A quieter February footwear market week still had an optimistic tone as buyers and brands find stability in a less volatile tariff situation.
At Aldo Group’s showroom in midtown, Sebastien Verrillo, vice president of wholesale at Aldo Product Services, noted that everyone he’s met with is relieved that 2025 is over.
“But I will say, the dress shoe bubble is real,” Verrillo said. “The decline in fashion athletic styles is real. But whether or not that will continue throughout ’26, I’m not sure.”
Verrillo said the firm’s G.H. Bass line is ripe for growth with the rise of the dress shoe market. Since taking on the license in 2025, G.H. Bass’ fall 2026 collection is the second full season under the direction of Aldo Group.
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The executive noted that the brand is doubling down on the footwear brand’s Weejuns line, which will serve as the pinnacle product.
“There is going to be no change to the Weejuns collection, because the customer is very loyal and we want to protect that,” Verrillo noted. “We also don’t want to leave that black and brown shoe business to our competition. And this is where our sourcing capabilities come in, where we’re able to create really nicely elevated dress shoes.”
Evolution was also the name of the game at Greats, which showed its new-and-improved women’s collection. The newest style, called the Brooklyn, is a low-profile sneaker designed for everyday city wear.
Aside from the Brooklyn, the fall 2026 women’s line features premium materials sourced in collaboration with Greats’ long-standing manufacturing partners in Portugal and spans key categories including other sneaker silhouettes, ballerinas, and loafers. Sneakers remained integral to the men’s line, but outdoor styles and boots also stood out in the range.
As for what retailers are saying so far, Greats’ new head of wholesale Riti Bora noted that the contemporary market, where the brand is positioned, is stable. “From a consumer perspective, contemporary is a really good market segment to be in because it’s a little bit more price relaxed,” Bora said. “But, I still think that everyone is taking every day as a new day since the news cycle is so volatile. Remaining agile in this time is key.”
DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse also showed up this FFANY market week with a fun activation in Chelsea. The retailer showcased its new spring offering for consumers at a nail spa, with different areas of the spa highlighting each trend.
In the front of the spa was the retailer’s sneaker selection, which was highlighted with ballerina sneakers from Adidas and animal print styles from Puma. Next, there were a series of floral prints ranging from Hunter branded clogs to wedge styles. Then, the selection moved into Western-inspired boots from brands like Frye and finally, sandals from Dr. Scholl’s, Birkenstock and more were out for upcoming beach escapes.
“We’re leaning into occasions for spring,” an executive said during the salon walkthrough. “So think festival, think vacations, things like this. We want to have footwear that our customer can grab for anything she has coming up this season.”
Over at a presentation at the Sam Edelman showroom, Libby Edelman, co-founder and senior vice president, walked FN through the key styles and trends on display, with a focus on pumps, dressy and cold-weather boots and ballet flats — as well as materials like lace and velvet.
As a marked return to high heels takes hold, one big push at Sam Edelman is the expansion of the brand’s best-selling Hazel pump, which is getting an update with a new a 105-millimeter heel. “Having a higher heel is really important. The customer is going to try it,” Edelman said, noting that the demand is there after years of lower-heel styles and flats. Some shoppers, Edelman said, might slip on the heels for a few hours for a special event; others might wear them all day.
