Ask anyone with even the faintest interest in fashion ‘What was the trainer of 2024?’ and you’ll get the same reply: the Adidas Samba. The style has more than 1.7 billion views on TikTok and has been worn by everyone from Hailey Bieber to Bella Hadid. In fact, Adidas has now shifted more than 35 million pairs of the iconic trainers. They even nearly caused a geopolitical incident when Rishi Sunak was snapped sporting a pair, such is their cultural capital.
It’s easy to see the allure: they’re comfy, come in countless chic colourways, and they look great with anything from jeans and a cosy knit, to a pretty sundress while on holiday. But while we’ll always have a soft-spot for the classic Adidas trainer, we’ll admit it might be time for a bit of a change in the sneaker world.
So, in the spirit of New Year’s shake-ups, we’ve rounded up three emerging styles we reckon will be big hitters this year. Shop your favourite now, and brag about having them first to your friends forever.
Adidas, Taekwondo
If you’ve seen any pictures from the latest fashion month, you’ll instantly recognise Adidas’s Taekwondo trainers. The style first appeared in the early 2000s as, you guessed it, martial arts shoes, but were reintroduced a few years ago, and are fast becoming a streetwear staple. The best bit? They’re laceless, so you can slip them on instantly – as handy for sticking the bins out as heading for dinner.
The fashion set’s favourite colourway is the silver, cracked metallic version, which pairs perfectly with black jeans and a knit to brighten up winter outfits. Adidas is also set to release two velvet versions in mocha and sand this spring, which we’re betting will be the must-wear style for this summer’s music festivals.
Taekwondo Trainers, £80, Adidas
Hoff, Bangkok
You’d be forgiven for having missed emerging Spanish shoe brand Hoff. But its retro designs in fresh colourways, crafted from supple, high-quality leather, are perfect for those who like their footwear to make a statement.
Each design is named after a capital city: there’s the pale pink and powder blue Barcelona; the greyscale Seoul with a lick of pink; and the sage green and navy Bilbao.The top trending style? The Hoff Bangkok, a chunky lace-up with burnt orange, blue, green, yellow and cream tones. Even Sienna Miller is a fan.
Bangkok Trainers, £109.50, Hoff via M&S
On, Cloudnova
It’s rare that celebrities willingly embrace the comfortable; but the Cloudnova sneakers courtesy of workout brand On are just that. The uber-lightweight style is designed for running, with a springy foam base that supports your foot muscles and reduces impact strains. It also just so happens that they look incredibly stylish and make your legs seem about five inches longer because the sole is super chunky.
Take a leaf out of Giselle Bündchen and J-Lo’s book by pairing them with your best workout set, for a look that screams ‘cool sporty mum at drop-off’. Don’t worry, no one will check if you’ve actually been to the gym.
Cloudnova Trainers, £150, On
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