from soccer. The Chuck Taylor came from basketball. The Stan Smith came from tennis. Consumers respond to performance credibility — even when they have no intention of ever playing the sport the shoe was designed for. The heritage adds weight and legitimacy.

Cultural Co-Signing

When Michael Jordan wore the Air Jordan 1, the NBA banned it and Nike paid the fines — turning controversy into a marketing campaign that money cannot replicate. When Kanye West released the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 with Adidas, it changed the resale market forever. When celebrities, athletes, and musicians publicly embrace a shoe, millions of people follow. Cultural co-signing is one of the most powerful forces in the sneaker industry.

Scarcity and Limited Releases

The resale market exists because of scarcity. When supply is deliberately kept lower than demand, prices on secondary markets like StockX and GOAT shoot up — and that price premium signals desirability, which creates more demand. Nike’s Mars Yard 3.0 collaboration with artist Tom Sachs sold for an average of 291% above its $275 retail price on StockX in 2025. That kind of markup turns a shoe into a news story.

Design and Comfort

None of the above matters long-term if the shoe is uncomfortable or ugly. The most popular sneakers share a common trait: clean, adaptable design that works across multiple contexts. The all-white Air Force 1 goes with almost anything. The Samba’s slim profile fits into casual and smart-casual wardrobes. The 990’s neutral grey works whether you are running errands or running a meeting.

Price Accessibility

Most of the best-selling sneakers in the world retail under $150. The top 10 best-selling shoes share a common characteristic: price points that make them accessible to a broad consumer base. Hype is real, but volume is driven by accessibility.

The Sneaker Resale Market: A Parallel Economy

The resale market is now a significant part of the sneaker industry and cannot be ignored. StockX, GOAT, and similar platforms have created a liquid market for athletic footwear — treating sneakers like stocks, with real-time pricing, authentication services, and buyer protections.

In 2025, Nike Kobe models accounted for nearly 37% of all signature basketball shoe sales on StockX. Kobe Bryant’s Nike Kobe 8 Protro “What The” was StockX’s single best-selling basketball sneaker of the year. The late Lakers legend — who passed away in 2020 — continues to dominate the resale market in ways that living athletes struggle to match.

The resale economy rewards scarcity and storytelling. It also creates a price floor for brands — the distance between retail and resale value tells you a great deal about true demand.

Trends Shaping the Sneaker Market Right Now

The Slim Silhouette Moment

2024 and 2025 saw a decisive pivot away from chunky, maximalist sneakers toward slim, low-profile designs. The Adidas Samba, the Adidas Taekwondo (named the most popular sneaker of 2025 by Marie Claire readers), and the ballet-inspired Bad Bunny x Adidas Ballerina collaboration all reflect this preference for sleek, understated profiles. The slim sneaker trend, according to StockX analysts, shows no signs of slowing.

Sustainability

Consumers — especially younger ones — increasingly factor environmental impact into their purchasing decisions. Adidas has led with its Parley for the Oceans collection, using recycled ocean plastic. Nike introduced high-speed robotic disassembly systems in May 2025 to improve end-of-life recycling. Brands like Giesswein are gaining traction with wool-based sneakers. Sustainability is no longer a niche selling point — it is becoming table stakes.

WNBA and Women’s Athletes in Sneaker Culture

One of the most significant shifts in the 2025 sneaker market is the rise of women’s athlete signatures. New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu and Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson both cracked the top 10 in overall player sales on StockX. Wilson’s Nike A’One “Pink Aura” was among the top 10 best-selling individual signature sneakers of the year. This signals a real and growing market segment that brands are only beginning to take seriously.

Running-Inspired Lifestyle

Trail running shoes — especially from Salomon — and max-cushioned models like the ASICS Gel-1130 are crossing over into everyday fashion at an accelerating rate. The Salomon XT-Whisper and similar technical trail shoes are appearing on city streets and fashion weeks alike. Performance and style are converging more directly than ever before.

A Look at the Biggest Brands by Revenue

1. Nike — $33 billion in footwear sales in 2025, holding the top position globally. Dominates 7 out of 10 best-selling sneakers on Amazon.
2. Adidas — $13 billion in footwear revenue. Emerged as the leading brand in online sneaker sales during July–August 2025, generating over $20.56 million in that period alone.
3. New Balance — Significant growth driven by retro silhouettes and premium performance positioning.
4. HOKA — One of the fastest-growing brands in the athletic footwear space.
5. On Running — Building a premium, performance-focused consumer base globally.
6. Puma — Maintains strong presence in basketball and lifestyle categories.
7. Converse — Stable, iconic. The Chuck Taylor continues to sell without needing reinvention.
8. ASICS — Growing appeal in lifestyle category through models like the Gel-1130 and Gel-NYC.

