Retro sneakers need to be your next shoe investment

This season, your shoe collection could do with a blast from the past.

By Bani Sachar

30 March, 2024

Retro sneakers need to be your next shoe investment

Fashion may always be chasing the next big thing, but in the sneaker market, decades-old styles seem to be dominating. Perhaps we can attribute this resurgence to forces like 90’s nostalgia, the rise of hip-hop, risk-averse business strategies, and a cultural obsession with recycling intellectual property. There’s no denying that retro sneakers are a bonafide fashion statement. Each year, we witness the rebirth of some classic sneaker styles, gaining mass traction and becoming the "it-shoe" of the season. Generally, these sneaker trends seem to be driven by a certain group of supermodels, creating an instant sensation overnight when spotted wearing them off-duty. The Adidas Samba sneakers (originally from the 1970s) popped up on our feeds last year—sported by the likes of Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Emily Ratajkowski. These remain a hot commodity today, consistently selling out, drop after drop. When Bella Hadid took to the streets in Onitsuka Tiger’s Mexico 66 (originally from the 1960s), it caused another frenzy of waitlists, and only time will tell what 2024’s hot sneaker will be. "We’ve seen this trend come back over the last few years and genZ has further elevated it. Reimagining classic silhouettes with their unique take plays an important role when making fashion and lifestyle choices. In fact, the emergence of thrift and vintage stores can also be attributed to a sense of nostalgia," says Abhineet Singh, co-founder at VegNonVeg.

For companies like Nike, Adidas, and New Balance—that have a rich archive to mine, retros have been especially lucrative, driving huge sales volumes over the past few years. The popularity of heritage styles reflects broader trends in culture, like the supremacy of sequels, the timelessness of iconic characters, as well as the growing global influence of hip-hop. "After an era dominated by chunky and futuristic styles, classic designs are reclaiming their prominence in the sneaker and fashion domain," says Nisha Lulla, co-founder at Superkicks. "This nostalgic resurgence resonates deeply with sneaker enthusiasts across the nation, marking a delightful return to the golden age of sneaker culture," she adds. Special edition reintroductions and co-branding collaborations only add to the hype- further solidifying our love for styles of the bygone era. We understand that there's nothing more exciting than discovering a favourite new style. Be it finding the perfect sneakers for work, an easy-to-clean leather pair, or the new designer sneakers you’ve been eyeing– a good pair of sneakers is the perfect way to finish off any outfit. Luckily, we’ve put together an edit of retro-chic sneakers that are not only functional but fashion-forward. These somehow look even cooler than they did back in their original prime, just ask Justin Bieber or Kaia Gerber. While some may be hard to get your hands on, there are plenty of throwback kicks to go around.

Below are some of our favourite retro styles.

Adidas Samba OG Shoes, ₹10,999