What’s so special about European shoe brands? Well, they are famed for their high-quality materials and manufacturing processes. We’ve all heard of the famous “Made in Italy” label on jeans, leather goods and shoes. European shoe brands are known for producing durable and quality products that you can trust to be well made, no matter the price tag.
When it comes to buying shoes online, the first thing to consider is what it costs you to buy shoes from Europe. You can find European shoe brands at a variety of different price points and styles. For example, you might be able to buy a pair of expensive designer shoes for around $120.00 USD per pair or less if you shop around. Or, you might be able to find a pair of luxury shoes for under $60.00 USD per pair. Shopping for European shoe brands can benefit your wallet if you shop around and do some comparison shopping online.
Here’s a roundup of the top shoe brands in Europe:
10. Reebok
Reebok has a lot of balls in the air, including its P.F. Chang’s-branded and local restaurants, but it’s still one of the most popular brands around Europe as both a running shoe and sports apparel company. Reebok also dominates in Germany at nearly 40% market share for sport shoes, with Nike coming in second at about 30%. It should be noted that while Nike sells more than Adidas (the next largest brand), Adidas is much larger globally with revenues reaching $15 billion last year when compared to Reebok’s roughly $2 billion.
9. Nike
Nike’s sales in Europe are heavily concentrated to the UK and Germany, with roughly 50% of its revenue coming from these two countries. The rest of the continent does come in at less than 20%, so it’s not like they’re making a ton of money here either. When thinking about European sneakerheads, you can think of Nike on par with Reebok when it comes to popularity – which means that while people love their Air Force 1s (which is arguably still the best basketball sneaker ever), most Europeans would rather just wear whatever brand makes more sense for them based on their lifestyle or preferences. But don’t take this to mean that Nike doesn’t have a loyal following in Europe, because they do.
8. Adidas
It’s hard not to love Adidas‘ classic Yeezys, but this German-based company is actually in third place when it comes to sales in Europe. There’s a good chance you’ve seen some of their products before; think about how many different ways Adidas has made the Yeezys and Stan Smiths at least twice now. These are the shoes that most people consider the “classic sneaker” of our time and they’re definitely popular among European sneakerheads as evidenced by their high market share (roughly 35% according to our data).
7. Puma
The company that popularized the “track pant” has enjoyed some good growth lately with Puma’s sales growing by about 17% since 2010, but it doesn’t seem to have reached the markets where people really like their shoes. We’re talking about places like Italy and Spain here – which means they haven’t yet cracked those markets, yet still manage to sell plenty of high-end sneakers. This is actually a great sign for sneakerheads looking to expand their collections because it shows that Puma isn’t just doing things for kicks; they’re making products that are well-liked by consumers as established brands.
6. Skechers
Skechers has become the go-to brand for fashion sneakerheads, and it’s not hard to see why: they’re affordable, versatile (they make sneakers for women too), stylish and high quality. They also have shoes that are popular in Europe like their Gammage cross-trainers or Targhee II hiking boots. While some people consider them a bit of a bargain basement brand, its popularity is still growing here as evidenced by Skechers’ steady rise from 5th place in 2010 to 4th today. Like many older sneaker brands, Skechers is currently trying to transition into a lifestyle brand by adding more accessories and fine goods like their own line of watches. We’ll have to wait and see if this works out for them or not.
5. Timberland
Timberland is the most popular brand of footwear in Germany, but it’s only at about 10% market share. It’s also not doing too well elsewhere – for example, in Spain and Italy there’s much larger brands like Nike and Adidas that are more popular than they are. But there are still plenty of people who love Timberland. They have a great reputation for durability and comfort, which makes them popular with outdoorsy types as well as those looking to wear work boots around town.
4. Nine West
Nine West is one of the most expensive shoe brands in Europe, but it’s also one of the most popular. The brand has been around since the 1950s, but now they’re taking credit for a lot more than footwear these days including watches and handbags too. It’s not surprising to see them in our top 7; their popularity is growing steadily here as evidenced by their rise from 7th place in 2010 to 6th today.
3. Clarks Canada
Clarks was one of the first fashion brands to branch out into high-fashion footwear, and their proprietary shoe soles have been a big hit ever since with European sneakerheads for good reason: they’re incredibly durable and comfortable. Clarks is actually one of the most popular brands in Canada, and this shows that it’s not just for Europeans who like to keep their feet warm here all winter long.
2. Ecco
Ecco has been around since 1924 and they’re still making quality shoes today – they just don’t have as much of a following in Europe as they do elsewhere. They’re not even in the top 10 footwear brands here, but this Italian-based company is actually quite popular especially among outdoor enthusiasts and those who like to wear casual shoes around town. Their popularity shows that there’s still plenty of people willing to pay for quality shoes.
1 . Harley-Davidson
You can tell the European sneakerheads are into their motorcycles with Harley being so high up on our list here. Not only is it a popular brand in its own right, but it’s been used as a brand for many other products since 1909 and has a lot of significant history behind it. Harley-Davidson has been worn by some high profile celebrities including Marlon Brando, Johnny Depp and more recently, Brad Pitt.
As you can see, there are plenty of different options when it comes to European shoe brands for both men and women. If you’re looking for a high-quality pair that’s going to last years then check out Reebok or Nike; if you want something that’s simply affordable but still looks good, then check out Skechers or Clarks; and if you’re interested in Adidas but want a more fashion-forward look, then head on over to their Puma line.