It’s Offical: Boxing Trainers Are a Thing for Spring 2025

If the past few months have taught us anything about the trainer trends set to unfold over the seasons ahead, it's to expect the unexpected.

From every angle, designers are pushing the boundaries, reimagining designs with the unbridled joy that was pushed aside for a while, as more “serious”, streamlined garments and footwear dominated collections and a focus on '90s minimalism and quiet luxury came to the fore. Now that we've broken free from the stiff silhouettes that crowded our timelines, we're seeing the pendulum swing in the opposite direction. Over the past few months, ballet trainers, laceless styles and colourful pairs have entered style circles, but none have taken me by surprise quite as much as the boxing-trainer trend.

Now, it might be because I'm looking at it through millennial eyes, but I haven't quite wrapped my head around the trend yet. Designed with a high-top cut that far exceeds the height of the Converse trainers I wore throughout my childhood, this style can extend all the way up to the knee, hugging the calf and lacing neatly around the foot. Set on a slim sole, these trainers are designed with agility in mind and created to meet the specific demands of boxing. They haven't emerged entirely out of the blue; the trend coincides with the growing interest in archival-sports trainer designs that has seen styles like Puma's Speedcat—which were designed for racing car drivers—bubble up this season too.

While I'm a little unsure about working this trend into my rotation, I think it's safe to say that the younger generation won't find it so shocking. Already in the wardrobe of Gen Z model and influencer Gabbriette, the influencer has woven a knee-high style from Adidas into her collection and already appears to be an expert at styling them. Pairing them with a black minidress, Gabbriette wore hers in exactly the kind of effortlessly cool way I expect we'll see others emulate this season.

While this trend might seem unlikely to appeal to the masses, the runways are telling a different story. Heavily influenced by sporting silhouettes, Dior's spring/summer 2025 collection saw an emphasis on movement, that styled models in skin-tight body leotards, racer jackets and mesh track pants. Elevating the ordinary, Dior skipped classic plimsolls, instead styling knee-high—and over-the-knee—boxing shoes throughout their collection.

(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

Model wears boxer trainers on the Dior spring/summer 2025 runway.