New York Shoe Market Week Fall 2026: Industry Optimism Prevails

The overall mood was upbeat at FFANY and FSNYE this week.

For the first time this year, U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s reciprocal tariffs were not a major part of the conversation. With the framework for many agreements in place, trade concerns were relegated to the rearview mirror.

That change allowed all attendees and brands to focus primarily on their fall/winter 2026 collections as well as some spring fill-in product for warmer climates and intermediate deliveries.

Providing a boost to the optimism that prevailed this week were strong consumer buying patterns for footwear over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in the U.S. that included the BlackFriday/Cyber Monday shopping events.

From the new styles on view, it was evident that brands were knee-deep in their focus on bringing the right balance between creativity and value to their lines to excite both buyers and consumers alike.

While FFANY was held across multiple venues and showrooms across Manhattan, the main pop-up was at 1370 Broadway in New York City.

“We experienced a record level of activity this market week, marking the busiest FFANY we have seen in many years,” said Sandi Mines, FFANY president and vice president of corporate engagement at the Footwear Distributors and Retailers Association.

This time around, the show also included some fresh names.

“The FFANY Pop Up welcomed a significant influx of new and prominent brands, including Stoke, Ecco, Greats, Camper and Oliver Cabell,” Mines said. “Buyer sentiment was upbeat, driven by product lines that felt significantly more exciting than in previous years. This excitement was centered on innovation, featuring more dynamic materials, new heights, fresh colors, and overall greater design creativity.”

Over at Footwear Show New York Expo (FSNYE) at the Park Lane New York, president and chief executive officer Phyllis Rein was also bullish.  “We delivered a strong, high-energy show with a great vibe throughout the week,” Rein told FN. “Retailer attendance was outstanding.”

She noted that retailers like Belk, Bloomingdale’s, Anthropologie, Von Maur, Nordstrom, Shoe Carnival, Shopbop, Ross, TJX, Urban Outfitters, and many more all stopped by over the span of the week.

Rein added that the footwear industry is heading into 2026 with “real optimism as momentum builds around innovation, e-commerce growth, and consumers who care deeply about both performance and planet.”

“Brands are leaning into smarter design and more sustainable materials, while shoppers increasingly invest in quality pairs that truly fit their lives,” Rein noted. “Together, these forces are creating a positive outlook for the year ahead, with demand driven by better shoes that deliver comfort, function, and environmental responsibility in every step.”

At the Toms showroom, newly named chief commercial officer Katie Wagner highlighted some styles expected to be consumer favorites. They include the iconic women’s Alpagatas — modernized in the spring with a ballet silhouette and for next fall featuring a Mary Jane version — and the Carolina, a lace-up loafer in new fabric patterns for the fall selling season. The Carolina wholesales for about $35 and retail at the $100 range.

Also featured was the Palisade, part of Toms TRVL Lite retro sneaker collection.

“The shoe’s [silhouette] is that of a sneaker, trending with athleisure that’s wearable but not having the same [performance] athletic look,” Wagner said.

New to FFANY was Stoke Shoes, although its cofounders Rick Blackshaw, Ian Stewart and Bill Gorlesky are definitely not new to the footwear industry.

When Footwear News caught up with the team in September, the only shoes available for viewing were two versions of a “sport casual” sneaker — the FoMo and the Versa — targeting an underserved consumer, the ordinary man on the street. At the FFANY pop-up, the Stoke line was expanded for next fall and winter to include more casual shoes that feature the same thicker soles, wider widths and additional cushioning with an easy-on design for the average guy whose job likely keeps him on his feet all day.

Blackshaw, whose shoe experience include executive stints at Sperry, Kids and Hey Dude, highlighted its Oxford version of a casual shoe that was inspired by the look of a high Chukka boot. The slip-on wholesales in the $45 range and a suggested retail price of $99.99.

Over at Hey Dude, the newly named brand president and former Adidas executive Rupert Campbell spoke about the brand’s consumer surveys, which have 6,000 participants across North America and in Europe. The demand for comfort, lightweight and easy on-and-off shoes is guiding the strategy and styling for the Hey Dude collection.

