The world tour of Q3 sneaker trends

In just a few years, sneakers have risen to become the most coveted shoes in the world, to the point of being sold at auction at premium prices. But if some models, or rare editions, are sought after the world over, tastes and colors can vary greatly across geographical regions. Here's a quick world tour of the most popular sneakers and streetwear items in the last three months.

The StockX* marketplace for buying and selling sneakers, streetwear and more, offers an overview of current trends by country. The platform is constantly expanding its global network of authentication centers in response to high demand for such items.

While worldwide, the Adidas Yeezy Foam Runner sneakers emerged as the hottest men's product of the third quarter of 2021 -- with a 411% jump in searches, according to the Lyst platform -- this must-have shoe is nowhere to be found in the trends reported by StockX. In Italy, home of many luxury fashion houses, Alexander McQueen is racing ahead, with trade growth that has more than doubled this past quarter, meanwhile in France, it's all about New Balance (+55%) and people in Japan can't get enough of Vans (+50%).

In Spain, specific models are proving popular on the platform, such as the Nike Jordan 1 Mid Dia de Muertos -- celebrating the traditional Day of the Dead holiday -- which are being purchased at 10 times the global average. Similarly, sneakers designed in collaboration with the artists J Balvin and Bad Bunny are selling at 3.5 times and 10 times the global average, respectively. Meanwhile, in Australia, women's exclusive sneakers are currently riding high.

Nike SB, Fear of God, Telfar

Sneakers aren't the only items to see sales take off in the streetwear world. The StockX platform also reveals that the Fear of God brand is seeing phenomenal success in South Korea, with 525% quarter-on-quarter trade growth. But Koreans are also big fans of Nike and Stüssy collab gear, it seems, which is being purchased at 11 times the global average.

In the UK, it's the Telfar label -- helmed by Telfar Clemens, and known for its gender fluid clothing, and even more so for its bags -- that is the focus of attention, with 90% trade growth. In the United States, purchases and sales of Nike Skateboarding apparel have jumped 850% in the last quarter.

* This report published by StockX provides an overview of products and trends around the world during the third quarter of 2021, compared to the previous quarter.