Conclusion

Sneakers are one of the few product categories where history, culture, technology, and fashion all meet at once. The shoes that dominate the market today — the Air Force 1, the Air Jordan line, the Adidas Samba, the New Balance 990 — did not become popular by accident. Each one earned its place through a combination of athletic credibility, smart marketing, cultural adoption, and, fundamentally, good design.

The market is worth nearly $100 billion and growing. The resale economy adds another layer of financial complexity. New entrants like HOKA and On Running are proving that heritage is not the only path to success — that function and comfort can carry a brand to the top without decades of cultural history behind it.

What makes a sneaker truly popular is the same thing that makes any product stick: it solves a real problem, it connects with people’s identity, and it earns its place in culture over time. The most iconic sneakers are not just shoes. They are ideas people choose to walk in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular sneaker of all time? The Nike Air Force 1, released in 1982, is widely regarded as the best-selling sneaker of all time. It has been in near-continuous production for over 40 years, sold in hundreds of colorways, and remains one of the most culturally significant footwear silhouettes ever made. Its clean design and versatility have made it a staple across hip-hop, streetwear, high fashion, and everyday casual wear.

What are the most popular sneaker brands in the world? Nike and Adidas lead the global sneaker market by a significant margin, together holding approximately 57% of worldwide market share as of 2025. Nike tops the charts with $33 billion in footwear sales, followed by Adidas at $13 billion. Other major players include New Balance, HOKA, Puma, On Running, Converse, ASICS, and Reebok — each with distinct brand identities and consumer bases.

Why are sneakers so expensive? Sneaker prices are driven by several factors: material quality, manufacturing technology, brand premium, and most significantly, the economics of scarcity and demand. Limited-edition releases — where fewer pairs are produced than the market demands — push resale prices far above retail. The Nike Mars Yard 3.0 sold for an average of 291% above its $275 retail price on StockX in 2025. Additionally, athlete and celebrity endorsements, collaboration culture, and the rising cost of sustainable materials all contribute to the premium pricing structure in the industry.

What is sneaker culture and where did it come from? Sneaker culture refers to the community of enthusiasts — often called “sneakerheads” — who collect, trade, and deeply appreciate athletic footwear as a cultural product. It originated primarily in North America, rooted in basketball culture and hip-hop music from the 1980s onwards. The Air Jordan 1’s release in 1985 is often cited as the moment sneaker culture became a mainstream phenomenon. Today it is a global subculture that has influenced museums, art, music, fashion, and finance through the growth of the resale market.

What sneakers are trending right now in 2025? In 2025, the dominant trends include slim, low-profile silhouettes like the Adidas Samba and Adidas Taekwondo, trail-running inspired styles from Salomon, and max-cushioned everyday runners from ASICS and HOKA. On the basketball side, Nike Kobe retro models continue to dominate the resale market, while newer signature lines from Ja Morant and WNBA stars like A’ja Wilson are gaining serious traction. The overall movement is toward comfort-first design paired with clean, understated aesthetics — a clear reaction to the maximalist silhouettes that dominated the late 2010s.

The global sneaker market was valued at over $70 billion in 2023 and is expected to cross $100 billion by 2030. That is not a niche hobby. That is a full-blown cultural economy. And at the center of it all are a handful of brands that have shaped how the world walks, literally and figuratively.

I have gone deep into the history, the hype, the numbers, and the stories behind the biggest sneaker brands on the planet. Whether you are a collector, a casual wearer, or someone who just bought their first pair of Jordans — this one is for you.

Key Takeaways

• Nike dominates the global sneaker market with over 37% market share as of 2024
• Adidas and Jordan Brand follow closely, each with massive cultural footprints
• Sneaker culture has roots in basketball courts, hip-hop, and skateboarding — not just fashion
• Limited releases and celebrity collabs drive sneaker hype to insane levels
• The resale sneaker market hit $6 billion in 2023 and keeps climbing
• Brands like New Balance and On Running are newer fan favorites eating into the big players’ share
• Understanding a brand’s story helps you appreciate why certain shoes cost what they cost

How Sneakers Became the Biggest Thing in Fashion

Let’s go back to basics for a second. The word “sneaker” comes from the 1800s. The rubber sole of early canvas shoes was so quiet that people could literally sneak around without making noise — unlike the loud leather-soled shoes of that era. A Boston journalist named Keds reportedly coined the term in 1917. That is over 100 years of sneaker history, and we are just getting started.

