Here's How Sneaker Brands Stacked Up in Lyst's End of Year Report

With the end of the year fast approaching, the industry analysts at Lyst have dropped their 2023 Year in Fashion Report. Though streetwear and sportswear don’t seem to feature as prolifically as they did a few years ago, the report has revealed the exact moments that sneaker brands have been able to capitalise on, so here’s how they stacked up in 2023.

According to Lyst’s data, the adidas Samba has been named the ‘world’s hottest sneaker’. It's no secret that terrace styles have continued to dominate throughout 2023, with the Samba seeing collaborations from the likes of Sporty & Rich and Wales Bonner. However, adidas wasn't the only brand to capitalise on the trend, as PUMA also revived its classic Palermo silhouette, which also has plenty of history thanks to its time on the terrace.

Anyone who's into sneakers will also be well aware that the Air Jordan 4 had a bit of a renaissance this year, while retro runners from New Balance and ASICS also saw a huge increase in interest. ASICS especially had a big year, as its work with Cecilie Bahnsen offered up a worthy challenger to adidas and Wales Bonner’s TikTok figures and even spurred on their own DIY TikTok trend. Ballet flats were also named as 2023's ‘hottest shoes’ and while they're hard to replicate in sneaker form, we did see a few brands experiment with more feminine sneaker silhouettes. Mary Jane-style sneakers became a running theme again in 2023, thanks to Bahnsen's ASICS colab and the return of the Nike Air Rift.

Taking the crown for the ‘hottest brand’ for the second year in a row is Miu Miu, who reportedly saw interest increase by 39 per cent year on year. Key products for the label included their cashmere cardigans and ballet flats, though the brand isn't entirely separate from the sneaker scene. Following on from adidas’ colabs with Prada, Miuccia Prada’s other line has teamed up with New Balance on a couple of occasions and even previewed a new collaborative 530 at their SS24 runway show.

Sticking with surrounding sneaker culture, A$AP Rocky and Rihanna were named 2023’s ‘hottest couple’. Not only did the duo kill it on the Met Gala carpet, but they also welcomed their second child and both RiRi and Rocky signed deals with PUMA. Rihanna relaunched her FENTY x PUMA line earlier this year, while A$AP Rocky was named as creative director for the Big Cat’s F1 partnership. It’s a strong way to end 2023, but we have it on good authority that there’s much more to come from the trio next year.

Though MSCHF’s Big Red Boots were expected to be a strong contender for ‘most viral moment’, that award actually went to Gwyneth Paltrow’s Courtroom ‘fits. The GOOP founder might have captured the attention of the quiet luxury crowd, but we're sure that the most memorable moments for sneakerheads are more likely to be to do with MSCHF, Nike’s Tiffany colab or the Shrek Crocs.

Over on TikTok however, the Tabi Swiper saga took the top spot. If you’re not aware, one TikTok user’s Tinder date took her Maison Margiela Tabi boots from her apartment and gave them to his actual girlfriend. The things people do for love, huh?

Want more sneaker industry insight? Stay locked to Sneaker Freaker as we roll out our end-of-year content.