Upcycled Footwear Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Product (Shoes and Sandals), By End-User (Women, Men, Unisex, and Kids), By Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), and Regional Forecast, 2025-2032

The global upcycled footwear market size was valued at USD 907.07 million in 2024. The market is projected to grow from USD 990.73 million in 2025 to USD 1,893.16 million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 9.69% during the forecast period. North America dominated the upcycled footwear market with a market share of 33.79% in 2024.

Manufacturers repurpose old garments, belts, industrial waste, and other sustainable materials into eco-friendly footwear components including uppers, straps, and soles. These components are further used to produce custom themed upcycled footwear. Shifting footwear industries’ focus toward adopting sustainability practices including the incorporation of the upcycled shoe manufacturing processes in the business operations to favor the global market growth.

Key players operating in the global market include Asics Corporation, Thaely Private Limited, Cariuma, Greensole, and VAER. These players partner with wholesaler and distributor companies to strengthen their product reach across emerging economies including Asia Pacific, Europe, and Africa. For instance, in July 2025, Asics Corporation established partnership with Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) to supply sports footwear, apparel, and accessories to the APC’s staff involved in the 5th Asian Para Games.

MARKET DYNAMICS

MARKET DRIVERS

Manufacturers’ Consistent Launch of Upcycled Footwear with Unique Designs Drive Market Growth

Increasing number of manufacturing companies adopting sustainability business practices including the designing and launching recycled & upcycled fashion products drive the global upcycled footwear market growth. In addition, a rising number of shoe designers producing custom theme-based fashioned shoes made of upcycled shoe components favor the future development of the market. Companies establish partnerships with the waste recyclers/up-cyclers to procure ready-to-assemble shoe design components. These companies’ initiatives significantly reduce waste and contribute toward the development of the waste-free global supply chain.

MARKET RESTRAINTS

Higher Production Costs to Limit Market Growth

Higher production costs involved in establishing a manufacturing setup with considerable production complexities and small scale of manufacturing act as an obstacle for footwear companies to expand their portfolio of upcycled product categories. In addition, higher production costs also influences manufacturers toward hiking the retail product prices, which lowers the product demand from price-sensitive consumers.

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Emergence of Circular Business Models in the Industry Creates Growth Prospects

Emergence of circular business models including the companies’ launches of take-back & refurbishment programs where consumers can return their footwear for upcycling process, create newer business revenue streams and favor market growth. In addition, growing awareness of environmental issues and rising number of companies offering sustainable products as a service through subscription and rental business models accelerate the global market growth.

UPCYCLED FOOTWEAR MARKET TRENDS

Collaborations with Artists and Local Manufacturers to Produce Craftsmanship Products

Increasing collaborations with the footwear design artists and local manufacturing facilities to produce craftsmanship products coupled with rising consumer demand for hand-made fashion goods favor global market growth. In addition, continual manufacturers’ usage of deadstock fabrics, upcycled textiles, and surplus leather to produce luxury sneakers drive product demand worldwide.

Download Free sample to learn more about this report.

Segmentation Analysis

By Product

Higher Consumer Demand for Sustainably-made Upcycled Shoes Result in the Segment’s Growth

By product, the global market is bifurcated into shoes and sandals.

Shoes segment exhibited a major market share due to the significant consumer demand for the upcycled shoes made of eco-friendly materials including organic cotton fabric, hemp or recycled rubber. In addition, rising demand for the artisanal-made handcrafted upcycled shoes and consistent retailers’ launches of limited editions will depict fastest growth for the segment during the forecast period. Furthermore, rising demand for the 3D-printed, custom theme-based shoes produced from the recycling and upcycling procedures favor segment’s revenue growth.

Sandals segment is mainly driven by increasing consumers’ accessibility to the sandals of a wide variety of colors at supermarkets, footwear shops, and digital stores. Furthermore, advancements in the waterless dying techniques which do not use water as a medium for coloring fabrics used in the sandals to boost the demand in this segment.

By End-User

Significant Demand for Upcycled Fashioned Sandals From Women Results in their Dominance

Based on end-user, the global market is divided into women, men, unisex, and kids.

Women are more inclined toward beauty & fashion and prefer aesthetic design-based sandals and shoes. Women segment exhibited a leading global upcycled footwear market share due to the significant women consumers’ demand for the upcycled fashioned shoes and sandals. In addition, increasing women sports participation rate involving the usage of sneakers of high-quality upcycled components favor segmental growth.

Rising demand for sustainable footwear including sneakers and casual shoes made of upcycled vegan components among men fashionistas drives the men segment. In addition, consistent manufacturers’ introduction of limited-edition sustainable products increases the product demand among men consumers, supporting the future development of the men segment. For instance, in December 2023, El Ganso, a Spanish fashion brand collaborated with ACCIONA Energía, a Spanish energy industry company to launched men upcycled wind sneakers crafted with a logo of repurposed wind turbine blades.

