Maison Margiela and Dolce & Gabbana Sneakers Were Among StockX’s Fastest Growing Brands in 2024: Here Are the Big Reasons Why
The top 25 fastest-growing sneaker brands on StockX in 2024 featured the expected athletic market heavyweights, such as Nike, Jordan Brand and Adidas. However, the list also revealed a strong consumer demand for designer sneakers.
In its latest trend report, titled “Big Facts: Current Culture Index,” two designer labels — Maison Margiela and Dolce & Gabbana — were among the top five fastest-growing sneaker brands on StockX in 2024, securing the No. 2 and 4 spots, respectively. Maison Margiela experienced 425 percent trade growth on the platform and Dolce & Gabbana grew 185 percent.
The other designer labels that landed in the top 25 are Amiri, Golden Goose, Prada, Gucci, Rick Owens, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent and Burberry.
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Speaking with FN, StockX director of sneakers and collectibles Drew Haines revealed the reasons why designer sneakers took off. For instance, many trade for less than retail and today’s consumers are largely interested in wearing something different.
Haines also explained how geography played a major role in this.
“A lot of these brands, the supply is heavily based in Europe because that’s where all those brands are based, and we have some incredible sellers out there that are sourcing well-priced inventory,” Haines said. “Because of the global nature of the marketplace, we’re able to connect those U.S. buyers to those EU sellers. And because retail there is lower, particularly when you consider conversion rates, sellers are able to make a profit while getting it to American consumers for less than what they would have to pay going into that brand’s retail store.”
The rise of designer sneakers on StockX comes as concerns about a luxury slowdown continue to mount, which could help fuel the secondary market with consumers getting bargains.
The fervor for luxe sneakers in the mid to late 2010s — an era dominated by the Gucci Rhyton, the Louis Vuitton Archlight and the Balenciaga Triple S — has dwindled in recent years, in favor of both stylish and performance looks from athletic market counterparts at a much more attainable price point.
Further exasperating those concerns is the slowdown the Italian footwear industry experienced in the first nine months of 2024. According to Assocalzaturifici, the national association representing Italian shoemakers, the footwear industry recorded a 9.2 percent decline in value of exports for the first nine months of 2024 due to a sharp decline in orders.
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
