Top 10 Athleisure Brands Expanding Into Footwear

Athleisure brands have spent the last decade building trust through apparel. Now, many are testing whether that trust can translate to the most demanding category of all footwear. Shoes require different expertise, longer development cycles, and higher consumer scrutiny. For brands rooted in yoga, training, and lifestyle wear, entering footwear is not a side project. It is a signal of long term ambition.

This ranking looks at which athleisure brands are most serious about shoes. It evaluates recent product launches, depth of category extension, marketing investment, and visibility in premium retail environments. The brands listed here are not experimenting quietly. They are building footwear as a core growth pillar.

Top 10 Athleisure Brands Expanding Into Footwear

Rank	Brand	Footwear Signal	Why It Matters
1	Lululemon	Exceptional	Dedicated footwear line with athlete testing
2	Alo Yoga	Very Strong	Fashion led sneakers and lifestyle focus
3	Vuori	Strong	Performance driven expansion with restraint
4	Skims	Strong	Rapid category leverage and retail traction
5	Outdoor Voices	Moderate Strong	Brand aligned casual footwear launches
6	Sweaty Betty	Moderate	Training focused shoes with UK scale
7	Fabletics	Moderate	Volume driven footwear strategy
8	Beyond Yoga	Emerging	Early stage lifestyle footwear
9	Varley	Emerging	Minimalist footwear as brand extension
10	Gymshark	Emerging	Training culture influence entering footwear

The Brands, Explained

1. Lululemon

Lululemon has made the clearest commitment to footwear. With dedicated teams, proprietary fit research, and marketing centered on performance, shoes are positioned as a long term category, not a capsule.

2. Alo Yoga

Alo approaches footwear through a fashion and lifestyle lens. Sneakers and slides are integrated into its visual identity and retail storytelling, signaling intent beyond accessories.

3. Vuori

Vuori’s expansion into footwear is measured and brand consistent. The focus remains on comfort, versatility, and everyday performance rather than aggressive volume.

4. Skims

Skims leverages its brand reach to enter footwear with immediate visibility. While still early, the scale of its launches and retail support indicates serious intent.

5. Outdoor Voices

Outdoor Voices treats footwear as an extension of its casual movement ethos. The designs align closely with its apparel positioning, though the category remains selective.

6. Sweaty Betty

Sweaty Betty has introduced footwear that supports training and studio use. Its strength lies in international reach, particularly in the UK market.

7. Fabletics

Fabletics approaches footwear with a volume mindset. Frequent drops and accessible pricing suggest a strategy focused on scale rather than technical leadership.

8. Beyond Yoga

Beyond Yoga’s footwear efforts are still emerging. Early launches emphasize comfort and lifestyle alignment rather than performance innovation.

9. Varley

Varley uses footwear to reinforce its minimalist aesthetic. The category functions as a brand enhancer rather than a growth driver at this stage.

10. Gymshark

Gymshark is beginning to explore footwear as a natural extension of its training focused community. The category is early but culturally aligned.

Final Thoughts

Footwear is the ultimate test for athleisure brands. It exposes whether a company can move beyond fabric and fit into biomechanics, durability, and daily wear behavior.

The brands leading this shift are treating shoes as strategy, not merchandise. As athleisure continues to blur the line between performance and lifestyle, the most credible footwear expansions will come from brands willing to invest deeply and patiently.

Author Profile

Alyssa J. Mann: Alyssa Jade is a international fashion stylist and trend reporter based in Vancouver, Canada. Renowned for her versatile and expansive portfolio, Alyssa has collaborated with a diverse array of professionals, including athletes, political figures, television hosts, and business leaders. Her styling expertise extends across commercial campaigns, fashion editorials, music videos, television productions, fashion shows, and bridal fashion.