It’s Offical—Boxing Trainers Are Back For Spring 2025

If the past few months have taught us anything about the trainer trends set to unfold over the next few seasons, it’s to expect the unexpected. From every angle, designers are pushing the boundaries, reimagining designs with the unbridled joy that’s been pushed aside for the past few seasons as serious, streamlined garments 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 timelines, we’ve seen the pendulum swing in the opposite direction. In the past few months, we’ve seen ballet trainers, laceless styles and colourful pairs enter style circles, but none have taken me by surprise quite as much as the boxing trainer trend.

Now it might just be my 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 I wore throughout my childhood, instead, these pairs extend up to the knee, skimming the leg and lacing neatly around the foot. Set on a slim-sole design, these trainers are designed with agility in mind—created to meet the specific demands of boxing.

Not entirely out of the blue, the trend coincides with the growing interest in archival sports trainer designs that’s seen styles like Puma’s Speedcats—which were designed for use by 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.

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