41 Interesting Footwear Industry Statistics and Trends

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Footwear was only a protective foot garment in the past, but is now a structural part of fashion style and aesthetics. Today, there is creativity and diversity in fashion, and the demand for diversity and variety has caused the influx of footwear in the market. The following 41 footwear industry statistics and trends provide insight into the huge footwear industry.

The fashion industry dominates 4% of the market share and is valued at $406 billion. From clothes to accessories, fashion does not only make a statement in fashion shows but also in the business arena. Moreover, the footwear industry takes up a large portion of the empire of fashion.

Due to the changing market, the footwear industry has also been keeping up to stay relevant. To keep updated and what to expect for shoe styles in 2020, here are statistics and upcoming trends.

Key Footwear Statistics & Trends

1. The global footwear market is a multi-billion dollar industry. It’s expected to reach $371.8 billion by 2020; this is a considerable increase from the $266.5 billion in 2018.

2. From 2020 to 2024, the market is anticipated to grow by $42.06 billion and is also expected to grow by 4.0% annually. On the other side of the coin, user penetration will be up to 30.3%

3. For footwear fashion trends, expect the following:

  • Bright colors, specifically yellow and orange during the spring and fall seasons
  • Tie-dye patterns
  • Chains, particularly around the ankles
  • Square toes
  • Apocalyptic/Combat boots/ Lug Soles
  • Pointy knee-high stiletto boots
  • Come back of Loafers
  • Loafers with high heels
  • Two-toned products
  • Slides
  • Mules
  • Chains
  • Beads
  • More athleisure
  • Unisex products

4. The top key players in the global footwear market this year are:

  • Adidas AG
  • ASICS Corp.
  • New Balance Athletics, Inc.
  • Nike Inc.
  • PUMA SE
  • Skechers USA Inc.

5. Leather products take up a significant part of the footwear industry. Leather is considered a premium material for all types of shoes and is relatively pricey.

6. China is the leading exporter of leather to developed countries such as the United Kingdom and America. In contrast, India comes second to China as the leading exporter of leather. The expected leather revenue for 2020 is $168,798 million and is predicted to grow by 1.8% from 2020 to 2023.

7. The non-athletic footwear market is larger than its counterpart. However, due to more people embracing a healthier lifestyle, the demand for athletic footwear recently increased.

8. The revenue of athletic footwear this 2020 will add to $72,471 million, and its CAGR is at 7.2%. Having said that, the majority of this market consists of shoes for ball sports, such as basketball, hockey, tennis, and soccer.

9. Top players for athletic footwear are:

  • Puma SE
  • Adidas AG
  • Nike, Inc.
  • Under Armour, Inc.
  • Asics

10. The unexpected growth of the athletic market size is linked to creative product launches, appealing promotional and marketing techniques, and transition to online and digital channels. The athletic footwear market gained popularity among the youth due to the rampant usage of online platforms in selling their goods.

11. Due to environmental concerns, the athletic footwear market faces challenges as synthetic rubber is harmful, and the cost of raw materials for production has increased.

12. Sneakers have gone from merely for athletic purposes to fashionable and stylish; this is why the demand for it has gone up and is continually expected to grow by 7.15% from 2016 to 2024.

13. More than 23 billion pairs of sneakers are made every year, and by the year 2024, the value of the sneaker industry is expected to rise at $97.8 billion.

14. With sneakers being considered a fashion piece, here are the trends you can expect to pop-up, continue, and comeback:

  • Bright and colorful
  • Platforms and chunky soles
  • Textured fabrics
  • Throwback styles
  • Streetwear x haute couture/ high-end fashion

15. As far as consumers go, South Africa is the leading country that imports footwear and is 15% of the market.

16. The top sneaker brands this year in no particular order are:

  • Adidas
  • Nike
  • New Balance
  • Under Armour
  • Asics
  • Mizuno
  • Puma
  • Lining
  • Ecco
  • Kswiss
  • Skechers
  • ANTA
  • 361°
  • Peak
  • Guirenniao
  • China Dongxiang
  • Xtep

17. Outdoor footwear is athletic shoes built for the outdoors and activities that include hiking, trekking, rock climbing, and trail running. The increased desire of people for physical activities sparked a higher demand for footwear for intense activities. North America is the leading consumer country of outdoor footwear. While Europe comes in second and Asia-Pacific ranks in third, however, the Asia-Pacific is seen as a fast-growing market.

18. The top footwear brands for hiking this year includes:

  • ARIAT
  • Asolo
  • Trezeta
  • Salomon
  • Scarpa
  • Hanwag
  • Hinature
  • Columbia
  • Danner
  • Keen
  • Timberland
  • Nike
  • Aku
  • Winfields Outdoors
  • Adidas
  • Merrell
  • Garmont
  • Meindl
  • Ecco
  • Lowa
  • Zamberlan

19. Outdoor footwear can both be functional and stylish. Who says you can’t have both? Here are some outdoor shoe trends you can expect to come out this year:

  • Styles targeted to women
  • The comeback of retro styles
  • Orange tones for spring
  • Simple designs
  • Outdoor sandals

20. Regardless of the fact that many people are opting to do more physical activities, there is still a steady and rising demand for athleisure footwear. Athletic-inspired casual sneakers are said to become the largest fashion footwear in the US by 2020.

21. Sandals are not that high up in the market because it is considered as a seasonal product, usually for summer and spring. However, the global market for sandals is expected to grow by 3.4% from 2020 to 2025. By 2025, it will be valued at $34, 350 million.

