--- title: "The Footwear Industry: A Bright Spot in Apparel" description: Learn about top trends in the footwear industry in 2017 and beyond. image: https://blog.marketresearch.com/hubfs/Images/Blog_Images/Footwear_sketchers.jpg --- [![MarketResearch.com](https://blog.marketresearch.com/hs-fs/hub/209482/file-22777923.gif?width=295&height=66&name=file-22777923.gif "MarketResearch.com")](https://www.marketresearch.com/) [Market Research Blog](https://blog.marketresearch.com/) # The Footwear Industry: A Bright Spot in Apparel by [Sarah Schmidt](https://blog.marketresearch.com/author/sarah-schmidt), on July 5, 2016 [![Footwear_industry.jpg](https://blog.marketresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Blog_Images/Footwear_sketchers.jpg?width=300&name=Footwear_sketchers.jpg "Footwear_industry.jpg")](https://www.instagram.com/skechers/)Macy’s stock plunged 47 percent in the last year. Gap, Nordstrom, and Kohl’s also reported a drop in sales. What’s causing the slump? According to [Business Insider](http://www.businessinsider.com/where-consumers-are-spending-money-2016-5), “Executives from nearly every company blamed a spending pullback in one common category for the declines: apparel.” Although many consumers are reluctant to purchase new clothes, footwear is a different story. Footwear has outpaced apparel, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6 percent over 2010-2015 in comparison to 4 percent for apparel, according to a [report by Euromonitor](https://www.marketresearch.com/Euromonitor-International-v746/Comfort-Conquers-Global-Footwear-9868839/?progid=88857).  While the demand for footwear decreased in the United States and Europe from 2009-2014 due to the recession, analysts expect a strong recovery in the coming years. By the end of 2019, the global shoe market is forecast to reach 216 billion dollars, according to a report by [TechNavio – Infiniti Research Ltd](https://www.marketresearch.com/Infiniti-Research-Limited-v2680/Global-Footwear-9594471/?progid=88857). Given consumer spending patterns, it's no surprise that brands in the apparel industry are increasingly looking to footwear to improve their profit margins. Read on to learn about the top trends shaping the footwear market. ### Fashion and Celebrity Endorsements Fashion plays a key role in helping to drive growth for this market. “Consumer prefer matching their footwear with their daily outfits,” the [TechNavio report](https://www.marketresearch.com/Infiniti-Research-Limited-v2680/Global-Footwear-9594471/?progid=88857) explains. “The population in the age group between 14 years to 30 years is relatively more fashion conscious and contributes considerably to the replacement purchase of footwear.” In addition, new advertising campaigns should help to boost sales. Celebrity endorsements and social media marketing are expected to contribute to market growth. The Olympics taking place in Brazil will also offer an opportunity for companies like Nike to showcase their newest products. ### The Rise of Athleisure and the Desire for Comfort For many consumers, gym clothes are now a part of their everyday wardrobes. Wearing casual athletic wear all day has become more socially acceptable, and athleisure is one of the hottest trends in the apparel industry. Comfort has become a major priority for consumers shopping for shoes. “With the proliferation of athleisure, consumers are less inclined to compromise on comfort for style,” according to a [report by Euromonitor](https://www.marketresearch.com/Euromonitor-International-v746/Comfort-Conquers-Global-Footwear-9868839/?progid=88857). Sports footwear is expected to grow rapidly “as fitness and fashion trends merge to create unprecedented demand.” Companies like Sketchers are benefiting from consumers’ desire for comfortable, walkable styles. Sketchers’ revenue in 2015 increased 32 percent over the previous year. However, with more than [700 women’s athletic apparel brands](http://www.wsj.com/articles/nikes-run-facing-an-uphill-climb-1466809364) in the market, competition is stiff.   ### Online and Direct Sales in the Footwear Industry While footwear provides enticing opportunities for growth, retail chains like Macy’s and Kohl’s face ongoing challenges such as weak store traffic and a reliance on discounting. The reality is [e-commerce](https://blog.marketresearch.com/how-e-commerce-is-transforming-retail-travel-and-entertainment) is fundamentally changing the way many consumers shop, and online competition is making it difficult for many brick-and-mortar stores to gain traction. With price comparisons, product reviews, and unbeatable convenience, online shopping offers compelling benefits to consumers. “The online industry has gained wider acceptance among price-conscious consumers, and this trend will carry the industry through the next five years,” according to the report [Online Shoe Sales in the US by IBISWorld](https://www.marketresearch.com/IBISWorld-v2487/Online-Shoe-Sales-Research-9589937/?progid=88857). ### Where to Learn More Need more information? Get in-depth data and analysis on the footwear industry by searching [reports on MarketResearch.com](https://www.marketresearch.com/Consumer-Goods-c1596/Consumer-Goods-Retailing-c80/Footwear-c126/?progid=88857). Click the button below to learn more. [![Footwear Industry Reports](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/209482/02fe2af5-4fdc-41cf-9a93-b32522dc890a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/209482/02fe2af5-4fdc-41cf-9a93-b32522dc890a) Sarah Schmidt Managing Editor MarketResearch.com Topics: [Retail](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/retail) [Apparel](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/apparel) [Industry Insights](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/industry-insights) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![Will Self-Driving Vehicles Be a Reality by 2025? White Paper](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/209482/3fb25279-b81e-43f2-b2ee-bb44347bff07.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/209482/3fb25279-b81e-43f2-b2ee-bb44347bff07) Search Blog Posts Search ### About This Blog Our goal is to help you better understand your customer, market, and competition in order to help drive your business growth. ### Subscribe ### Popular Posts - [5 Steps to Estimate Your Market Size](https://blog.marketresearch.com/5-steps-to-estimate-market-size) - [6 Booming Industries to Watch in 2018](https://blog.marketresearch.com/6-booming-industries-to-watch-in-2018) - [5 Top Apparel Industry Trends](https://blog.marketresearch.com/5-top-apparel-industry-trends-in-2017) - [The Beverage Industry: New Forecasts & Trends](https://blog.marketresearch.com/the-beverage-industry-new-forecasts-and-trends) - [12 Leading Companies in Clinical Laboratory Services](https://blog.marketresearch.com/12-leading-companies-in-clinical-laboratory-services) ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [Industry Insights (950)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/industry-insights) - [Market Research Strategy (276)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/market-research-strategy) - [Food & Beverage (140)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/food-beverage) - [Healthcare (139)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/healthcare) - [The Freedonia Group (121)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/the-freedonia-group) - [How To's (110)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/how-tos) - [Market Research Provider (98)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/market-research-provider) - [Manufacturing & Construction (90)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/manufacturing-construction) - [Pharmaceuticals (89)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/pharmaceuticals) - [Packaged Facts (78)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/packaged-facts) - [Telecommunications & Wireless (74)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/telecommunications-wireless) - [Heavy Industry (72)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/heavy-industry) - [Software & Enterprise Computing (68)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/software-enterprise-computing) - [Transportation & Shipping (64)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/transportation-shipping) - [Energy & Resources (60)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/energy-resources) - [Retail (60)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/retail) - [Marketing (58)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/marketing) - [Profound (57)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/profound) - [Medical Devices (55)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/medical-devices) - [House & Home (53)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/house-home) - [Materials & Chemicals (53)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/materials-chemicals) - [Pets (50)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/pets) - [Consumer Electronics (47)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/consumer-electronics) - [Public Sector (43)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/public-sector) - [Biotechnology (41)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/biotechnology) - [E-commerce & IT Outsourcing (40)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/e-commerce-it-outsourcing) - [Business Services & Administration (39)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/business-services-administration) - [Diagnostics (38)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/diagnostics) - [Demographics (37)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/demographics) - [Education (36)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/education) - [Custom Market Research (35)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/custom-market-research) - [Travel & Leisure (34)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/travel-leisure) - [Academic (33)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/academic) - [Financial Services (32)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/financial-services) - [Media (32)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/media) - [Computer Hardware & Networking (30)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/computer-hardware-networking) - [Simba Information (24)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/simba-information) - [Kalorama Information (21)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/kalorama-information) - [Cosmetics & Personal Care (19)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/cosmetics-personal-care) - [Knowledge Centers (19)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/knowledge-centers) - [Apparel (18)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/apparel) - [Market Research Subscription (16)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/market-research-subscription) - [Social Media (16)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/social-media) - [Advertising (14)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/advertising) - [Big Data (14)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/big-data) - [Holiday (11)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/holiday) - [Emerging Markets (8)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/emerging-markets) - [SEO (8)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/seo) - [Artificial Intelligence (5)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/artificial-intelligence) - [medical (4)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/medical) - [generative AI (2)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/generative-ai) - [mining (2)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/mining) - [Agriculture (1)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/agriculture) - [Associations (1)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/associations) - [Religion (1)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/religion) - [coaching (1)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/coaching) - [electricity (1)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/electricity) - [refineries (1)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/refineries) - [space battery (1)](https://blog.marketresearch.com/topic/space-battery) [see all](https://blog.marketresearch.com/footwear-a-bright-spot-in-the-apparel-industry#) ### Contact **MarketResearch.com** 6116 Executive Blvd Suite 550 Rockville, MD 20852 800.298.5699 (U.S.) +1.240.747.3093 (International) [customerservice@marketresearch.com](mailto:customerservice@marketresearch.com) ### From Our Blog ### Subscribe to Blog ### CONNECT WITH US [![LinkedIn](https://static.hsappstatic.net/social_shared/static-2.2815/img/followme/icon_linkedin.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketresearch) [![Twitter](https://static.hsappstatic.net/social_shared/static-2.2815/img/followme/icon_twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/MarketResearch_) [![Facebook](https://static.hsappstatic.net/social_shared/static-2.2815/img/followme/icon_facebook.png)](https://www.facebook.com/MarketResearchDotCom) [![YouTube](https://static.hsappstatic.net/social_shared/static-2.2815/img/followme/icon_youtube.png)](https://www.youtube.com/user/MarketResearchDotCom) [![Pinterest](https://static.hsappstatic.net/social_shared/static-2.2815/img/followme/icon_pinterest.png)](https://www.pinterest.com/mrktresearch/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Sarah Schmidt", "url" : "https://blog.marketresearch.com/author/sarah-schmidt" }, "datePublished" : "2016-07-05T12:41:08.000Z", "headline" : "The Footwear Industry: A Bright Spot in Apparel", "image" : [ "https://blog.marketresearch.com/hubfs/Images/Blog_Images/Footwear_sketchers.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.marketresearch.com/footwear-a-bright-spot-in-the-apparel-industry", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.marketresearch.com/hubfs/Logos/mrdclogo_email.png" }, "name" : "MarketResearch.com, LLC" } } ```