One of the main trends of the spring-summer 2026 season is the return of the aesthetics of the 1990s and early 2000s. Retro-silhouette models, especially Samba, Gazelle and Campus, are of the greatest interest to buyers. The 18 to 35 year olds are particularly active in buying such models.
Retail notes high demand for white and beige sneakers of everyday style, as well as oversize-hoodies and sweatshirts, tracksuits with neutral colors, light windbreakers and T-shirts with a large logo. Sales of lifestyle sneakers for the city and women’s fitness collections in pastel colors are also growing. There is increased interest in minimalist collections and premium basic items.
A separate market driver is versatility. Customers are increasingly looking for things that can be worn in different scenarios: from walking and traveling to work and everyday activity. This is why the lifestyle segment is now showing faster growth than traditional sports equipment.
According to merchants, TikTok and Instagram have an additional impact on demand. Many models are becoming popular thanks to street culture, bloggers and viral trends, rather than the sport positioning of the brand. This is especially noticeable among teenagers and younger audiences.
Moldovan retailers note that consumers have become more cautious in spending, but are still willing to pay for a recognizable brand, comfort and quality items with a long period of use. Against this background, models that combine fashion, functionality and recognizable design sell best.
For Moldovan retailers, this means one thing: stores that update their collections faster, react to online trends and know how to turn them into sales win.
