Idle that I am, while I was traveling on the Metro a few days ago heading to the city center it occurred to me to notice the passengers’ feet. For some time now I have had the impression that the use of tennis shoes has dramatically displaced conventional footwear, made of leather and leather or rubber soles. It occurred to me to compile a “statistic”, quite empirical and rudimentary by the way. The car was one of those with the seats sideways, which made counting easier. My biggest difficulty was doing it in such a way that I could avoid distortion due to the continuous movement of passengers at each station.
I designed an effective technique on the fly: counting in sections, like sampling, so that I could find an approximate constant. The fact is that according to my observations over a dozen seasons, seven out of 10 people – not including children, mind you – were wearing tennis shoes.
I repeated the exercise in other places of concentration of people, from different strata, mixing young people with adults and men with women, such as a Walmart store, the Insurgentes Sur Metrobús, Madero Street or the gardens of the Cineteca. There were variants, but in all cases I repeatedly confirmed that the majority of people walk in tennis shoes, of very varied models, materials and colors.
The result of my observations was truly surprising to me, although much less scandalous than Don Adán Augusto’s business dealings or the vulnerability of Doña Claudia’s security apparatus, evidenced by the attack she was the victim of by a teporocho, in the heart of the capital. So as soon as I could, I started looking for reliable information that would corroborate or deny such a finding.
I found that the growth of the sports footwear market, which accelerated since the 1970s, is a global phenomenon. And one of the most dynamic and profitable in the fashion industry.
Specialized market analysis firms such as Mordor Intelligence o Statesman confirm the unstoppable rise of this sector: In 2023, the global sports footwear market will reach 75.8 billion dollars. Projections indicate that this figure will increase to $98.1 billion by 2028, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR, a metric used in finance, economics and business to calculate the average annual growth rate of an investment) of 5.3 percent.
Globally, everyday athletic footwear represents a growing portion of the total footwear market, exceeding 19 percent of sales. The Asia-Pacific region and North America lead consumption, but the trend, I repeat, is universal.
Mexico not only follows this global trend, but has adopted it with notable force. The sports footwear market in the country has shown sustained growth, driven by socioeconomic factors and the consolidation of the style called athleisurewhat is a fashion trend that combines the comfort and functionality of sportswear with the versatility and design of casual fashion. Like holey pants.
The sports footwear market in Mexico, valued at two billion dollars in 2024, is estimated to grow to 3.4 billion dollars by 2033, with a CAGR of 5.28 percent between 2025 and 2033.
Although there are no official statistics that measure the exact percentage of the population that wears sneakers daily, like the ones I counted in the Metro, industry data is revealing. A study of Kantar of 2018 showed that 49 percent of “fashion lovers” in Mexico allocated their spending to sneakers, compared to 32 percent who opted for dress shoes. Considering that in Mexico around 300 million pairs of footwear are consumed per year, the dominance of sports footwear, tennis shoes, is evident.
This growth in the use of this type of casual footwear is reinforced by the flexibility of dress codes, especially in work environments, where sneakers are no longer seen as casual footwear, but as a comfortable and stylish option that adapts to a more active lifestyle.
Now, the tennis phenomenon is not explained solely by fashion. The convergence of the consumer economy and the search for well-being has been a decisive catalyst. Contrary to the perception that dress shoes are more formal and therefore superior, sneakers offer a significant long-term economic advantage. A pair of good quality leather dress shoes can cost between 1,500 and 5,000 or more today (like those worn by the austere Morena). In contrast, a durable pair of tennis shoes for daily use can be purchased for a price ranging between 800 and 2,500 pesos. That, in “branded” footwear; but you can get imitations, offers or “duck” tennis shoes from 300 pesos
Another factor is maintenance. Leather shoes require constant care such as balling, changing soles and repairs, which generates recurring costs. Instead, sneakers are designed with synthetic materials and plastic soles that require no specialized maintenance and have a longer lifespan at a significantly lower overall cost.
The low initial cost and the absence of repair and maintenance costs make sneakers a more viable option for a large segment of the population. I also find that comfort has positioned itself as a crucial purchasing factor for the modern consumer. With their cushioned soles, lightweight materials and ergonomic design, they have become the preferred option for long work days, public transportation or daily walks. Technology has allowed tennis shoes to offer a level of comfort and support much higher than traditional footwear, responding to a society that is increasingly aware of health and well-being.
The evidence is compelling. The dominance of sports footwear in Mexico and in the world is not a cultural whim, but the result of a change in consumer values, who today prioritize comfort, economy and versatility. I have seen a groom get married in an impeccable tuxedo… and with tennis shoes.
I found no reliable information on the effect of this growing dominance of sneakers on the Mexican shoe industry. The traditional shoe will not disappear, but it has been relegated to specific occasions, while tennis has cemented its position as the default footwear of a society on the move. It seems to me that its rise is a reflection of a more dynamic and practical lifestyle, where functionality and style go hand in hand.
As you can see, I didn’t invent this phenomenon, I just discovered it. The evidence, I said before, is overwhelming: the traditional leather shoe, the one that required shoe polish, new soles and solemnity, has been definitively relegated. His reign ended. Today, these shoes are only suitable for weddings, funerals or, in the best of cases, for the anachronistic rituals of politics… although Noroña wears tennis shoes to the sessions of the Senate of the Republic.
With its promise of comfort, durability and savings, tennis is the new undisputed king, confirming that the old corn is ready to be hung… in the closet of memories. And since we’re talking about hanging, I’m left with a pending question, worthy of an idler like me: what is the real reason, and the origin, of the strange habit of the inhabitants of popular neighborhoods in the capital of hanging old tennis shoes on the light cables? I’ll tell you. Okay.
OF THE FREE-TA
JOURNALIST INTENTION. Claudia’s claim about the publication of photos of the attack she suffered at the center is controversial. Unfortunately, the “apology” of Reform.
@fopinchetti