The US footwear sector grew by 7 per cent in 2018 first half, according to global provider of market information The NPD Group. Growth was driven by gains in casual footwear, online shopping and consumers’ reluctance to compromise on comfort. Sport leisure was the fastest growing category, capturing 65 per cent of sales, with rising dominance of athleisure.

Fashion, still the largest category, grew a healthy 5 per cent after two years of declines, largely due to the comfort trend.

Aside from sneakers, the top fashion silhouettes in the men’s market were sport slides and mules/clogs, fashion slides and strappy sandals for women, and sport slides and strappy sandals for kids, according to an NPD press release.

Beth Goldstein, fashion footwear and accessories analyst at the group suggests brands and retailers to find ways to innovate and embrace footwear fashion as the ‘athletic as fashion’ movement continues to progress.

E-commerce accounted for nine-tenths of the industry’s gains over the past year. Men’s and women’s sport leisure categories, as well as women’s fashion are driving this growth. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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