Putting Sneakers to Work: Healthcare + More

The trend toward sneakers and athletic styles in the healthcare sector, particularly in nurse shoes, continues strong.

“The biggest shift in the world of healthcare is in footwear,” says Michael Arce, national sales manager, Xelero. “Traditional clogs have gone the wayside to athletic footwear. Like every trend the pros and cons will reveal themselves with time. The reason clogs were such a staple in the healthcare field was because of the benefits they provided for all day standing on hard surface floors. At Xelero we built our footwear on stability and motion control that mirrors the benefits of a clog but the all-day comfort of an athletic shoe.”  

Alegria has multiple athletic offerings in its line that are developed specifically for healthcare workers. The brand’s ReBounce collection, for example, offers the lightness and styling of a typical tennis shoe, but with arch support that mirrors those found in leather work clogs. And the ROK n ROLL line features a true rocker bottom with stain-resistant uppers.

“We also have a shoe called the Duette that is a clog/sneaker hybrid on our tremendously successful Sport Rocker bottom,” explains Megan Gold, design director, Alegria. “The Duette has been one of our top 10 selling styles for over five years; it’s priced very competitively, and its hybrid features resonate with the customer.”

“Long shifts demand shoes with excellent cushioning, arch support, and materials that are easy to clean. These attributes are easily found in more traditional work shoes however, Healthcare workers are ditching these traditional silhouettes for sneakers,” says Victoria Feldman, marketing director, Latitudes, whose mōshn brand was created, she says, “because we saw healthcare workers purchasing sneakers made for running and jumping — not for standing and walking on hard surfaces all day.”

The design of mōshn shoes aims to take weight off the toes and into the heels and works with the shape of the foot to naturally move the wearer forward to keep moving... even after a double shift. The brand also offers a vibrant range of machine-washable styles and colors, letting healthcare professionals showcase their personal flair.

Craig Truscott, CEO and co-founder, revere, notes, “We have certainly seen a lift in the healthcare sector, primarily from women who are not just looking for all day comfort and support, but also stylish, more fashionable sneakers that don’t look like running shoes,” he says. “In many cases, footwear allows healthcare workers to express their individuality, so offering an elevated sneaker look, whilst not compromising support and function was our inspiration.”

Skechers / Hands Free Slip-ins Relaxed Fit Work: Max Cushioning Elite SR – Eltra

Designed with the brand’s exclusive Heel Pillow, this slip-resistant hands-free work sneaker features a mesh and synthetic upper with adjustable laces on a Skechers Max Cushioning midsole, and an Air-Cooled Memory Foam insole.

Xelero / GPS

The GPS is a new style from Xelero that is slated to arrive at retail in Spring ‘25. The footwear is built with stability and motion control that mirrors the benefits of a clog but offers the all-day comfort of an athletic shoe.

mōshn / Rhythm

These slip-resistant, machine washable sneakers with a SmartKnit upper offer cushioning and arch support and are made with materials that are easy to clean. The Rhythm features the brand’s Dynamic Motion Tech for stability in the heel and an enhanced toe spring. MSRP $170.

Revere / Los Angeles Lifestyle Sneaker

Available in six colors, this stylish and supportive sneaker has an intricate laser cut leather upper, a cushioned midsole and removable arch support footbeds. It comes with a Fitting Kit that includes full length fillers to reduce volume for a snugger fit, forefoot fillers to reduce any heal slip and a shoehorn. MSRP $159.95.

Frankie 4 / Dimity  

The Dimity features a performance knit upper with leather-lined footbed and collar lining. It is lightweight, convenient for traveling and commuting and very versatile when it comes to styling. Its Sole Hero Footbed offers cushioning where it’s needed most. The Dimity is also slip-resistant. MSRP $165.

Alegria / Duette

This sleek slip-on vegan casual shoe combines comfort and flexibility with elastic side gores and a padded collar. The casual vibe continues with a lightweight slip-resistant sport rocker outsole and removable cushioned footbed. MSRP $90.

Style & Comfort at Work: Office Options

Comfort is the most important factor in footwear choices for remote and office work, according to Sydney Simas, VP, Simco Imported Shoes, who notes that “Mary Janes specifically have been phenomenal in recent seasons. Transitional styles are important as they will take you from the office, to dinner, to play dates, and consumers want multi-purpose silhouettes.”

Comfort is “always the priority,” agrees Rich Rask, president, Rieker Shoe Corp. “Consumers have an abundance of options. Comfort and style with versatility are the trend.”

Megan Gold, design director, Alegria, says, “Athletics have been all the rage for about four years now. While I do not see a big move away from that, we are seeing an uptick in our leather casual Career Fashion styles. Athletics are fun, but they cannot offer the support of harder outsoles for those long hours working on the feet over time.”

Blending comfort and versatility for both office and work from home (WFH) settings is a key trend, asserts Victoria Feldman, marketing director, Latitudes. She points to the Austin style from KLOGS, a classic open back clog, as a style that easily pairs with a variety of outfits while combining comfort with style. “In today's wellness-focused world, there's a growing demand for footwear that not only offers instant comfort but also enhances circulation while providing superior arch and heel support,” says Feldman.

Rieker / Dustin 50

Delivering on both comfort and style, the Dustin 50 shoe sports a leather upper with a scuba lining and stretch laces for slipping on. It also features a soft comfort insole and a light-weight outsole. MSRP $140.

Remonte / Ignacia 00

Offering classic style with a twist, Ignacia is a perfect choice for office style. In addition to its fashiobale details, it has a suede leather upper, a removable soft insole and a lightweight outsole. MSRP $135.

KLOGS / Austin

An open back, classic clog style, Austin is designed to not only offer instant comfort but also provide arch and heel support. It easily pairs with a variety of outfits while combining comfort with style. MSRP $144.95

Arcopedico / Estrela

The quintessential Mary Jane, Estrela has a customizable Velcro strap for the perfect fit, while the outsole provides all-day comfort with Arcopedico’s patented Twin Arch Support. Vegan and machine washable, Estrela is perfect for the office or for walks around town. MSRP $115.

Alegria / Sofi

This grown-up leather version of a Mary Jane has a featherweight slip-resistant wood-look wedge bottom. Dressing it up is an adjustable hook-and-loop close strap with a decorative metal ornament. A printed microsuede-lined footbed made of polyurethane, cork, and memory foam completes the stylish story. MSRP $140.