Will adidas Taekwondo sneakers become the most viral sneakers of 2025? The real winners in a year full of slip-on shoes

2025 might turn out to be the year of laceless shoes. A prediction that may not be entirely off base, judging by the latest shows at Milan and Paris Fashion Week. At the FW25 show of PDF by Domenico Formichetti, nylon sock-shaped sneakers with thin soles debuted, echoing the silhouette of the Sock Shoes so beloved by Kanye. In recent months, adidas — increasingly thriving after weathering the Yeezy fallout — has been working to relaunch one of its most iconic sneakers, the Taekwondo, which has been at the center of some unusual activity. A co-branded model with Song of the Mute was previewed at the latest Paris Fashion Week, while at the same time a new “Silver Metallic” model was also introduced, offering a futuristic upgrade to the sneaker. A few weeks ago, Jennifer Lawrence gave the Taekwondo a visibility boost by wearing a green version that caught some attention, and just a month earlier the Taekwondo co-signed by Stella McCartney was released. At the latest Paris Fashion Week, Thai star Bright Vachirawit was also spotted wearing them, making quite the impression. Recently, other new models have emerged, including the F50, which transforms the sneaker into a hybrid halfway between football and martial arts. This wave of Taekwondo, combined with the snoafer boom seen between late 2024 and early this year, suggests that laceless shoes may soon be more popular than ever.

Louis Vuitton also embraced the trend in its January winter show, presenting a laceless shoe somewhere between a boot and a sneaker, made of light suede with a rounded toe. While laceless footwear is already a staple in the mainstream, the major sneaker brands are expanding the range. The trend took off in December, when the New Balance 1096 L hit the runway during Junya Watanabe's FW24 show. This was a snoafer — a shoe blending the sophistication of a loafer with the comfort of a sneaker. New Balance’s aim was to merge formality and informality. A similar move was made by Hoka, known for its running shoes, which just days ago launched the Speed Loafer, shaped like a tasselled loafer but equipped with a trail sole. Recently, laceless shoes and clogs have gained popularity as technical footwear, helped along by the trend of ultra-thin sneakers, and have appeared in recent shows by Giorgio Armani and Magliano, as well as in the winter presentations of Auralee and Lemaire. The latter brand, in fact, counts low-cut slippers among its best-sellers.

Luxury brands are showing their appreciation for minimal, laceless footwear by offering a variety of models. One example is Proenza Schouler, which created a leather version in collaboration with Vans last year. Inspired by the classic loafer, Style #98, it was renamed the Vans Classic Slip-On to highlight the ease with which the foot simply slides into the shoe. This very comfort and convenience contributes to the success of the model, which has gone from the runway to being one of the most beloved choices on the streets. All of this raises the question of whether shoelaces have become superfluous — or even a true obstacle.

It may still be too early to say that people are completely abandoning laces and the time-consuming hassle they represent for many. However, an article in the Financial Times reports that the global slip-on shoe market, valued at $151 million in 2022, is expected to reach $213 million by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.5%, according to a report by Future Market Insights. Clearly, as customer needs evolve, there is also a growing demand for designs that are as minimal and functional as possible. It is increasingly believed that the future will leave little room for bulky or complicated closures. Whether this will be the year of the laceless shoe remains to be seen in the coming Fashion Weeks, but recent developments suggest we may not be far off from that prediction.