Trainers

In recent years, fashion and sportswear have reached an intersection. The resulting style is referred to as leisurewear, a dressed-down look which celebrates branded trainers and those with a luxury edge. That doesn’t mean classic labels are forgotten, however, as many of the old-school names are enjoying a renaissance. Here is a selection of labels which have progressed from a sporting past to include a fashion future.

• Nike – Launched in the 1960s and rebranded as Nike in 1978, there are very few sports that the label doesn't have a shoe for. The phenomenal success of Nike trainers is down to their endorsement by top-flight athletes such as Michael Jordan and Roger Federer. Its 'swoosh' logo is one of the most instantly recognisable in the advertising world. The brand is famed for collections like Nike Air Max, Nike Lunar, Nike Roshe or the Nike Huarache, all of which have entered into the sports and fashion vernacular. Whether you’re looking for a pair of shoes for racing, training or wearing to the gym, Nike has a pair of innovatively designed trainers to suit your style.

• Adidas – Originally added to give their trainers more stability, the Three Stripes are now an iconic logo. Adidas has put time into working on the fashion side of their product, collaborating with stars like Stella McCartney on bags and Kanye West on their Yeezy 750 Boosts. Whilst they still create limited edition adidas shoes, they haven’t forgotten about classics like the Stan Smiths white trainers, adidas Superstars, adidas ZX Flux and the adidas Originals range but also move forward with new concepts, like the cloudfoam adidas Neo.

• New Balance – Launched from New England in the United States during 1906, New Balance has worked its way to leading brand status. The company is known for adding stylish flourishes to their running performance footwear, along with technologically advanced features which add flexibility and strength. New Balance shoes aim to get wearers as close as possible to a barefoot experience, and with their 1080 series and the Minimus Road trail shoes, they’ve attracted plenty of attention from the running community.

• Asics – The Japanese multinational running shoe giants Asics were formed in 1949 by Kirachiro Onitsuka. The name is an acronym, inspired by the Latin phrase ‘Anima Sana in Corpore Sano’, meaning ‘A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body’. In 1990, the Research Institute of Sports Science in Kobe was opened by Asics with the intention of sportspeople, coaches and scientists working together to make better trainers. Using the research data available, they design running shoes with a global following, including the comfy cushioned Nimbus, the Kayano stability shoe and the GT series which combines the strengths of both.

• Puma – With a reputation for innovation, this German offshoot of adidas has been making accessories, clothing and sports shoes since 1924. Puma have been a regular in sports including golf, rugby and cricket, with stars like Usain Bolt acting as a brand ambassador.

• Yeezy – Straight from the imagination of rapper, Kanye West, Yeezy trainers are probably one of the most hyped items of apparel in recent years. Their massive popularity has continued despite a high price tag and low levels of availability. Kanye West collaborates with adidas to make this footwear collection, but in the past, he has also designed for Nike and Louis Vuitton. Although the original Yeezy Boosts from 2015 were limited to a run of 9000 pairs that sold out in minutes, later releases were available in much larger numbers.

• Converse – With their distinctive star logo, Converse shoes have been sporting classics for over a century. The label came off the sporting track into popular culture in the 1970s and 1980s when it teamed up with superstars such as Michael Jordan (before Nike tempted him away!). Today, Converse is cool both on the basketball court and on the street.