From the Nike Dunk to the oxfords and loafers, sneakers are slowly dying. But why?

Let’s rewind to 2021. The “Panda” Nike Dunk Low is making its rounds in fashion due to its easy-to-match color scheme and versatility in creating unique outfits. Sneakers, especially Nike, Jordan, and Yeezy, are the hot shoes for teens. Due to sneakers’ expensive and novel nature, they were highly sought after. The more expensive the shoe, the better and “cooler” the shoe was. Back in the modern age, it is not uncommon to see dirty vans, sandals, torn-up skate shoes, and especially Doc Martens. Many fashion experts have predicted the “death” of sneakers, and it seems they were right.

There are a few reasons why sneakers are starting to lose traction in the fashion world. One reason is a big word called oversaturation. It happens with every single hyped fashion item. It happened with sneakers, Supreme, Comme des Garcons, hoodies. (yes, even hoodies). With sneakers, specific shoe models such as the Jordan 1, grew to fame due to its history, novelty, and price. Once everyone had it, people attached the iconic shoe to hype, popularity, and saturation. Then, once the shoe is seen in a negative light, it steps out of the spotlight to let something else become oversaturated.

Another reason sneakers are falling out of the limelight is market saturation and the sneaker crash. In 2022-2023, the sneaker market started to decline in price. The resale value of the Jordan 1 in 2021 had most models sitting around $350 to over $1000 with big collaborations sitting over $2000. In 2024, almost every Jordan 1 sits under $1000. This is a similar pattern to most sneakers that were big at one point or another. With the sneaker market crashing, the novelty and price are gone, which then declines the popularity.

One sneaker that breaks this pattern is the Adidas Samba. This has been the most popular shoe for nearly 2 years. Because of its versatility and availability, these have been consistently growing in popularity for quite some time now. Opposite to the once-hyped sneakers, the reason these are so popular is because they are cheap and easy to get. They also have a bit of 90s flare to them, relating to the whole world of streetwear right now, which is heavily based on 90s and Y2K fashion.

“I think that sneakers in fashion are growing in fashion because of how trendy Adidas and New Balances, which are consistently growing.” States Saige Whitehead, a senior at Davis High. “I think Doc Martens are a very versatile shoe. Anyone’s style looks good with Doc Martens, and I think as a shoe they will never really go out of style because of how many options they have.”

With the growth of Doc Martens and footwear similar to it, outfits are become more “fancy”, with people using skirts, dress shoes, white shirts and ties, baggy slacks, and of course, Doc Martens. This is completely opposite from the early 2020s with people wearing sweatpants, sneakers, hoodies, and baggy T-shirts. The “dressing up” of modern streetwear and fashion is also helped by the growth of thrifting. Vintage pieces are easier to match with more vintage styles, such as Doc Marten Loafers or Oxfords.

The death of sneakers has been a highly feared and anticipated by many fashion and streetwear experts. It seems to be happening with the saturation and popularity rise in Doc Martens and more vintage styles like it. But are they actually dying? Obviously, it seems like they are, but only time will tell.