The street footwear game is always changing and with the release of the sock inspired shoe a few years back, it seems that the silhouette is also forever changing. So what is our obsession with the sock shoe?
The Nike Magista football boot started it all when they debuted the upper sock / knit component on the top of the ankle in 2014. Adidas followed suit by constructing their Prime Knit woven technology into their football boot later that year.
Since its inception the sock shoe has made its way to athletic and street footwear. Since the release of the two football boots in 2014 the street footwear game was put on notice. Many brands have adopted this style with the most notable being the Nike Free Flyknit, Adidas NMD city sock, Balenciaga knit high-top sneaker and the Asics Gel-Kayano Knitted Sneaker.
So what is it, why are they so popular and why has this been the next step in fashion? Personally I don’t think the sock offers any support for athletic use but is ultra comfortable for cruising the streets in. Who knows what the next frontier of fashion footwear will be… Will we transition into an ultra durable sock shoe that can be worn hiking, or maybe a scuba shoe that Kanye has been spotted wearing (pictured below) or maybe we will see a sock suit shoe to wear to dinner parties or maybe a sock shoe heel for women!?
What do you think is the next move for street footwear fashion, leave your thoughts in the comment section below!