New Year, New Kicks: The Footwear Brands to Watch in 2023

2022 has come and gone, and it's clear that the year ushered in a new era for sneaker and footwear brands alike. Over the past 12 months, we’ve witnessed New Balance beat adidas to become the third most popular brand on The Sole Supplier site, while everyone’s favourite furry boot brand UGG became one of the most sought-after brands on the resale market. We even said goodbye to Yeezy, as Ye’s antisemitic rants saw the 3-Stripes end their long-term partnership - a decision that was guaranteed to change the sneaker scene as we know it.

With such a shift happening amongst the big players, it certainly opens doors for new and upcoming brands to enter the fold, as well as those looking to make a bit of a comeback. Last year, Salomon and Crocs also climbed up our rankings to assure us that change was most certainly afoot, and that comfort and practicality were just as important as hype in this day and age - something we’re expected to see continue in 2023. So, if you’re looking for a change from the norm, here are the sneaker brands to watch going into the year ahead.

Mizuno may have been around since 1906, but it's looking like 2023 could finally be its year. Having started making baseball gear after its founder Rihachi Mizuno took a trip to the US, the Japanese label became a leader within the running scene in the 70s, but it has since been working hard to build out its Sportstyle division in order to reach a wider audience. Now, after landing a few buzzy collaborations and influencer placements in 2021, it’s on course for even more success over the months ahead.

Packed with tech and boasting premium design details, there are plenty of silhouettes to choose from. Two of the brand’s most famous creations are the Mizuno Wave and the Mizuno Wave Rider, a return to simplicity for the techy brand that work thanks to a “Wave Plate” that stretches and springs back on impact. Another style to watch out for is the Sky Medal, which once again combines form and function in true Japanese style.

After dropping a JJJJound collaboration around the midpoint of 2022, everyone could tell that ASICS was on the right track, but with the retro runner trend taking over for 2022 expect to see plenty more heat where that came from. The second Japanese brand to make our list, ASICS was founded in 1949, which means it’s had plenty of time to perfect its recipe for success.

Though it remained a little low-key last year compared to other sneaker trends, the brand's mesh-based runners became a must-have on TikTok, sparking a surge in searches for its GEL-Kayano 14 and GEL-1130 models. Coming into 2023, ASICS already has another Ronnie Fieg collab on the horizon, and we can’t wait to see what else is in store for the brand as the months go on.

Last year saw the scene shift a little further away from just sneakers, resulting in an extended shoeniverse of loafers, boots, mocs and mules. Crocs became one of our biggest breakthrough brands, gaining a 14% increase in searches, and although Salehe Bembery’s collaborative Pollex Clog was a huge success, we reckon this year could be more about Merrell, as the Gorpcore trend continues to scale the heights of mainstream fashion.

Established in 1981, Merrell is focused on making comfortable yet well-designed footwear that is suitable for exploring the great outdoors. Starting with hiking boots, the brand adapted to bring more styles into its range, including trail shoes and barefoot models. Its Crocs competitor, the HydroMoc, started as a water shoe, but now even comes in a GORE-TEX treated version allowing it to cope with any type of terrain.

Birkenstock is another brand that’s been reaping the rewards of a post-sneaker world, as its Arizona Mule was named one of the hottest products of 2022 according to Lyst. Sure enough, the comfy slip-on style became a secondary market star, as fans struggled to get their hands on particular colourways. This follows from a shift towards more easy-to-wear styles since the pandemic and its subsequent lockdowns, but Birkenstocks clever way of mirroring sneaker marketing in its low stock levels and killer collaborations strategy haven’t exactly hurt the brand, either.

In the same year, Birkenstock also dropped a super-luxe collaboration with Dior which focused on the Tokio Mule and Milano Sandal. Though out of most consumers' price ranges, the collab solidified the German shoemaker’s place in the wider fashion scene - something we expect to see continue when the warmer seasons come around.

King of classic sneakers, you don’t get much cleaner than a Reebok shoe, and although the legendary brand has been flying under the radar for a while, it's been teasing big things for the year ahead. Let’s not forget that Reebok was ahead of the curve when it came to JJJJound collabs, and with regular collaborations with Maison Margiela in its calendar, it’s got the high-fashion crowd on lock too. Could we see a new designer collab take the sneaker world by storm over the next few months?

The UK-born, Boston-based imprint signed off 2022 with a gorpy collaboration with ex-employee and sustainability-focussed designer Nicole McLaughlin, which could be a sign that it's also looking to take a more considered and community-driven approach to its releases in the coming year. It’s a strategy that worked well for New Balance, who’s carefully considered collabs with Salehe Bembury, Joe Freshgoods and The Basement played a pivotal part in the brand’s success last year.

Manchester-based imprint Clints is one of the buzziest brands on the scene right now, and for good reason. Clints already has a Patta collab under its belt, but its individual footwear offerings are super strong too. Having recently opened up a flagship store in the rainy city, Clints now has the space it needs to drop more products, and its TRL 2.0 sneaker was one of the most underrated drops of last year.

Those who were already in the know were able to pick up the chunky silhouette via a raffle system, as Clints’ cult following is not to be underestimated. Inspired by trek shoes, the TRL had a slightly gorpy look and feel to it, with layered canvas and neoprene uppers making up the structure of the shoe. Though it dropped in a blacked-out colourway at the end of the year, the design is one that would lend itself well to just about any colour combination going, so keep your eyes peeled for more to land in 2023.

Which brands are you looking forward to seeing more of in 2023? Let us know, and in the meantime, here’s a quick look back at the biggest collaborations of 2022.