Why Are People So Obsessed With Retro Sneakers?

In recent years, the sneaker landscape saw the return of numerous archived models back on the shelves, gaining incredible traction from die-hard sneaker collectors and fashion influencers alike. But when exactly did we start craving vintage-looking sneakers as opposed to futuristic designs we once looked forward to, such as self-lacing shoes?

Naturally, we can feel apprehensive about wearing something out of the ordinary, afraid of not passing the "vibe check" in someone else's eyes. Thus, we opt for styles familiar to us: retro sneakers.

One of today's hot commodities pulls inspiration from an icon in the track-and-field community. The Nike Waffle One, which debuted in 2021, pays homage to the Beaverton brand's legendary Waffle shoe from the 1970s, designed by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman. The award-winning feature of the model is the famous waffle outsole Bowerman developed by pouring rubber into his wife's iron waffle maker. From then until today, Nike's Waffle outsole continued to house some of the most coveted trainers, including the sacai x Nike collaborations.

In addition, colour themes also play a significant role in your outfit. High-profile collaborations normally feature bolder accents through branding details, making them more complicated to style. A mix of neutral colours like tan, beige, and brown, adds a vintage flair to your fit, like this dad-style New Balance 725s. It sits atop a classic chunky midsole fitted with the brand's in-house ABZORB technology synonymous with both MADE in US and MADE in UK renditions today.

On the other hand, early basketball sneakers usually displayed collegiate colourways, representing prestigious colleges in America. In the last few years, sportswear labels drove their basketball shoes from the past back into the game, like Nike's Dunk trainers, the adidas Forum, and New Balance's 550. PUMA's Slipstream model is one of the latest members this year, flaunting a uniform inspired by basketball shoes in the '80s. A tumbled-leather profile with the brand's familiar Formstrip logo on the sides finishes these low-top kicks.

With all that said, the sneaker community's growing obsession with retro-inspired sneakers shows no sign of slowing down. Let us know what your favourite retro sneakers are, and stay locked in right here at The Sole Supplier so you don't miss out on the latest drops. In related news, Air Max are back and bigger than ever - here's the proof.