2025 will be the year of shoes with no laces

The year 2025 could turn out to be the year of laceless shoes. This prediction isn’t entirely far-fetched when looking at the latest shows from Paris and Milan Fashion Week. At the FW25 show of PDF by Domenico Formichetti, nylon sneakers shaped like socks made their debut. With thin soles, they resemble the Sock Shoes love by Kanye. Laceless footwear is already a staple in mainstream fashion, but major sneaker brands are expanding their offerings. The trend was launched in December, when the New Balance 1096 L made its debut on the runway at Junya Watanabe’s FW24 show. It’s a snoafer, a shoe combining the sophistication of a loafer with the comfort of a sneaker. New Balance’s goal was to merge formality with informality. A similar approach seems to have been taken by Hoka, known for its running shoes, which recently launched the Speed Loafer, designed as a tasseled loafer with a trail-ready sole. Another noteworthy mention is the revival of Adidas’ Killer Taekwondo, which, rooted in martial arts, has all the makings to become the it-shoe of 2025. These slip-ons, with their sleek and minimal style, stand out due to their extremely thin soles. Bad Bunny brought them back into the spotlight in 2021, foreshadowing the men’s ballet flats trend.

Vans Classic Slip-On

Sfilata PDF Autunno/inverno 2025/2026

New Balance 1906

New Balance 1906

Hoka Speed Loafer

Hoka Speed Loafer

Vans Classic Slip-On

Sfilata PDF Autunno/inverno 2025/2026

Luxury brands are showcasing their enthusiasm for minimalist, laceless footwear by introducing various models. One example is Proenza Schouler, which collaborated with Vans last year to create a leather model inspired by the classic loafer. Renamed Vans Classic Slip-On, it highlights the ease with which they can be worn, with the foot effortlessly sliding into the shoe. This convenience and quick wearability contribute to the success of this style, transitioning seamlessly from runways to streets. This raises the question of whether laces have become redundant, if not a hindrance.

Perhaps it’s too early to definitively state that people are abandoning laces entirely due to the time-consuming effort they often require. However, an article from the Financial Times reports that the global market for slip-on shoes, valued at $151 million in 2022, is projected to reach $213 million by 2032, growing at a compound annual rate of 3.5%, according to a Future Market Insights report. With new customer demands, there’s a growing need for designs that are as minimal and functional as possible. It’s believed, and rightly so, that the future will leave little room for bulky or complicated closures. To confirm whether this year will see the uncontested triumph of laceless shoes, we’ll have to wait until the end of the upcoming Fashion Weeks. However, recent developments seem to align closely with these predictions.