By the time 2019 came to an end and we eagerly jumped into the new decade, everyone and their brother was a “sneakerhead.” From talk show hosts Ellen DeGeneres and Jimmy Fallon to Former President Barack Obama and your everyday hipster in the Bay Area, fashionable sneakers are in a league of their own.

What was once considered a niche custom by sneaker collectors and savvy streetwear fashionistas has now shifted to a mainstay in the fashion industry and pop culture. With collaborations between today’s biggest names, like Kanye West and Beyonce striking gold with Adidas and Travis $cott and Drake modernization of Jordan classics, there’s an increase in visibility and hype for a culture that shows no signs of slowing down in the new decade.

According to an LA Times article published in April 2019, the sneaker industry is estimated to be valued at $100 billion in sales worldwide. This cash cow prompted the emergence of aftermarket giants GOAT and Stockx to step in and get a piece of the action. Even plush fashion houses Balenciaga and Versace dipped their toes in the sneaker game by creating their own line of luxury “dad shoes,” mixing high fashion with technology to keep pushing the industry forward.

As we approach the end of the first quarter of 2020, many of us are wondering what this new year/new decade has in store for us. What popular trends will continue to live on and which ones will disappear in the ever-changing world of fashion and footwear? What’s even more exciting for us sneaker lovers is the emerging underground trends on the rise.

You know as well as I do that no one can predict the future but we decided to try our hand at presenting to you our top 6 potential trends for 2020 (and beyond).

Sneaker Essentials for 2020

The Yeezy

Aspiring designers take notes.

The Yeezy 350 exploded on the scene in 2015. These sneakers by Kanye West and Adidas have transformed the sneaker game and silenced the nonbelievers. Five years later with estimated sales of his signature shoe at $1.5 billion, Yeezy has everyone holding their breath for the launch of new models. Yeezy will be releasing the 700V3, 700 MNVN, Yeezy Clog, and others later this year and the Yeezy brand will continue to push the culture forward with every new drop.

Colorways Craze

Alright, I hate to say this but it’s time to place your coke white air force ones and checkerboard vans back in the box. Sneaker designers are trading in neutral tones for bold colors in 2020, mixing and matching soft hues and bright pastels all on one shoe. Everyone from Nike to Puma to Maison Margiela is hopping on the all-out color wagon so don’t be surprised to see Crayola-Esque kicks hitting the pavement in a city near you. These vivid colorways are guaranteed to add some flair to your wardrobe as you move around town.

High Fashion Collabs

Dior x Jordan, Fear of God x Nike, Off-White x Converse oh my.

Over the last couple of years, luxury fashion designers like Kim Jones, Virgil Abloh, and Jerry Lorenzo have taken their favorite pair of sneakers and transformed them into high fashion footwear. The co-creation has brought new life to established fashion houses and a refreshing take on sneaker classics. These designers and sneaker brands blur the lines of high end and street style bringing both together in beautiful matrimony.

Look for this trend to continue in 2020 with the aforementioned Virgil Abloh (Off-White) and Jordan brands dropping new collabs in the coming months.

The 80’s

If you’re an 80’s baby like me, this is a dream come true.

There’s no need for Michael J. Fox and his Dolorean to take us back to yesteryear because the ’80s are making a comeback. Old school favorites like the Adidas Superstars (aka Shelltoes) and Reebok Classics will be in full effect. With world-renowned fashion house Prada connecting with Adidas to release the Prada Superstar and hip hop icon J.Cole unveiling his Dreamville imprint collaboration with Puma to drop a signature shoe (the timeless Puma Suede Classic), it appears that nearly 4 decades later some of us “veterans” will be able to relive our childhood.

I guess it’s true what they say, what goes around comes back around.

Performance Runners

I know what you’re thinking. High performance, functional footwear is only for PE teachers and fitness maniacs who participate in Spartan races.

Well, think again.

Performance runners are becoming one of the hottest trends in sneakers by the in-the-know crowd. Core athletic brands like Nike, New Balance, and Adidas are leading the way when it comes to producing utility designed kicks that are both functional and fashionable. More than likely, the average sneakerhead won’t be racing to the finish line in the Boston Marathon but you will definitely be stylish running late to your next coffee date downtown.

His Airness Michael Jordan

If you have never owned a pair of Air Jordan 1 then you are not truly a sneakerhead and you need to have your sneakerhead privileges revoked immediately.

First released in April 1985, the Air Jordan 1 became one of the greatest signature shoes of all time. Since AJ1 jumped on the scene, the sneaker has continued to remain supreme nearly 4 decades later. Collaborations with Kim Jones (Dior) and Virgil Abloh (Off-White) reimagining the Hi-85 has only intensified the hype over this shoe with each drop.

Even though His Airness Michael Jordan hasn’t stepped on a basketball court since 2003 and many of the younger generations of sneaker collectors have never had a chance to watch him play, his contributions to the culture have made him a staple within the sneaker world.

His legacy carries on in every pair of Jays we rock.

From Colorways to Collabs, Yeezy’s to Jordans, These are our top 6 sneaker styles for 2020. There is a good mix of trends carrying over from 2019 along with some classics making a strong comeback. Any of these selections are guaranteed to keep your sneaker game on point for the foreseeable future.

So what will you be rocking in 2020? Drop a comment below and let us know.