Like all trends, footwear preferences around campus are quickly changing, as Williston students start to explore new brands and new styles of shoes to match their outfits.

In just the first few weeks of school, it’s become clear not as many students as last year are wearing Nike Dunk’s, and are choosing instead shoes with better support, quality, and overall look. Nike’s Dunk sneaker, introduced in 1985, has been a staple shoe brand at Williston due to its different colorways.

Looking around campus, brands like Adidas, New Balance, and Asics are making a comeback.

Troy Worrell, a post-graduate from New York, agrees that Dunks aren’t trending shoes anymore compared to a few years ago.

“They are overworn and when they first came out everyone had the Panda Dunks,” he said. “They are also uncomfortable on your feet.”

In 2002, Nike released Nike SB Dunk, its skateboarding model; the shoe quickly became popular and is now offered in high-, mid-, and low-top versions. According to sneakerjagers.com, a sneaker blog and reseller, the most popular colorway of Dunks are the black and white Panda Dunks, released March 10, 2021.

While Troy feels Dunks may be on the way out, English teacher Jessica Rohan still believes Dunks are worth the hype.

“I still wear Dunks,” she said. “I think they go with everything; you can dress them up or dress them down.”

When Pandas Dunks were released, Nike shares went up. The highest stock Nike ever had was on November 5, 2021, eighted. months after they were released.

Newer versions of Nike sneakers are starting to become more popular. Keirstyn Camiolo, a 17-year-old senior from Surprise, Arizona, still likes Nikes, but not Dunks specifically.

“My current favorite shoes are the Nike Vomeros,” she said. “They are comfortable, super cute, and come in so many different colors.”

Old-school shoe brands are making a comeback as well, like New Balance and Adidas. Brands like Adidas, which weren’t trending a couple years ago, are now designing shoes and colorways Nike hasn’t done yet, making them super popular. New Balance specifically has tapped into the ‘Dad Shoe’ trend, which made their sales go up immensely. Complex.com, a blog that focuses on sneakers and streetwear, explained that New Balance has collaborated with a popular called Aimé Leon Dore and made shoes that support current trends at the time of their release.

Sophomore, PJ Gasau noticed old-school shoes making a comeback.

“What goes around comes around,” he said. “So, anything that started as a trend is going to come back as a trend because people go back in time to see what was popular and what wasn’t.”