Monochrome is Taking Over the Sneaker Industry
Quick Facts
- Lately, sneakers have embraced a specific, all-encompassing design trend, favoring monochrome to complex color-blocking.
- With Fall here, brands are taking their strongest influence from Timberland, draping silhouettes in varying shades of monochrome.
- The Y2K revival is bringing back bold colors and graphics in clothing, and the sneaker industry's return to simplicity makes sense as a counterbalance.
- Are you all in on the monochrome trend, or are you still looking for more detailed colorways on new drops?
Color is the backbone of the sneaker industry. Sure, the silhouettes, material, and branding are huge factors in what looks good on foot, but without a proper colorway, things go south fast. Companies, athletes, and collaborators have built entire brands based on specific color combos. But lately, sneakers have embraced a specific, all-encompassing design trend, favoring monochrome to complex color-blocking.
No matter where you look, from Vans to New Balance, Nike to adidas, Puma to ANTA, Jordan to Converse, and everywhere in between, sneakers are being draped in single colors, bringing all the attention back to the shoe’s physical design elements.
In the past month alone, we’ve seen new monochrome versions of Air Jordan 9s, Vintage Superstars, Air Max 95s, Dunks, Vans Old Skools, New Balance 574s and 2000s, Chris Brickley’s PUMA All-Pro NITRO 2 Empire Legacy, ANTA HÉLÀ Code, Converse Shai 001, and many, many more.
Monochrome has been a major factor in sneakers forever, and your collection should absolutely have white Forces and a few triple-black pairs, at least. But the monochrome push is covering every shade of color lately, and with Fall here, brands are taking their strongest influence from Timberland, draping silhouettes in varying shades of monochrome tan earth tones.
The wheat craze has hit the Nike Dunk, Monarch IV, New Balance Allerdale, Jordan 9, Reebok Angel Reese 1, Puma Nitro 2, ANTA HÉLÀ Code, and, of course, one of the biggest releases of the year, the Shai 001.
It makes sense, with the Autumn cold already in the air, leaves falling soon, and soggy sidewalks coming to a city near you, monochrome tan is the easiest way to stay fresh and ignore how beat your shoes are getting at the same time. After all, there’s a reason Timberlands are the East Coasters’ go-to for the cold months.
Likewise, with the Y2K revival bringing back big, bold colors and graphics in clothing, the sneaker industry's return to simplicity makes sense as a counterbalance. While collabs with brands like CPFM, Hellstar, and Sp5der, and licensing partnerships with the likes of SpongeBob and South Park bring plenty of spotlight for whoever wants it, inline production has moved towards subtlety across brands.
Are you all in on the monochrome trend, or are you still looking for more detailed colorways on new drops?
Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com
