If streetwear and sportswear represent the fashion trends of the moment, it’s quite easy to understand why sneakers are the most worn and desired footwear. According to a study conducted by Lyst, a leading online fashion search engine, the sneaker market is worth about $55 billion, with over 3 million enthusiasts searching for a new pair online every month. What once were simply called sneakers have become the object of desire for millions of people worldwide, especially after luxury brands started producing and showcasing them on the runways.
Collectors of this type of product are growing every day, and it’s no wonder that leading sportswear brands have created online calendars to stay updated on new model releases. Particularly interesting is what emerges from the survey conducted by Lyst regarding the most sought-after and desired models in our Italian regions in the last six months. Depending on the price of the sneaker, ranging from around 100 euros to as much as 1500, we notice that luxury brands like Valentino and Balenciaga are among the most requested in the north, with their high-cost sneakers. Valle d’Aosta and Liguria, however, prefer brands like Converse and Nike. And it’s Nike that tops the list in regions like Lazio, Marche, and Abruzzo. Consumers in Umbria and Tuscany have more elitist tastes, favoring Golden Goose Deluxe Brand and Valentino. Moving to the southern regions, Puglia is the most “atypical” (Balenciaga Triple S): Sicily and Sardinia are fans of Nike, Basilicata of Adidas, while Calabria, the most democratic, prefers Vans.
In general, we can say that the North focuses more on seeking luxury models, differentiating itself both from the center and the south in terms of tastes and purchasing power. The image is that of an Italy divided in two: the luxury of the most prestigious fashion houses, both Italian and international, seduces the shopping addicts of the north. Undoubtedly, Milan, the international fashion capital, sets the trends. Triveneto, on the other hand, is an area inhabited by men and women with an excellent standard of living and sophisticated tastes. In the center and the south, both men and women are influenced differently by the charm of “ugly sneakers” with a luxury brand logo and tend to remain loyal to brands closely linked to the world of sports. If we were to make a general ranking for the entire country, we would find Nike on the podium with 7 regions, Balenciaga with 4, and Valentino and Adidas with two.
The most sought-after sneaker models in Italy
Lyst