The real shift happened in the mid-20th century when sneakers moved off the courts and into the streets. By the 1980s, hip-hop culture in New York adopted Adidas Superstars as a uniform. Run-DMC wrote a whole song about them — “My Adidas” — and suddenly sneakers had meaning beyond sport. They became a statement.

Then Michael Jordan happened. Nike signed him in 1984 for $2.5 million over five years — which was unheard of at the time. The NBA actually fined Jordan $5,000 every time he wore the original Air Jordan 1 on court because it violated their uniform rules. Nike paid the fines gladly. The controversy created publicity that money could not buy. That one moment changed sneaker marketing forever.

The Biggest Sneaker Brands in the World Right Now

Nike — The King That Has Not Left the Throne

Nike was founded in 1964 by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman as Blue Ribbon Sports. They officially became Nike, Inc. in 1971, named after the Greek goddess of victory. The swoosh logo was designed by a graphic design student named Carolyn Davidson for exactly $35. She later received Nike stock as additional compensation — a very good investment, in hindsight.

Today, Nike generates over $51 billion in annual revenue. The brand holds more than 37% of the global athletic footwear market — more than its next three competitors combined. The Air Max, the Air Force 1, the Dunk, the React — Nike has more iconic silhouettes than most brands have total products. The Air Force 1, launched in 1982, became so popular in New York street culture that Nike tried to discontinue it in 1984, and retailers literally begged them to keep it alive. It is now one of the best-selling sneakers of all time with over 100 million pairs sold.

Nike’s marketing is also next-level. Their “Just Do It” campaign launched in 1988 and is still going. The slogan was supposedly inspired by the last words of a convicted murderer named Gary Gilmore — “Let’s do it” — which shows you that great advertising can come from the most unexpected places.

Adidas — The Three Stripes That Run Everything Else

Adidas and Puma are technically brothers — and I mean that literally. Adi Dassler and his brother Rudolf Dassler started a shoe company together in Germany in the 1920s. After a massive falling out — reportedly over what happened during World War II — they split in 1948. Adi started Adidas, Rudolf started Puma. The two brothers never spoke again and are buried in the same cemetery in Herzogenaurach, Germany, on opposite ends. Truly the most dramatic origin story in sneaker history.

Adidas became global in 1954 when the West German national football team wore Adidas boots to win the FIFA World Cup — a result few expected. Sales exploded overnight. From there, the brand spread into basketball, running, and lifestyle categories. The Stan Smith, originally called the Haillet after a French tennis player, became one of the world’s best-selling shoes with over 70 million pairs sold since 1971. The Superstar became the shoe of hip-hop. The Ultraboost, launched in 2015 with Boost foam technology, changed the running game.

Adidas holds approximately 18–20% of the global sneaker market. Their Yeezy collaboration with Kanye West — before it imploded spectacularly in 2022 — was generating roughly $1.5 billion per year in revenue. When Adidas cut ties with Ye, they were left with over $1 billion in unsold Yeezy stock that they had to figure out how to sell without him. It was a whole thing.

Jordan Brand — The Label That Turned One Man Into an Empire

Jordan Brand is technically a Nike subsidiary, launched officially in 1997, but it deserves its own conversation. Michael Jordan did not just endorse a shoe — he created an entire cultural religion around footwear. The Air Jordan 1 launched in 1985 at $65. That same shoe in a rare colorway sells for tens of thousands of dollars today on the resale market.

Jordan Brand generates over $5 billion in annual revenue and commands roughly 11% of the U.S. sneaker market on its own. The Retro program — which re-releases old Air Jordan colorways — is a masterclass in nostalgia marketing. They drop a limited quantity, fans go crazy, resellers make bank, and the hype machine keeps spinning.

The “Banned” Air Jordan 1 story is one of the greatest marketing myths in history, by the way. Nike claimed the shoe was banned by the NBA — which it technically was, for uniform violations — and used that as a selling point. The shoe was never actually “banned” from being worn, just fined. But “fined” does not sell sneakers. “Banned” does.

New Balance — The Brand That Quietly Won the Culture War

New Balance is the sleeping giant that woke up and started scaring everyone. Founded in Boston in 1906 as a company that made arch supports and orthopedic shoes, New Balance spent most of its existence being the sneaker your dad wore for yard work. No disrespect.