The brand recently disclosed that it is partnering with the NHL to give hockey fans their team versions of the Wally Slipper, a slip-on silhouette with faux shearling. Crocs Inc. CEO Andrew Rees, Hey Dude’s parent, said in October when the company posted third quarter results that the Wally has resonated well with consumers.

Rupert said a new version called the Stretch Jersey, priced at in the $20 range wholesale and $59 at retail, will launch on January 20.

“This is made out of our best and our most lightweight material we’ve ever used in a shoe. And the way that we describe it is it’s like wearing your favorite comfortable T-shirt on your feet,” he said. “It’s also the newest material that we have. It’s built for comfort and a laid-back lifestyle.”

The Hey Dude brand president said the line was “teased” with some of the Hey Dude accounts for the back end of the fourth quarter and so far “sales have been very, very strong” without any marketing to date. As for buyer reactions thus far from those accounts, Rupert said the reaction was that “a lot of females were buying this product, which is good news for us. They were saying that is was lighter than the normal Wally.”

He also highlighted the brand’s sandal line, which it started last year, and the “Dudes at Work” for the work shoe category. Both are currently considered “incremental businesses,” but Rupert said that one of the goals for 2026 is to “double” the sandal orders and grow its work shoe segment. All sandals are priced below $49 at retail, with some at $29.99. For the work shoe, Rupert said the brand has been able to create a Wally version with the composite toe for safety, while keeping the shoe lightweight when compared with the usual heavy industrial shoes reserved for the work category.

Over at Florsheim, president Kevin Schiff noted that although retailers remain measured due to traffic and mixed holiday results, the reception to the brand was positive this market week.

“Our boots, premium leathers, and heritage dress styles are performed well and aligned with key trends we’re seeing in the market. Looking ahead to 2026, we’re focused on advancing comfort and technology to meet the evolving expectations of today’s consumer,” Schiff said.

Jessica Adler, vice president of sales at Merrell, noted that energy around the outdoor brand was “exciting.” She said that retailers had “clear favorites” – pointing to the spring debut of the Agility Peak 6, paired with the continued buzz around the Speed 2 model.

“It really underscored the momentum we’re seeing in trail run with strong performance, sharp design, and a feel that’s connecting not only with long-time Merrell fans but also with a younger audience,” Adler told FN. “We also saw great engagement around Wrapt and Jungle Moc, and Moab continues to be a rock-solid anchor for us in hike. That mix of performance icons and outdoor lifestyle staples is resonating across outdoor, sporting goods, mall-based, and lifestyle partners.”

At Chaco, the company is putting the spotlight back on its iconic Z sandal for spring 2026.

“It’s the product that built our brand, and buyers were excited to see us double down on what Chaco does best,” Dana VanDiggelen, sales manager at Chaco, said. “There was great energy at market week as we reconnected with the outdoor community, and our spring assortment that is a mix of trusted classics and thoughtful newness.”

Espadrilles were the hot item over at André Assous for spring 2026. Christine Fuchs, general manager of luxury brands at André Assous parent company Vida Shoes International, noted that flat sandals remain a “strong performer” and this season the spotlight is on the brand’s engineered raffia and modern jelly uppers.

“Across the market, the tone was consistently upbeat,” Fuchs noted. “Current sell-throughs have been strong, and buyers came in with confidence. Our expanded clog collection was a standout, gaining traction not only in clogs but inspiring interest across adjacent categories. The new branded details on our booties sparked interest, offering the ‘something different’ buyers are looking for.”

Jim O’Connor, vice president of sales of Wolverine Worldwide’s Work Group, added that retailers showed “strong interest” across the group’s key franchises including Wolverine’s Infinity series, Cat’s PowerSpring and the continued momentum behind the Loader family.

“Buyers are looking for durable, purpose-built footwear, and our work and western offerings are clearly resonating,” O’Connor said. “There was also notable excitement around Wolverine’s new partnership with Landman, which is proving to be a powerful platform as we expand further into Western, supported by new relationships and early program testing tied to rodeo and western culture.”