22. Here are the sandal trends you will see in the spring/summer of 2020:

  • Platforms and chunky sandals
  • Bows (from small to big ones)
  • Return of lace-up and wrap-around sandals
  • Asymmetrical straps
  • Double-strapped sandals

23. Here are the top global sandal manufacturers in no particular order:

  • Birkenstock
  • Steve Madden
  • Adidas
  • Alpargatas
  • Caleres
  • Belle
  • ECCO
  • Skechers
  • Clark
  • Rieker
  • Crocs
  • Aokang
  • Decker
  • Topscore
  • Kenneth Cole
  • GEOX
  • Aldo
  • ST& SAT
  • Cbanner
  • Daphne
  • Red Dragonfly

24. High heels take up a considerable portion of the footwear market. From 2019 to 2023, it’s expected to grow by 3% and is currently valued at $4.87 billion.

25. There is a high demand for high heels. Unfortunately, comfort is not really taken into account when producing these. Manufacturers overlook the fact that there are different types of feet in terms of health and structure. Luckily, some companies have taken part in creating custom footwear. One of the said companies is Solely Original, as they offer custom high-heels to fit the customer’s requirements and take note of comfort and style at the same time. They offer an array of options, styles, colors, materials, and accessories to choose from.

26. The major high heel brands in the market are the following:

  • Brian Atwood
  • Miu Miu
  • Stuart Weitzman
  • Walter Steiger
  • Jimmy Choo
  • Manolo Blahnik
  • Christian Louboutin
  • Alexander McQueen
  • Gucci
  • Louis Vuitton

27. There is a high demand for designer products because people are willing to pay for premium, expensive, and high-quality products. The revenue for designer footwear in 2020 is predicted to be at $33, 659 million, and is expected to grow by 3.3% in the year 2023.

28. The leading designer footwear companies include:

  • Capri Holdings Limited
  • Kering
  • LVMH Louis Vuitton-Moët Hennessy
  • Prada S.P.A.
  • Tapestry, Inc.
  • Gucci

29. By the year 2024, the children’s footwear market revenue will be valued at $8.65 billion while its CAGR is 4.0% from 2020 to 2024

30. Here are the top manufacturers for children’s footwear:

  • Adidas AG
  • Asics Corp
  • Crocs Retail LLC
  • Dolce and Gabbana Srl
  • LVMH Louis Vuitton-Moët Hennessy
  • New Balance Athletics, Inc.
  • Nike, Inc.
  • Puma SE
  • Skechers USA Inc.
  • Wolverine World Wide Inc.

31. Footwear is rising in the fashion scene, although its primary purpose is still to be a protective garment for the feet. Workers in specific industries require industrial footwear. These industries, such as mining, construction, transportation, oil and gas, chemicals, and manufacturing, are areas where industrial footwear plays a vital role in the upkeep of safety. Shoes in these industries are usually made out of leather, waterproof, plastic, and rubber.

32. Legislations for health and safety among different countries are a large part of the demand in this market. Countries, namely the US, China, and Japan, are places that require safety footwear. Motivation to decrease or prevent workplace accidents are predicted to push demands for safety shoes. Technology’s ability to produce better and lighter composite footwear also fuels the demand for industrial footwear.

33. Retail shopping is more preferred compared to online shopping. People like the experience of physically seeing the products and trying them on. They know that trying on the shoes before purchasing will guarantee a perfect fit and wise use of money.

34. Although physical shopping for shoes is still preferred, online shoe shopping is still a big market as the internet is easily accessible, and some people want to shop from the comfort of their own home. It is assumed that by 2040, 95% of all purchases will be made online. In the year 2017, there was a $2.3 trillion in sales in online retails, and that number is expected to be doubled by 2021. The majority of online shoppers are Millennials and Gen Xers.

35. The global market for women’s footwear in 2018 was worth $152.1 billion. By the year 2027, it is expected to reach $220 billion.

36. Globally, top manufacturers for men-specific footwear are:

  • Under Armour
  • Nike
  • Superfeet
  • Adidas
  • LiNing
  • Montrail
  • OOFOS
  • PR Soles
  • Mizuno
  • Telic
  • Lotto Sport Italia
  • PEAK
  • ANTA
  • GUCCI
  • ASICS
  • Air Jordan
  • 361°

37. 14. 41% of traded footwear is composed of leather material. 22% is of rubber, and 16% is textile footwear. Other footwear parts are 5.6%. China is the leading manufacturer of footwear, while India comes in second. It’s expected that China will sell $79.9 billion worth of footwear with a CAGR of 6.3% by this year only.

38. The environment has played an essential part in footwear manufacturing and production. It’s more critical now to produce products that will not harm the environment than to create products from sustainable materials.

39. During the last months of 2019, 25% of 25 to 34 year-olds and 30% of 18 to 25 year-olds said it was more important now than in 2018 to give gifts that have a positive on the environment and society.

40. There are several brands and organizations that have collaborated to create sustainable and eco-friendly footwear lines. They used renewable and recycled materials. The brands and collections include:

  • Adidas x Parley
  • Tread by Everlane
  • Reebok NPC UK Cotton + Corn
  • Nothing New
  • Converse Renew
  • Nike
  • Allbirds
  • Greats
  • Rothy’s

41. The total trade amount of headgears and footwear is the highest under the fashion umbrella and is estimated to be around $139 billion.

Takeaway

The footwear industry is a big part of the world and continues to prosper every year. With the diversity in styles, possessing variety and creativity are important requirements to make it big in this market. Even so, comfort and safety should always be prioritized before aesthetics.

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