The phenomenal spread of relaxed office dress codes has also boosted the demand for casual shoes that are versatile - a pair of shoes that can take them from business to social occasion. Brown shoes continue to muster widespread support from the youth. While Timberland is the market leader in the category, many sports-wear manufacturers have already developed additional production lines of brown shoes, particularly hikers and walkers. Running and basketball shoes remain strong in 2000, but the period of explosive growth has ended. While casual styling remains the dominant trend, there is a recent swing back to dressier details.
Consumers demand younger styling and frequent changes in designs.
Women and juniors want colour contrast, high-heel silhouettes and classic forms with sculptural but contemporary details. For men, shoes with more refined toe shapes and heavier soles will become popular. Rubber, canvas, leather, suede, PVC, PU and EVA are some of the materials that shoemakers always use in making footwear. Crepe rubber is more commonly used in leisure shoes such as sandals and causal boots. Recently, there is a tendency to use techno materials for added features like smoothness, water repellence, warm-body, deodorization and stretch resistance.