These Chunky Sneakers Say
Bigger Is Better

While Oakley sunglasses are by far the most famous part of the company’s output, the brand’s Factory Team arm is making a noticeable contribution to the label’s profile with a new range of footwear. The Oakley Factory Team Chop Saw sneakers have been met with open arms, with the chunky sole unit and paneled uppers harking back to the ’90s and ’00s while avoiding cliché.

Demna’s Balenciaga has never been one to fade into the background, and this has always been especially obvious in the brand’s sneakers. Since the introduction of the Triple S sneakers, the label has released numerous huge sneakers. The latest of them is the Balenciaga 3XL sneaker, which relies on a wildly oversized sole to boost the proportions of the luxury runner.

Skate shoes are a foundational building block in the popularity and style of chunky sneakers. The heavily protected uppers and substantial sole units are an unforgettable part of any ’90s or ’00s upbringing, and they continue to resonate to this day. Linking up with one of the central pillars in skate shoes, NEEDLES brings a modern look to the DC Spectre.

When it comes to luxury footwear, the Lanvin Curb sneaker is one of the more divisive and recognizable designs right now. Taking heavy inspiration from skate shoes, the design features exaggeratedly padded uppers and equally chunky laces.

Few designers have shown such an affinity for collaging cultural references as Virgil Abloh. Combining influences from skating and basketball, the Off-White Out Of Office Sneakers were an all-but-guaranteed success from the moment they hit shelves in 2020. To this day, they’re one of the brand’s most popular footwear options and that’s thanks in no small part to the extensive colorways on offer.

Isabel Marant’s history of chunky sneakers for women has been running since way before the trend for chunky sneakers took hold. The unmistakable shape and layered uppers of the designs still hit home today, buoyed by the rising appetite for bulk.

The unpadded uppers of these chunky platform sneakers for women stand in stark contrast to the bold 2-inch sole unit. It typifies the Maison Margiela mindset, emphasizing the beauty in contrast.

When Raf Simons collaborated with adidas to release the Ozweego back in 2013, the floodgates opened. Since then, sneakers have become the first item to be used as a collaborative canvas, and the Ozweego was the spark that began it all. Carrying the bold shape over, the Raf Simons Pharaxus mimics the silhouette of the original Ozweego collaboration.

Hailing from Stockholm, EYTYS made its name with a range of experimental sneaker silhouettes. While the label has introduced ready-to-wear since its first releases in 2013, footwear remains a defining aspect of its brand identity. The EYTYS Angel sneakers feature a stacked commando sole unit for a typical attitude-heavy finish.

Rombaut’s passion for creating footwear that stands out is matched by its concern for eco-friendliness. Using repurposed, biodegradable, and vegan materials, Rombaut proposes an outlook that is future-based, both stylistically and in terms of sustainability. The Boccaccio II sneakers boast a thick 1.5-inch sole unit which, topped by a metallic silver upper, isn’t even the most striking part of the design.