22 Jul Vietnam Grows, Sneakers Are Red Hot: FDRA Sourcing Report Takeaways
Industry group Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America released its annual forecast for 2016 and roundup of U.S. footwear sourcing and imports in 2015 this week. Here were three highlights from the report.
Athletic Imports Up, Children’s Down
In 2015, athletic imports hit new highs, thanks in part to the strengthening athleisure trend stateside. Imported pairs grew 10 percent year over year and topped 518 million pairs imported last year. China remained the dominant supplier of athletic footwear at just over 46 percent of the total athletic category imports, but Vietnam and Indonesia are increasingly grabbing market share.
Children’s imports were up about 5.5 percent year over year, but the market has still contracted over the past several years due to a slower birthdate in the U.S. and slowing market from top children’s importer China.