New Sneaker Designs to Watch Out for in 2025

Every week, I see buzzwords like “high-powered collaborations” and “exhilarating comebacks” taking over the sneaker world, but sometimes, finding real novelty seems like a quest. Yet, it’s during these phases of inventiveness and exploration that our industry evolves, paving the way for the next wave of timeless designs.

To keep things fresh and exciting, we’ve compiled a selection of ten unique sneaker models from ten distinct brands, based on our authoritative brand rankings system. If you enjoyed our earlier feature, 25 Exciting Sneakers to Anticipate in 2025, this list not only expands your choices, but also introduces a greater number of brands as we progress deeper into the new year.

Nike A’One

Following her third WNBA MVP win, A’ja Wilson is preparing to launch her first signature shoe, the Nike A’One. The basketball sneaker market has been buzzing lately, and so has the WNBA, making this an opportune moment for both Wilson and Nike. Although Wilson and fellow Nike athlete Caitlin Clark, who also has a shoe in development, won’t be playing in Unrivaled just yet, we’ve seen Wilson sport the A’One casually since its reveal in early February. We can’t wait to see how it performs on the court, and with its stylish, multi-layered upper, it will come in a variety of vibrant colorways as we track its release throughout this year.

New Balance 2000

The vintage running shoes by New Balance are a key reason for the brand’s impressive comeback over the past ten years. While they continue to offer an array of retro styles, their latest move with the launch of the New Balance 2000 showcases a modern design, boasting a streamlined upper and segmented sole. It’ll be intriguing to observe sneaker enthusiasts’ reactions to this fresh direction from the brand. Nevertheless, New Balance has consistently proven its ability to generate dynamic marketing campaigns that breathe life into their new and reintroduced models through artful color combinations and enticing collaborations.

Pharrell x adidas Jellyfish

Pharrell and adidas have been closely collaborating for over ten years, but their collaboration pace decreased after Skateboard P became Louis Vuitton Men’s creative director. However, this year, things have picked up with Pharrell hinting at different versions of the classic Superstar and a new Jellyfish design. While details about the Jellyfish are scarce, its distinctive structure is quite striking – it features a bulky shape and wavy overlays that add texture, creating an otherworldly appearance. Its initial color scheme of orange, black, and white offers a sharp contrast. Rumors suggest the Jellyfish might be priced at $280 USD, indicating it could be one of adidas’ premium offerings.

Converse SHAI 001

In just under six years, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has transformed from being part of a nine-player trade deal aimed at acquiring Paul George, to being a strong contender for the NBA’s MVP title and one of the league’s most fashionable players. His impressive rise to stardom has earned him the role as the face of Converse Basketball. The brand’s new Instagram account is essentially a fan page dedicated to celebrating this superstar. Clearly, Converse is heavily investing in Gilgeous-Alexander as he isn’t just the main focus of their basketball campaign, but also the first athlete since Dwayne Wade in the mid-2000s to have his own Converse model. They recently unveiled the Converse SHAI 001, and Gilgeous-Alexander has already demonstrated that it’s versatile both on and off the court. Its unique design with a puffed upper and zipper shroud covering the lacing system is generating excitement among sneaker enthusiasts and basketball players alike. As the Oklahoma City Thunder are once again in contention for the NBA title, we can expect to see Gilgeous-Alexander sporting various colorways of the SHAI 001 this fall.

ASICS GEL-KINETIC FLUENT

In a continuous process of innovation, ASICS continually enhances and expands upon established designs to create fresh, polished experiences. At the tail-end of 2023, it introduced the visionary GEL-QUANTUM KINETIC, and in 2024, they built upon this foundation with the GEL-KINETIC FLUENT – a design that also incorporates design elements from early 2010s models for both the GEL-KINETIC and GEL-FLUENT. The outcome is a sneaker that seamlessly blends into ASICS’ current lineup of modern running shoes, while boasting advanced features like FF BLAST PLUS ECO cushioning for superior comfort. Notable collaborators have already embraced the new design, with Lapstone & Hammer unveiling two colorways to commence March’s release schedule.

On Cloudzone

On has been consistently pushing boundaries in the sneaker world by collaborating with renowned brands such as LOEWE, POST ARCHIVE FACTION (PAF), and more recently, Kith. Each collaboration introduces fresh designs, like the On Cloudzone that was introduced through Ronnie Fieg’s Kith collection as part of their K-Tech campaign. Although the sleek shape of the shoe may seem familiar to fans of On, it boasts a unique segmented sole unit supported by the popular On CloudTec cushioning. The sneaker also showcases a new logo that brings a refreshing vibe to the brand, contributing to its growing influence as a significant player in the fashion industry.

Salehe Bembury x PUMA

As a dedicated fan, I’m thrilled to witness Salehe Bembury’s ongoing journey in the sneaker world this year, as he assumes a fresh role at PUMA, focusing on shaping the future of PUMA Hoops. Although we haven’t received official word about their initial collaboration, Bembury shared two solo images of a PUMA shoe branded with his name back in January, hinting at exciting things to come for the brand in 2025. Given PUMA Hoops’ penchant for bold designs, like LaMelo Ball’s ever-colorful signature shoes and collaborations with brands such as Cheetos, Bembury’s vibrant style seems perfectly suited to make a splash. With his impressive industry resume, I can’t wait to see the impact of his touch on every PUMA Hoops project in the years ahead.

Salomon Genesis Advanced

Salomon’s Advanced Division plays a significant role in designing some of the most innovative products for Salomon. Their forward-thinking strategy results in a blend of updated and entirely new shapes. One of their recent innovations is the Genesis Advanced, which represents an evolution of the Genesis line that started with the S/LAB Genesis and became a mainline product in 2024. Initially designed for tough terrains, the sneaker faced challenges in appealing to fashion-conscious consumers. The Genesis Advanced aims to rectify this by retaining its technical construction while adding a more acceptable design and select color schemes, featuring a Matryx fabric upper reinforced with Kevlar fibers.

ANTA KAI 2

In the past year, Kyrie Irving has elevated the ANTA brand to unprecedented heights. His introduction of the ANTA KAI 1 and subsequent collaborations with the company have expanded ANTA’s reach, making it more accessible in Western markets. With the arrival of the KAI 2, Irving continues to push boundaries, offering a bold new addition to the crowded signature shoe market. The KAI 2’s design is reminiscent of high fashion, with intricate details that could easily grace the runway at Paris Fashion Week. Reflecting Irving’s artistic talent, both on and off the court, the shoe’s upper features a variety of new motifs, including a unique twist on the ANTA logo. The “Artist on Court” look is just one example of many innovative takes on the KAI 2 to come, as Irving and ANTA remain committed to creating shoes with their distinctive style.

norda 005

Initially making its mark in trail running towards the end of 2021, norda boldly positioned its 001 sneaker as the leading choice within this field. Currently, they are preparing to launch what they call the “ultimate trail running super shoe,” the 005 model. This upcoming design has already garnered some recognition, such as Jason Schlarb placing third in the Hardrock 100 — a challenging 100-mile ultra-marathon event — while wearing it. The new addition to norda’s collection boasts an incredibly lightweight construction, weighing just 211g for a men’s size 8.5, thanks primarily to its bio-based Dyneema blend upper. Additionally, the new midsole distinguishes itself as the first to utilize 100% Arnitel — a thermoplastic copolyester elastomer material — throughout its structure. This meticulously crafted design is robust and has previously been praised by norda co-founder Nick Martire for lasting up to five to ten times longer than other “super foams,” demonstrating the brand’s dedication to sustainability through the use of bio-based materials as well as long-lasting products.

2025-03-01 00:56