‘Sneakers are the new footwear king in India'

Sneakers have become a billiondollar industry in India Gen Z and Millennials hail it as the best lifestyle commodity ever According to Statista a global data and business intelligence platform the sneaker culture in India is forecasted to generate a revenue of US263 billion by the end of 2023While globally sneakers were mainly footwear for athletes they gradually transcended into a lifestyle commodity soon becoming a global fashion trend In the blink of an eye the influence of this trend was felt in India with more youngsters investing heavily in a variety of sneaker brandsThis said the fascination towards sneakers is infectious and continues to turn a majority of young Indians into sneakerheads We dig deep to explore what led to this frenzy and why it is all absolutely worth itInception of the sneaker feverFashion trends spread like wildfire ldquoGlobal fashion trends have played a very significant role We Indians love to follow these trends Sneakers have been an integral part of the global streetwear and athleisure fashion movement Further the media our Bollywood celebrities models and now even fashion influencers play a key role in introducing the Western trends to usrdquo says Anchit Kapil CEO Crepdogcrew CDC one of Indiarsquos sneakerselling platformsMany global and Indian brands identified the rise in the popularity of sneakers and saw an opportunity to capitalise on it ldquoBrands began launching limited editions and sneaker collections having exclusive designs that further increased the hype among young Indians This led to the sneaker culture flourishing in the countryrdquoToday almost every footwear brand in India has launched its own collection of sneakers each catering to various customer demands and demographics ldquoThe influence of global pop culture streetwear and sports icons has played a pivotal role in popularising sneakers among the youth This crosscultural exchange has led to a heightened awareness and appreciation of sneaker culture in Indiardquo says Prerna Aggarwal CMO Campus Activewear ldquoAdditionallyrdquo she says ldquothe fact that this footwear effortlessly blends style and comfort allowing people to express themselves and make a unique fashion statement makes it a definite favourite of the youngrdquoCommunity of Indian sneaker enthusiastsJust like Harry Potter lovers call themselves Potter heads sneaker enthusiasts proudly call themselves sneakerheads These individuals are usually the ones who despite having a massive collection feel they can never have enough of it They have a new pair of sneakers for every occasion be it a party formal event a date or even a festive occasionSahil Nandal 31 CEO Free Society a sneaker community as well as a platform selling sneakers who is on his way to building a strong sneaker and streetwear culture in India is one such sneakerhead who has a collection of more than 400 sneakers that includes Dunks Yeezys New Balance Jordans Converse and many moreSahil was introduced to sneakers for the first time in Japan during his schooling ldquoJapanese culture focuses a lot on personal style and identity through fashion so even during my early years I noticed my classmates and friends wearing specific sneakers and oneofone fashion pieces which caught my eye and made me delve deeper into the history of those sneakers and fashion pieces Since then my love for sneakers has only grownrdquoAccording to Sahil a sneakerhead is anyone who is interested in lifestyle shoes ldquoThe sneaker community is like a friendly cult with sneakerheads sharing their mutual love and fascination towards sneakers exchanging interesting facts complementing each otherrsquos collection and just having a friendly banterrdquoSharing an interesting fact about the amalgamation of lifestyle and sneakers Sahil says ldquoAlthough there were brands manufacturing sneakers they all catered majorly to the athletes Jordans were the first real lifestyle sneakersrdquoHe goes on to say ldquoWhen Nike launched Jordans it estimated 3 million dollars worth of sales in the first year Shockingly they actually ended up selling a whopping 126 million worth of Jordans in the first yearrdquoldquoSneakersrdquo he says ldquohave infiltrated all aspects of our life because they are extremely comfortable and stylish Sahil affirms that sneakers are here to stay and convert more young Indians into sneakerheadsSneakers are the king of the footwear worldSneakers have emerged to be the king of the footwear world offering both maximum comfort and a unique style that amps up any simple look With the coming of sneakers there has been a paradigm shift in the Indian perspective towards shoes Earlier Indians had just one or two pairs of sports shoes for special activities Now most of us have a collection of at least four to five sneakers which we wear either daily or on special outfitsSneakers are being paired with casual smart casuals dresses bridal outfits and formal attires making it the best fit for each attire ldquoHowever it is essential to understand which sneakers to wear for which occasion Sometimes thoughtfully colourcoordinating your sneakers with your attire goes a long way in making a fashion statement and also turning a few eyes on yourdquo says Aggarwal of Campus ActivewearIf you have recently developed a love for sneakers and are looking to up your sneaker game Aggarwal shares some styling tips1 Pair white or black sneakers with casual jeans and a Tshirt For a more defined look wear a pair of hightop sneakers2 Try wearing white or patterned sneakers with flowy dresses To complete the look you can wear dainty jewellery3 Lowtop sneakers paired with shorts and a polo shirt or tank top also look great for a casual outing4 For a formal look opt for a monochromatic business suit with lowtop sneakers Ensure that the sneaker contrasts your suitThough initially sneakers were considered a premium luxury product their high demand has made them more accessible than ever A number of brands selling the product at varied price ranges have contributed to the rise in its popularity Today a pair of sneakers can range anywhere from Rs 1500 to Rs 800000 or more depending on the brand