It’s easy to get lost in the world of hype sneakers and exclusivity battles. However, sometimes all a sneakerhead wants is a pair of reliable and good-looking shoes to wear. And although it’s always tempting to flex the same popular brand and stay loyal to it, there’s more to the industry than that. So let’s take a look at some underrated sneaker brands that deserve some recognition in 2023 for many reasons! But of course, if you’re a die-hard fan, you can check our blog for the news that interest you.
Underrated Sneaker Brands to Try in 2023!
Veja
Starting on top of our list is the French brand Veja. It launched in 2004 with Sébastien Kopp and François-Ghislain Morillion at the helm. The brand is all about making a change in the social conditions of workers at production factories. In addition to the social impact it aims for, it’s also concerned with environmental issues. Veja takes pride in its materials: organic cotton, vegan leather, and recycled plastic bottles!
And you’d think that with all that, their kicks would be too expensive, but they’re actually not! You could say that the Veja sneakers’ prices fall within the range of your favorite Nike or Adidas kicks. So if you’re looking for vegan alternatives to your kicks, this is your queue! In fact, Veja sneakers seem to be popular among the royals for their comfort, looks, and sustainability.
Zespa
Another French brand made it to our list! When Jonathan Agrifoglio and Jérémy Amar started Zespa, they had luxury and roots in mind. The end result was a high-end contemporary brand with colors and patterns that draw inspiration from their Mediterranean origins. And the only thing we have to say about Zespa kicks is that they’re clean! In fact, even their Instagram account has a very minimalistic yet straight-to-the-point aesthetic.
Mizuno
Now we’re moving from France all the way to Japan with Mizuno. This is one of the underrated sneaker brands that have a long history in the industry which many forget. You see, Mizuno brand is more than a hundred years old, dating back to 1906! However, the brand’s first foray into the footwear industry was through baseball shoes in 1910. And it wasn’t until 1972 that we got multi-purpose sneakers. If you wanna read more about the brand’s history, check this out.
But in addition to the brand’s rich history, Mizuno is also environmentally and socially aware of its impact. So, if you’re looking for sustainable environment-friendly kicks, you got it! In fact, the brand is working on reaching a neutral carbon footprint by the year 2050.
Asics
Although it’s well-known, Asics remains one of the underrated sneaker brands. What started as Onitsuka in 1949, grew to become Asics as we know it today. But the history of the brand is a little more complicated than that. For example, the first export from the brand was to the USA where a runner called Phil Knight wore it. From there, the story of Nike kicked off, and Onitsuka gave us the famous silhouette: Onitsuka Tiger.
If you’re not familiar with it, it’s the shoes Uma Thurman wore in Kill Bill when she was kicking a$$. This movie moment turned the kicks into a pop culture icon, and we have Onitsuka (Asics) brand to thank! Anyway, today the brand is much more than this silhouette, and you can read all about it here.
ARKK Copenhagen
So, ARKK Copenhagen is a brand from Denmark and an idea by two friends, Thomas Refdahl and Kasper Høj Rasmussen. And if we’re honest, it was a brilliant idea because the brand is totally dope. The designs are minimalistic yet beautiful and have almost the same value as Jordans and Nike or Adidas kicks. Whether you’re into lifestyle or functional kicks, you’ll find something for you! And to be fair, this brand has the potential to become a favorite for many if given the chance!
Merrell
Do you miss the Yeezy Foam Runner? Well, we have the perfect replacement for you! Although Merrell’s Hydro Moc is pretty famous, that’s not what the brand is all about. In fact, the US-based brand has really good performance shoes. Whether you want hiking boots, running kicks, or even work boots, they got you. The coolest thing about them is that they’re actually nice to look at too!
Still Wanna Cop Your Classics?
It’s okay to still want your classic Nike or Jordan kicks even if you love to support underrated sneaker brands. But you gotta keep in mind that getting popular kicks requires a bit more work than just checking out. You’ll need a sneaker bot that can help you cop the popular kicks you want! A sneaker bot can boost your chances of scoring the pair you want multiple times on the same site. Or, if it’s an all-in-one bot, it can give you better odd at copping kicks across multiple websites, simultaneously. If you wanna know more about sneaker botting, check this out.
Now, if you’re ready to embark on your botting journey, you’ll need to find the right bot for you. And what’s better than NSB, one of the best sneaker bots, to lend a hand? If you don’t have your key yet, make sure you get it now. With NSB3, you’ll get an all-in-one experience with the latest updates and all the supported sites. Godspeed!
