The emergence of the sneaker culture in Canada can be seen throughout the nation. As the sneaker community in Canada continues to grow, so does the expansion of Canadian sneaker stores. Now, with such a variety of retailers to choose from, you can bid farewell to paying duties on your new kicks!
Here are the best Canadian online sneaker stores:
Livestock
One of the original Canadian boutiques that specialize in sneakers and streetwear, Livestock has been a mainstay in the Canadian sneaker community and is one of the best boutiques in the nation. Their choices in footwear include brands such as Nike, adidas, PUMA, Converse, New Balance, Jordan, Reebok, and Saucony. If you’re looking for a one-stop shop where you can buy a complete outfit, Livestock has you covered with their selection of apparel and accessories.
STAY FRESH
Established in 2014, STAY FRESH is a Vancouver based marketplace boutique that specializes in premium and collector sneakers, streetwear, and accessories. It features a curated catalogue with brands like Nike, adidas, Air Jordon, Yeezy, Supreme, BAPE, Palace, Anti Social Social Club, and more.
HAVEN
This Canadian sneaker store’s name speaks for itself as it is a true haven for those who love footwear, as well as Japanese and other globally recognized fashion labels. You may recognize the name from their latest collaborative project with adidas or highly sought after Yeezy collaborations. In addition to the latest and best from adidas, they also carry an amazing selection from Nike, New Balance, Converse, and more.
Capsule
Since 2003, Capsule has continued to build their reputation as one of the premier boutiques in all of Canada. Capsule was a part of the first Canadian collaboration on the “Canadian Tuxedo” 580MT, complete with three different denims on the upper with a maple syrup sole. In addition, you’ll find brands like Air Jordan, Converse, Nike, New Balance, and more — they also have a selection for women.
Off the Hook
Montreal residents understand the importance of having a boutique like Off the Hook in their city. A significant member of this community since 1999, the team has done a tremendous job with the growth of their store. OTH is Canada’s only Vans partnership store with Canada’s most important selection of Vans products, and this relationship has resulted in numerous OTH x Vans collaborative projects. In addition to Vans, Off the Hook carries an amazing selection of other brands such as Nike, adidas, New Balance, Converse, PUMA, Timberland, Red Wing, and more.
ALDO
ALDO has a huge variety of not only sneakers, but other footwear as well. From casual to dressy, you’ll find it all. It’s also the first fashion footwear and accessories company in the world to be certified climate neutral.
Courtside Sneakers
Courtside Sneakers is the premier boutique in Atlantic Canada, with three stores throughout the Maritimes. It offers a great selection of basketball and retro sneakers, from Nike to PUMA for men, women, and youth, while showing tremendous growth over recent years. Nathan and his team are doing an excellent job with their curation of products and customer service, evident by the interaction with customers both in-store and online.
Less 17
It was about time that the Calgary sneaker community got some love, and this is exactly what happened with the arrival of Less 17. With an excellent selection of menswear and sneakers, this Calgary shop can be your one stop shop for everything from adidas and Nike sneakers to the latest pieces of clothing from the likes of Stone Island, Reigning Champ, and North Face Black Series. For all of their Canadian online shoppers, Less 17 offers free shipping within on all orders over $100!
Call it Spring
The ultimate destination for not only shoes but handbags and accessories as well. Call It Spring is always on top of the latest trends with an affordable price tag.
NRML
Canada’s capital city is the home of NRML, one of Canada’s oldest sneaker shops. Opened in 1997, this shop has been an instrumental part of the Canadian sneaker community for over twenty years with their wide selection of streetwear and sneakers. In addition to their streetwear and sneaker centric shop, they also have NRML Femme and NRML Select. Keep an eye out for the retailer’s killer sales, where you can sometimes score sale items for an additional 50% off.
Solestop
Located in the heart of downtown Markham, Solestop is the embodiment of a success story in the sneaker business. They began their journey as an online shop and have since grown to a full sized storefront with a diverse selection of adidas, New Balance, Asics, Saucony, and more. Along with their men’s sneaker selection, they also carry a full range of sneakers, clothing, and accessories for women and kids as well.
BB Branded
Windsor is typically known as one of the main border cities from Canada to the U.S. in Ontario, but the city is so much more than that, it is the home of an amazing sneaker shop called BB Branded. Having overcome its share of ups & downs, the shop grew from a jewellery store that carried apparel to the main sneaker shop in Windsor that carries the latest Air Jordan retros.
Vessi
Vessi creates shoes that can be worn all day, every day, in any weather. Wear them in the snow, rain, or sun, because sneakers that can do it all. It produces products that move you forward, get you out there, and let you live your best life.
SSENSE
Based in Montreal, SSENSE is a no brainer when it comes to all things designer. The retailer carries classic sneaker brands like adidas, Converse, Vans, and Nike, but as more high-end luxury brands move into the sneaker world, you’ll also find those here. If you’re looking for the latest kicks from labels like Off-White, Moschino, Balenciaga, Maison Margiela, Givenchy, and more, be sure to visit SSENSE.
