5 TRAINER TRENDS FOR 2017

Technical runners

One of the biggest sneakerhead hypes over the past couple of years has been flexing modern-day technical runners, like the adidas Ultra Boost and Alphabounce, in a streetwear context. The focus has slowly started to shift from nostalgic bring-backs to more contemporary styles of late, and with Kanye West – the kick game’s King Midas – recently inking a new adidas deal that hands him the design reigns on a line of athletic gear, it’s a safe bet that this trend will get real hot in 2017.

Anniversary editions

2017 is a big year for birthdays, and some of the celebrations have already started. Among the most notable are the Reebok Workout, which turns 30, the Nike Air Max 97, notching up two decades since its inception, and the 25th anniversary of the adidas Equipment family. Expect to see all of these undisputed classics get a lot of burn over the next year, with a slew of general releases and some special projects thrown in, too. Now you don’t even need to wait for your own birthday for an excuse to cop heat.

Self-lacing sneakers

Laceless kicks became a big thing in 2016 thanks to the boom in woven and knitted materials that adapt to your feet with all the snugness. But 2017 looks to take the no-hands trend even further, because sneakers are actually lacing themselves now. Alongside a fully functioning, power-laces-equipped Nike Mag, the Swoosh have revealed the HyperAdapt, which comes equipped with all the gizmos to make looping, swooping and pulling a thing of the past – for a cool $720.

Denim cut-offs

If you’re over turn-ups and pinrolls and in search of a new, more creative way of showing off your prized kicks, consider going all the way and trimming off the ends of your trews altogether. Taking the kitchen scissors to your favourite denim might seem like a controversial move, but going with a raw hem is a sneaker style switch-up that looks set for a lot of love in 2017. Fray on, frayer.

Red all over

All-red shoes have been causing quite the clamour for a couple of years now, thanks to (surprise, surprise) Kanye West’s ‘Red October’ Nike Air Yeezy IIs. That release saw a spate of copycat colourways come into play, but since Ye’s shift to rivals adidas, the hype for tonal scarlet sneakers has started to lose a little lustre. We predict that 2017 finally sees the end of this trend – there’s nothing wrong with some contrast, y’know?