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Everyone needs a nice pair of sneakers, but being unique is hard when shopping at big name brands.
If you're tired of buying shoes from the same brands, we rounded up the best new sneaker startups.
From dedicated workout sneakers to futuristic eco-friendly designs, these brands are worth shopping.
The sneaker industry is bigger than it's ever been. While leading sportswear companies control a majority of the sneaker industry, plenty of startups and newer brands have begun to make a name for themselves.
Whether you're simply bored of the go-tos for sneakers or you love to discover new footwear brands, there are plenty of options out there.
From recycled sneakers made of plastic bottles and algae to dedicated fitness sneakers and more, below you'll find our top new sneaker brands to shop. To help you expand your horizons, we've rounded them up with details on what makes them unique.
Axel Arigato is a premium footwear brand that blends classic retro and modern styling. Typically made in very small batches, Axel Arigato prioritizes quality over quantity in its production methods. The brand only uses leather that's a byproduct of the meat industry and carefully sources other sustainable materials to reduce its impact on the planet.
Founded in 2019, Nothing New is a sneaker startup using recycled materials to make its shoes, hence the name. Beyond the sustainable production process, the brand also offers discounts for returning old sneakers to be broken down, recycled, and re-introduced into the supply chain.
Lane Eight is a new sustainable and vegan sneaker brand that uses everything from recycled plastic water bottles to algae to produce performance training sneakers. Designed for all-around training, its shoes are perfect for athletes at all skill levels.
Allbirds is easily the most popular sneaker brand to emerge in recent years. Founded in Silicon Valley in 2016, Allbirds' wool sneakers gained popularity in the surrounding San Francisco area, but quickly grew into a huge phenomenon. In addition to merino wool, the brand uses other sustainable materials like recycled plastic, eucalyptus tree fibers, and sugar cane. From casual shoes to performance running sneakers and a collaboration with Adidas, Allbirds is well on its way to being recognized as a footwear giant.
With a name that literally means "no bullshit," NOBULL sneakers are designed to help athletes of all skill levels train without any excuses. If you're looking for sneakers that can meet your specific fitness needs, you'll find them here. NOBULL makes shoes for crosstraining, weight lifting, running, and more.
Founded in Brazi by a group of former footwear industry executives, Cariuma first launched in 2018. Unlike the futuristic or over-simplified designs most sustainable sneaker startups use, Cariuma uses old-school sneaker styling.
Handmade using high-quality natural materials including organic, fair-trade cotton, natural rubber from hevea brasiliensis trees, and leather from gold-rated tanneries using hides sourced from areas that weren't deforested for cattle farming, Cariuma sneakers have high-quality construction without sacrificing sustainability.
Founded in 2014 by Ryan Babenzien and footwear designer Jon Buscemi in Brooklyn, Greats uses minimalistic design to reimagine classic sneaker silhouettes. While the classic white leather sneakers are what it's best known for, the brand has plenty of other styles including recycled knits.
Founded in 2016, Rothy's became an almost instant success with its recycled slip-on shoes for women, and the recently-launched collection of sneakers for men is bringing new excitement to the brand. All of Rothy's shoes are sustainably made using recycled plastic water bottles, but with how well made they are, you'd never know it.
Typical sportswear sneakers are usually the footwear of choice for most nurses and healthcare workers, but Clove sneakers are designed to meet their needs specifically. They're easy to slip on, feature bungee-style laces for easy tightening, and an easy-to-clean, water-resistant upper to protect feet from unexpected spills and messes while at work.
Founded in 2018, Vessi specializes in lightweight, breathable, and 100% waterproof sneakers. The shoes use a unique material called Dyma-tex, which allows for breathability in a way most waterproof materials don't. The material incorporates tiny holes to allow built-up moisture out while keeping water from coming in. If you're looking for great travel shoes that can handle everything from unexpected rain or being fully submerged, this is the pair for you.