Comfort is King: Understanding the Top Criteria for Footwear Purchases

Gone are the days of stiff dress shoes and towering high heels — today's footwear game is all about fit and comfort. The seismic shift away from formal workwear, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, has made athleisure a wardrobe staple. Remote work culture even led many to ditch shoes altogether. In the tech industry, t-shirts and sneakers reign supreme, while sneakerheads fuel the booming market for iconic basketball shoes. Affordable flip-flops and easy-to-wear options cater to the need for simplicity and ease – and can even be found at your local convenience store. Despite varied preferences, fit and comfort unite all consumers, making them the top criteria in footwear purchases. For industry leaders, adapting to this trend is essential to stay ahead in the market.

In Simon-Kucher's new report, “The Footwear Industry: Consumer Priorities & Industry Insights,” analysts explored key trends and purchasing behavior across the footwear industry, including…