Skate Footwear F/W 2026 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Bracing ourselves for another Fall/Winter season, we wrap up warm, head to the indoor park and keep pushing through the colder, darker months that are creeping in. The skate industry is still in a strange place however, skate footwear looks to be staying afloat, with those outside of skateboarding also wanting in. We take a look at all things skate footwear with the BoardsportSOURCE Retail Buyers Guide with Dave Morgan.
Market
The skate footwear market is constantly evolving, with some staying loyal to core skate brands, whilst others are drawn to more corporate sports brands with a skateboarding wing. The European market seems quite polarised in comparison to the US market right now, with Dennis Marten, Founder at Hoursisyours noting that in their opinion, “Whilst the European market looks very focused on corporate sports brands, in the states and other countries, we are seeing a shift to skate footwear brands that have authenticity in the skate space and a story behind the brand.” One of the latter such brands, Ipath, are fully back in the game after relaunching in 2024, with Kenny Reed, Ipath’s Marketing Manager commenting, “I’m not 100% sure how things are for everyone else in Europe but for us its been good, we have a lot of support in the UK and France.” Another Blast from the past, World Industries is also back and “working to break into the market.” Osiris’ General Manager noted that although “We are on the other side of the pond, but from what we see with current world affairs, the market is more challenging than in the past.” New Balance Numeric looks to be going strong, though, as Andrés Araya, Numeric Commercial Manager EMEA, said, “The market remains competitive but stable, with growth driven by strong key accounts and chains. Consumers continue to value durability, performance, and style, and we see increasing demand for versatile models that blend skate functionality with lifestyle appeal.”
Price Points
The consensus is that price points will not be increasing for FW26, due to the hard work of brands striving to keep skate footwear within an affordable range, with rising prices and tariffs affecting other industries. In Europe, brands seem to have a stable hold on it, Dennis from Hoursisyours said, “We have increased pricing in the USA in FW25 to combat new tariffs and plan to decrease as soon as this is corrected for the USA market.” Andrés from NB Numeric said proudly, “We are not increasing price points for FW26. Our focus is on maintaining strong value for retailers and consumers while continuing to deliver premium quality and innovation.”
RP Bess from World Industries added that “Since the acquisition in 2024, we’ve worked hard to keep prices level. Something that our sourcing team has done a great job of this last year.” Osiris is a brand that will be raising price points slightly, however, Brian said, “We haven’t raised prices in a long time, and we’re still focused on offering a great product at a strong value.”
Collection Themes & Stories
FW26 looks to have some great collection themes, ranging from new pro styles to celebrating heritage models with new twists. It seems cross-over shoes are being favoured as brands like Hoursisyours, who will be launching a Gage Boyle Golf skate project, and Ipath, with several tennis shoes dropping next season. Andrés from NB Numeric spoke of how “FW26 emphasises craftsmanship and innovation. We are introducing two new models featuring advanced technology in both cupsole and vulcanised constructions, designed to enhance board feel and durability without compromising comfort.” For Osiris, Brian talked of their fashion/skate fusion collection: “We’ve taken a luxe approach with our Diamond collection, taking some of our most popular models (D32001, Clone and TROMA), fusing skate with fashion to create product that can move from the streets to red carpet.” World Industries will be focusing on its success in graphics and print. Bess from World said, “On the women’s and girls’ side, we added a little more colour pops and floral accent, giving the shoes a little more sophisticated, feminine graphic story.”
COLLABORATIONS
There will be various skate videos dropping in FW26, with brands such as Hoursisyours working on a full-length, alongside some short-form video projects. Kenny from Ipath said they had “Just dropped a successful collab with Magenta” – the Bordeaux-based, jazz-fuelled skate brand, with more projects in the works. Etnies will be dropping a collaboration with ‘Werka’ as Alex Forbes, Global Brand Manager, Etnies, éS and Emerica went on to say, “Etnies’ take on the ideal vulcanised skate shoe, built with slim construction for lightweight flexibility and board feel. Known for her passion for vintage clothing and graffiti, Werka brings her personality to the Locut Vulc through an exclusive violet-inspired colourway.”
