Reef Hanging Shoes 2026 Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Hanging Shoes 2026 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Reef
Interviewee: Caroline Nieuwenhuis - Marketing Executive

How was the 2025 hanging shoes market?
A hot and dry summer season across the UK saw strong sales for 2025 across both wholesale and ecommerce, which was welcomed after such a wet 2024.

What are the current trends in hanging shoes?
With fashion trends leaning more towards minimalistic styles, we’re seeing that reflected in the footwear market through a demand for slim, minimalist silhouettes with optional upgrades such as leather straps, braids and soft, pastel colour tones.

What new styles and shapes are you offering in 2026?
Our 2026 offering is in keeping with on-trend styles, offering a range of three-point and square-toe options alongside classic silhouettes with updated leather or braid strapping.

What materials and construction techniques are you using in your 2026 collection?
The SS26 collection utilises a mix of materials including compression moulded high rebound EVA,100% recycled PET webbing lining and vegan leather. We’ve also introduced PlushPods for additional comfort on some styles and REEFlex EVA with a bigger airbag on the brand new Fanning+ styles.

What colours and prints are you offering in 2026?
SS26 sees Reef offer a range of bold new colourways, with additions such as candy marble and bright yellow in the men’s styles and fuchsia and hibiscus for women. The women’s range also offers a variety of softer, pastel tones such as cameo rose, bellini and ambrosia.

Please tell us about your key marketing stories for hanging shoes for 2026
This season will be all about celebrating colour in our women’s collection, highlighting styles such as the Water Willow Malibu, Bliss Nights and Solaye, all of which offer a palette of colourways for wardrobe versatility. For the men’s collection, the brand new Fanning+ and Fanning H20 styles see the expansion of our ever-popular Fanning collection, and the Cushion Phantom 2.0 Leather introduces a more luxe version of a classic Reef style.

How are you helping retailers sell this category?
We’ll be supporting retailers with vibrant window displays, digital graphics and an overall PR push across all our new styles, as well as an exciting London-based activation this summer.

Key Products:

Men’s Cushion Phantom 2.0 Le – Brown/Black:
We’ve updated the fan-favorite Cushion Phantom with even more support and a silhouette for everyday wear. Designed with a superior footbed that moulds like memory foam but rebounds after every step.

The T

Women’s Solaye – Hibiscus:
A fresh and fun take on the everyday flip-flop. The Solaye blends a modern square toe with a sleek jelly upper for a look that’s equal parts cute and comfortable. Made from lightweight, water-friendly EVA, it’s perfect for beach days, poolside lounging, and anywhere the sun takes you.

x SOLAYE_HIBISCUS

Women’s Water Willow Marina – Vintage:
Effortlessly chic and completely water-friendly, the Water Willow Marina is here to remind you of those glorious golden beach days. Made to be your go-to travel sandal, this flexible, square-toe slide is squishy, yet supportive in all the right places.

CJ7045_WATER WILLOW MARINA_VINTAGE_T_WB