Then something shifted. By 2019–2020, New Balance started picking up serious cultural traction. Collaborations with Aimé Leon Dore, Joe Freshgoods, and Teddy Santis turned silhouettes like the 550, 990, 2002R, and 1906R into objects of genuine desire. The 990 series — famously made in the USA — became a prestige product. A pair of 990v6 retails for around $200 and sells out regularly.

New Balance’s revenue crossed $5 billion globally in 2022 — a huge milestone for a brand that was doing around $3.3 billion in 2018. They are the fastest-growing major sneaker brand right now, and they did it by leaning into authenticity, American manufacturing, and a quieter, more understated energy compared to the hype-heavy approach of Nike and Adidas.

Converse — 115 Years and Still a Classic

Chuck Taylor invented the All Star. Except he did not — but his name is on it. The Converse All Star was actually created in 1917. Chuck Taylor, a basketball player and salesman, joined the brand in 1921 and spent years traveling the country promoting the shoe and coaching basketball clinics. His name was added to the ankle patch in 1932. He essentially became the brand’s first-ever sneaker ambassador, decades before that was even a term.

Converse was acquired by Nike in 2003 for $305 million — which is looking like a bargain now considering the brand generates over $2 billion in revenue annually. The Chuck Taylor All Star is one of the best-selling sneakers in history with an estimated 1 billion pairs sold. One billion. That is not a typo. It comes in over 100 colors and has been worn by rock stars, athletes, artists, and teenagers who discovered it for the first time in every single generation since the 1920s.

Vans — Born in a Surf Shop, Raised by Skaters

Vans opened its first store in Anaheim, California in March 1966. On that very first day, sixteen customers bought shoes and were told to come back that afternoon when they were ready. That is how hands-on and custom the brand started. Paul Van Doren and his partners sold shoes directly from the factory — a model that was virtually unheard of at the time.

Skateboarders discovered Vans in the 1970s because the thick vulcanized rubber sole was perfect for grip on a board. The Vans Era and the Slip-On became staples. The Old Skool, which debuted in 1977, featured the iconic jazz stripe which was actually drawn by Paul Van Doren himself. In 1982, the Vans Fast Times Checkerboard Slip-On appeared in the film “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and became a pop culture artifact overnight.

Vans was acquired by VF Corporation in 2004 for $396 million. Today the brand generates over $3.5 billion in revenue and is a staple in skate, surf, punk, and streetwear culture globally.

Puma — The Other Brother

Puma carries the weight of that dramatic family split and has spent 75+ years building its own lane. The brand has made smart celebrity partnerships its main weapon. Puma sponsored Pelé. They signed Boris Becker. They brought Rihanna on as creative director in 2014 — and that collab genuinely moved the needle on their fashion credibility. More recently, signing Neymar Jr. and expanding in basketball with LaMelo Ball has pushed Puma back into competitive territory.

Puma’s Suede, launched in 1968, is one of the most iconic sneakers ever made. It was worn by Tommie Smith when he raised his fist on the Olympic podium in Mexico City in 1968 — one of the most powerful protest images in sports history. The shoe has been re-released dozens of times and remains a cultural touchstone.

Puma generates around $8–9 billion in annual revenue globally and holds around 7% of the global athletic footwear market.

On Running — The Swiss Upstart Disrupting Everything

On Running was founded in Zurich in 2010 by former professional triathlete Olivier Bernhard and two friends. The whole idea came from Olivier experimenting with hosepipes cut and attached to the soles of his shoes to create a cushioned landing. That weird garage experiment turned into the signature CloudTec sole technology that makes On shoes instantly recognizable.

In 2021, Roger Federer — who had been an investor since 2019 — helped take the company public. The IPO valued On at over $7 billion. The brand generated $1.79 billion in revenue in 2023, up 46% from the prior year. They are growing faster than almost any sneaker brand in the world right now. The Cloudmonster, Cloudsurfer, and Cloudrunner have become legitimate must-haves for runners and casual wearers alike. Zendaya fronted their campaign. That tells you everything about where the brand is heading.

ASICS — The Science of the Shoe

ASICS is a Japanese brand founded in 1949 by Kihachiro Onitsuka. The original shoe was the Onitsuka Tiger — famously worn by Bruce Lee and featured in “Kill Bill.” The name ASICS comes from the Latin phrase “Anima Sana In Corpore Sano” — a healthy soul in a healthy body. That philosophy has driven everything they do.

ASICS is known for being the most technically serious running shoe brand on the market. The Gel technology — a silicone-based cushioning system — has been in their shoes since 1986. Their Gel-Kayano and Gel-Nimbus lines are consistent bestsellers in the running community. But in the last few years, the Gel-1130, Gel-Lyte III, and other retro silhouettes have exploded in streetwear culture. ASICS revenues crossed $4 billion in 2023, and they are picking up fast in the lifestyle category.