Broadening consumers’ necessities of buying ethical and sustainable products with their accessibility to the buying options of gender-biased products at supermarkets and footwear shops drive unisex segmental growth globally.

Rising kids’ necessities of buying school shoes made from sustainable practices and ground sneakers crafted from the high-quality materials support the development of the kids segment globally. 

By Distribution Channel

Availability of Diverse Product Ranges at Footwear Shops Results in Offline’s Dominance

Based on distribution channel, the market is bifurcated into offline and online.

Availability of a diverse range of branded footwear products under one roof in the footwear shops and supermarkets resulted in the offline segment to hold a major market share in 2024. In addition, consistent sales personnel’s assistance in providing information about the product attributes and features at offline retailing stores support in the development of the offline segment.

Rising adoption of e-commerce shopping for fashion products and consistent efforts by retailers and footwear brands for sustainability promotional activities support product sales from online channels. The segment is anticipated to witness the fastest growth rate during the forecast period of 2025-2032. In addition, increasing customer product purchases from the online subscription and rental business model options accelerate online segmental growth across many countries.

Upcycled Footwear Market Regional Outlook

The market is categorized by geography into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa.

North America

To get more information on the regional analysis of this market, Download Free sample

The North American region exhibited a leading global market share in 2024. The region’s market is slated to grow at the third-fastest rate during the forecast period of 2025-2032. A higher number of consumers from the U.S. and Canada demand eco-friendly fashion goods. Their growing preference for the newly launched innovative products drive market growth in these regions. According to the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), 35% of the Americans would prefer to pay USD 1-5 more for sustainable shoes. In addition, 64% prefer to pay more for sustainable shoes, if marketed correctly. Furthermore, consistent brand retail expansion activities support product sales across North America.

Europe

Europe exhibited the second-leading global market share in 2024 and is projected to grow at the second fastest rate during the forecast period. Increasing awareness about the environmental impacts and degradation due to the usage of fast fashion goods is encouraging European manufacturers to incorporate sustainable footwear production practices. Increasing number of companies launching innovative products drives sales in the Western Europe including the U.K., France, and Italy. In addition, the government’s imposition of stricter regulations regarding the safer and sustainable production of footwear support upcycled footwear manufacturing.

Asia Pacific

In 2024, Asia Pacific exhibited the third largest market share globally and is projected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. Rising adoption of online shopping of fashion goods among youngsters in China, India, and Southeast Asia accelerates product sales in these countries. Furthermore, an increasing number of global brands expanding their retail presence increases the demand for such products, driving market growth across India and Southeast Asia.

South America and the Middle East & Africa

Increasing consciousness about ethical shopping and rising number of upper & middle-income household groups spending on eco-friendly products accelerate market growth across Brazil and Colombia. In addition, the growing footwear retailing infrastructural facilities across UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar support product sales in these countries.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Key Industry Players

Key Players Continual Product Launches to Strengthen Their Market Position Globally

The global market is loosely consolidated with major key companies such as Asics Corporation, Thaely Private Limited, Cariuma, Greensole, and VAER. These companies focus on launching innovative products in the international markets to strengthen their market position globally.

• For instance, in 2024, VAER, a Denmark-based brand launched a new series of upcycled sneakers crafted from discarded textiles and recycled materials including workwear, tablecloths, and old jeans.

LIST OF KEY UPCYCLED FOOTWEAR COMPANIES PROFILED

• Asics Corporation (Japan)
• Thaely Private Limited (India)
• Cariuma (Brazil)
• Greensole (India)
• PANGAIA (U.K.)
• La Bouche Rouge Paris (France)
• TOKYO KIMONO SHOES (Japan)
• Nat-2 (Germany)
• VAER (Denmark)
• Indosole (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

• October 2024: Jalen McClellan launched a start-up company UndefeatedJ working on an upcycled project to extend the lifespan of footwear by repurposing, customizing, and redesigning the collection of products and reducing waste generation.
• June 2024: PLEA Co., the innovative footwear company launched PLAE, an upcycling resale platform to enable consumers sell, or trade-off their existing shoes and buy upcycled shoes.
• May 2024: Crocs, Inc. launched ‘Old Crocs. New Life,’ a shoe takeback program at its retail locations across the U.S. The program enables consumers to sell their existing shoes and purchase newer repurposed/upcycled shoes.
• September 2023: Converse, a fashion brand launched a capsule collection of Upcycled Flannel Chuck 70 shoes made of post-consumer flannel material.
• August 2021: Hankook Tire in collaboration with YASE, a shoe brand that produces products made of plant based leathers, launched eco-friendly shoes designed from upcycling the tire components.

REPORT COVERAGE

To gain extensive insights into the market, Download for Customization

Report Scope & Segmentation