Five years ago, the most faked trainers on the market were the ultra-rare pairs; the limited edition drops people camped out for, screenshot, saved, and stalked. But when I visited StockX’s UK verification centre this week, the team told me something I didn’t expect: today, it’s the everyday shoes that get counterfeited the most. The Sambas you wear to brunch. The ASICS you commute in. TheOnitsuka Tigers you see everywhere.
Why? Because the everyday pair has become the new badge of belonging. If people are faking the basics, it means the basics are running the culture. And that shift from hype only grails to democratic, daily-wear winners, is exactly what StockX’s 2025 data reveals.
Mary Jane hybrids, slim silhouettes and sport-first performance styles are shaping what we’ll actually wear in 2026. Below, the three trends defining the future of trainers, and the pairs worth getting ahead of.
The Girl On The Go
If 2024 flirted with runners, 2025 made it law. I blame the influx of new run clubs for this. ASICS didn’t just have a good year, sales jumped 45%, and the Gel-1130 has become the best-selling sneaker on StockX right now and shows no signs of slowing. The verification platform has positioned Saucony (+ 38%), Mizuno (+148%), and Brooks (+1,508%) as trainers to watch in the new year, all setting new sales records on the platform this year.
Pairs to know: ASICS Gel-1130, Mizuno Wave Rider, Saucony ProGrid, Brooks Ghost
©@carlotaweberm, @camillecharriere
The Mary Jane Loyalist
Some of us just can’t quit the classic pump. And the Mary Jane style trainer fills that void: a hybrid that marries the nostalgia of a strap shoe with the comfort of a trainer. Having just returned from Japan, I saw them on racks from Harajuku boutiques to streetwear stores – Onitsuka Tiger Mary Jane iterations were inescapable. Back home, StockX confirms the hype: Onitsuka Tiger TGRS was the brand’s best-selling new release of 2025, and for Adidas Samba Jane this was the same. Nike’s own Air Rift version saw sales are up 21% YoY, ahead of its exciting new SKIMS collab for 2026. Every major brand now has a Mary Jane–inspired hybrid, and expect even more in the new year.
Pairs to know: Adidas Samba Jane, Onitsuka Tiger TGRS, Nike Air Rift, Adidas Bad Bunny Ballerina
©@emiliie.baby, @sophieyuanlin
The Slim Fit Pick
Parallel to the Mary Jane hype is the skinny shoe boom. Gone are the days of chunky dad sneakers, for 2026 we will see more narrow soles and minimal branding. Most, if not all, major brands have embraced the silhouette, but a few drops really shook up the market. New Balance’s 204L, released earlier this year, became the brand’s best-selling new model on StockX, while Nike’s Total 90 3 ranks No.3 among new releases, proving there’s a hunger for more precise shoes. Even collaborations, like the upcoming Onitsuka Tiger x Versace, are generating pre-drop buzz, showing that streamlined silhouettes are truly a category-defining movement. This is the shoe for the girl who treats her kicks like architecture: wearable with tailoring, straight leg denim, or a midi dress.
©@camillevhp, @@quyenluongg
Price: $79.99 (was £99.99)
Price: £79.99 (was £99.99)
Renee Washington, Grazia’s digital fashion and beauty writer, lives online. With a penchant for wispy lashes and streetwear, she writes about the worlds of fashion and beauty from the viewpoint of the modern fashion girlie.
Main Image Credit: @carlotaweberm @[]{href=’ class=’add-referrer-link’}emiliie.baby
link