The Sneaker Resale Market — Where Shoes Become Stocks

The resale sneaker market is its own economy. Platforms like StockX, GOAT, and Stadium Goods have turned sneaker flipping into a profession. In 2023 alone, the global sneaker resale market was estimated at $6 billion and is projected to reach $30 billion by 2030.

The most expensive sneaker ever sold at auction was a pair of Nike Air Ships worn by Michael Jordan in 1984 — they sold for $1.47 million at Sotheby’s in 2021. A pair of shoes. $1.47 million. The sneaker game is truly unlike anything else.

Limited drops, artificial scarcity, and the SNKRS app lottery system have turned buying a hyped sneaker into a competitive sport. Some people camp outside stores for 48 hours. Bots buy out entire online inventories in seconds. Resellers make thousands of dollars per flip. It is chaotic, addictive, and absolutely fascinating from the outside looking in.

Celebrity Collabs That Changed the Game Forever

Sneaker collaborations deserve their own article — actually, they deserve their own book. But here are the ones that genuinely shifted culture.

1. Michael Jordan x Nike (1984) — The original. Changed everything. Still relevant 40 years later.
2. Kanye West x Adidas Yeezy (2013–2022) — Peaked with the Yeezy 350 V2 which resold for 3–4x retail. Controversial end but undeniable cultural impact.
3. Travis Scott x Nike/Jordan Brand — The backwards Swoosh on his Air Jordan 1 became an instant icon. His drops crash websites and sell out in seconds.
4. Pharrell Williams x Adidas — The Human Race NMD and the Humanrace collection brought artistry and social consciousness to sneaker culture.
5. Virgil Abloh x Nike “The Ten” (2017) — Ten deconstructed Nike classics with OFF-WHITE branding. Some retail at $190. Resell for $2,000+. Virgil’s death in 2021 made this collection even more precious.

What Makes a Sneaker Brand Truly Great?

It is not just the shoe. Any company can put rubber and foam together. What separates the legends from the rest is story, community, consistency, and the ability to evolve without losing their soul.

Nike tells stories better than almost any brand on earth. Adidas has deep roots in sport and culture across multiple continents. New Balance has authenticity and craft. Converse has timelessness. Vans has a subculture that will defend the brand with a fierceness that no ad campaign can manufacture.

The brands that last are the ones that stand for something — and make the person wearing them feel like they stand for something too. That is the real product. The shoe is just the delivery mechanism.

Conclusion

Sneaker culture is not a trend. It is not going anywhere. If anything, it is getting bigger, more global, and more complex every single year. From a $35 swoosh logo to a $1.47 million pair of game-worn Jordans, the sneaker world has built one of the most remarkable cultural ecosystems in modern history.

Whether you wear Nike for the comfort, Adidas for the legacy, New Balance for the craft, or Vans because you have been wearing them since you were 15 and see no reason to stop — you are part of something that connects millions of people across every continent, language, and background.

The best sneaker is the one that means something to you. Full stop.

Now go check what is dropping next week, because the culture waits for no one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which sneaker brand is most popular in the world right now? Nike holds the top spot globally with over 37% market share in athletic footwear as of 2024. They have held the number one position for decades and continue to dominate through product innovation, marketing, and cultural partnerships.

What is the most expensive sneaker ever sold? A pair of Nike Air Ships worn by Michael Jordan during an NBA game in 1984 sold for $1.47 million at a Sotheby’s auction in 2021, making them the most expensive sneakers ever sold at auction.

Why are limited sneakers so expensive on the resale market? Limited release sneakers are expensive on the resale market because brands intentionally produce fewer pairs than demand requires. This artificial scarcity combined with high cultural desirability — often driven by celebrity associations — pushes resale prices far beyond retail. The secondary market is estimated to be worth $6 billion and growing.

Which sneaker brand has the best quality for running? ASICS and Brooks are widely regarded among serious runners as the most technically advanced running shoe brands. ASICS Gel technology has been refined over 35+ years and their models like the Gel-Kayano and Gel-Nimbus are consistently top-rated for cushioning, stability, and durability. On Running is also rapidly gaining a reputation for premium running technology.

What sneaker brands are made in the USA? New Balance is the most prominent sneaker brand that still manufactures a significant portion of its shoes in the United States. Their 990 and 993 series are made in their New England factories and carry a premium price as a result. Most other major brands manufacture in Vietnam, China, or Indonesia to manage production costs at scale.