Gravitypope
Founded in Alberta, this Canadian sneaker store, Gravitypope is a high-end boutique that also has locations in British Columbia and Ontario. But if you can’t make it in-store, you can also shop the store online, where you can discover brands like Common Projects, New Balance, Vans, Asics, Clae, and more.
Blacktoe Running
If you’re looking for the best sneakers to train in, you have to check out Blacktoe Running. It has all of the runners you need whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned marathoner. The brand finds the most innovative and best products available on the market today!
Browns
Browns’ mission to search the world for the best brands, and to provide the most unique, head-turning styles for you and your whole family— at the best possible value— since 1940. It even produces its own in-house brand to offer an even larger variety.
Little Burgundy
Little Burgundy was founded in 2008 in Montreal, Quebec. It’s a branded footwear destination with its own unique style for discerning tastes. It operates over 39 stores across Canada and offers the best brands on the market like adidas, Converse, Nike, Vans and Herschel Supply.
The Shoe Company
The Shoe Company first opened in 1992 and the chain has since grown to more than 75 locations across Canada. The brand believes that style shouldn’t demand a huge investment of time or money. Style should be comfortable, accessible, and easy to achieve.
Simons
While the selection of sneakers at this Montreal-based retailer isn’t the largest or rarest to find, it’s still worth a peak for essentials. Online, you’ll find high-end picks from brands like Marni and Versace, as well as favourites from Nike, Vans, adidas, The North Face, and more, as well as a budget-friendly in-house line.
Adrift
This Canadian sneaker store, Adrift, is Toronto’s premier skate and lifestyle boutique, and luckily for you, they ship all across Canada. Founded over 10 years ago, the shop stocks brands like Vans, Nike SB, Converse, and adidas.
Exclucity
Montreal-based Exclucity has carries a collection of sneakers for both men and women. The store originally operated out the back of the CEO’s car and has since evolved into an online destination for streetwear enthusiasts. You’ll find brands like Nike, Jordan, adidas, and Puma on Exclucity’s roster.
Casca
Casca develops sneakers made to last and withstand the test of time. The brand believes that shoes should make you feel good, and enable you to do anything, so Casca was founded to do just that.
Groovy Shoes
Groovy Shoes boasts itself as the number one Canadian sneaker store, so it’d be remiss of us to leave them off this list. The retailer has two locations in Ontario but boasts a huge selection of sneakers for men, women, and kids online. Find brands like Nike, Asics, Saucony, New Balance, and more beyond.
Parlor 23
This Toronto-based consignment shop specializes in deadstock and collectible shoes and accessories. Head here for hard-to-find sneakers or to consign a pair that’s been collecting dust in your closet. Parlor 23 ships worldwide.
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When an accomplished and hyped basketball player enters the NBA, one of the first questions that comes up is which footwear company will sign the player to an endorsement deal. Traditionally, the endorsement deals for basketball players have been dominated by the large footwear companies such as Nike, adidas, Reebok, and Under Armor. In recent years, there has been a rise in new footwear companies signing basketball players with the emergence of brands such as Anta, Li-Ning, Peak, and more.
Lonzo Ball of the Los Angeles Lakers and his family have taken a drastically different path as he and his notorious father, LaVar Ball, chose not to sign with any major footwear brands and instead opted to create their own signature sneaker with their own brand. Big Baller Brand started off as an apparel brand for the Ball family and it has grown tremendously with the help of social media and the celebrity status of the three sons in the Ball family, Lonzo, LiAngelo, and LaMelo.
Image: Big Baller Brand
Big Baller Brand launched its first shoe in the spring of 2017 with the release of Lonzo’s signature shoe called the ZO2. During this initial release, pre-orders were available of the shoes for a retail price of $495 and it was stated that the shoes would be shipped out later in the year. The shoes were met with mixed reviews as the original design of the ZO2 was seen as a blatant combination of elements from popular shoes including the Nike Kobe series and the adidas CrazyLight Boost.
Big Baller Brand made the decision to receive help from a reputable performance basketball shoe company, Brand Black, for the manufacturing of the redesigned signature shoes of Lonzo. The pair that everyone who pre-ordered ended up receiving, the ZO2: Prime Remix, was a much better looking and performing shoe than its predecessor. Lonzo’s youngest brother, LaMelo, recently dropped out of high school in order to play professional basketball and he also has a signature shoe from Big Baller Brand called the LaMelo 1. The middle child of the family, LiAngelo, is rumoured to have his own signature shoe in the works from Big Baller Brand called the Gelo 3.
Image: SLAM
Although the business acumen of the Ball family is incredibly respectable, it is hard for anyone to say that the Big Baller Brand products are worth the price. The Big Baller Brand products have ridiculously high retail prices with the ZO2: Prime Remix beginning at $495 and the LaMelo 1 beginning at $395. At those prices, you would expect the performance of the shoes to be unbelievable but it is underwhelming compared to the performance of the basketball shoes from the major brands such as Nike and adidas.
Image: SLAM
Featured image: Instagram/ @bigballerbrand
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