New Balance Numeric will be working closely with their global skate team after a busy year dropping their powerful video ‘Intervals’ and a barrage of collabs. Andrés said they’d also work closely with select retail partners to deliver exclusive SMUs and storytelling campaigns that highlight authenticity and community engagement. Osiris will be taking note of brands like Supreme and other streetwear giants, as Brian from Osiris said: “Collaborations are moving to online-only drops to create a more exclusive feel, build hype, add street credibility, and increase collectability.”
Design
With personal preference weighing in greatly on skate footwear and people skating in very different styles, different silhouettes are always in demand. Tech-heavy sport-styles and stripped-back minimalist vulc shoes all have their place on the skateshop wall. On the subject of stripped back, Emerica will be releasing “The Seneca, built alongside Leo Romero, it cuts everything back to what matters – thin, precise, and built to respond,” as Alex Forbes said. Dennis from Hoursisyours said, “We are seeing a trend towards multi-layered low-profile runner workout style shoes.” éS- a brand driven by innovation has The Imprint, as Alex from eS said, “Rooted in 30+ years of skating DNA, the éS Imprint pairs rugged trail-inspired styling with precision skate tech.”
Trend-setters in this style, NB Numeric’s Andrès said they’re seeing “Clean silhouettes, premium materials, and functional details remaining key.” Osiris will be keeping things ‘colour anchored with strong base tones. Brian said, “You will also be seeing off-whites, creamy earth tones, patent leather, plus diamonds and studs – mixing it all up in a way that still feels wearable and skate-driven.” World Industries, however, are simplifying things, as RP Bess said, “Not only did we pull back on some graphics, but we also looked to slim a couple of new silhouettes down.” Etnies has you covered for the colder skates, as Alex Forbes explained, “Built for winter sessions and everyday wear, the Loot High WR delivers elevated weather protection in a skate-inspired package. A water-resistant upper, gusseted tongues, 3M Thinsulate microfleece lining, and thermal heat-retention to keep warmth locked in.” Finally, we don’t need to double down on socks for those car park sessions!
Pro Models & Colourways
It’s not always possible to release a completely new pro model every season; however, brands are always exploring new colourways or altered silhouettes of already existing pro models. New Balance Numeric, for example, will be releasing the “Jamie Foy Cupsole – a cupsole shoe engineered to deliver the feel of a vulcanised sole when skating, offering durability and flexibility in one design”, as Andrés explained. Dennis from Hoursisyours announced they have “ a new John Dillo Low” model in the works, alongside another Jacuzzi Unlimited collab. Ipath’s minimalist, yet massively effective ‘Reed Low’ will be getting an all brown colourway too, which looks dope! Emerica’s Kevin Spanky Long gets a re-up of the KSL III, alongside Long-serving Canadian powerhouse TJ Rogers, whose pro shoe is finally out éS, as Alex explained, “A collision of retro inspiration and pro-level engineering, the TJ Rogers signature shoe blends éS styling with advanced E‑Bound cushioning, fortified toe construction and structural overlays.”
Sustainability
In a constantly changing climate with industries of all kinds contributing, skate footwear brands are doing what they can to produce sustainably. Ipath have always been a front-runner in this, producing the majority of its shoes with a hemp upper. Kenny spoke of “an all black waxed hemp and synthetic cricket that’s gonna knock socks off.” Osiris, similarly, focuses on synthetics, as Brian explained, “Our use of synthetic materials has always been a core commitment. We continue to focus on synthetics to reduce reliance on traditional leathers while maintaining durability and performance. Andrés at NB Numeric said, “We are increasing the use of recycled and responsibly sourced materials across the range, reducing packaging waste, and improving durability to extend product lifecycle.” World Industries is still working on this; however, their sister brand Kengo will hopefully inspire them on sustainability in the coming seasons.
Wrap Up
Mids are becoming lows, runners are becoming skate silhouettes, and vice versa. Runner-style shoes are in demand, with customers wanting something more forgiving to prolong their skate, without sacrificing that ever-so-vital board feel. It’s looking to be a solid FW season for 2026.
Brand Previews
