The Miu Miu x New Balance 530 SL sneaker collaboration was the hottest product in the first quarter of 2024, according to Lyst’s latest Index report.
The global fashion shopping app showed that Miu Miu’s collaborative style with New Balance sold out in hours, resulting in Q1’s hottest product overall, and the top shoe on this quarter’s list.
Right now, Miu Miu is outperforming the market, delivering brand heat plus cultural weight that sets it apart in the eyes of the fashion shopper, Lyst said. This surge in popularity has led Miu Miu to reclaim the number one spot for “hottest brand” in the quarter, jostling Prada into second position.
According to the report, searches for Miu Miu increased 8 percent this quarter, with three Miu Miu pieces in the top 10 hottest products — a first for any Lyst Index brand. The brand has also seen searches from male shoppers increase 88 percent over the last three months.
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As for New Balance, it ranked number 15 on the latest hottest brands index – notably the only major athletic brand in the top 20 in the first quarter. Aside from its sneaker with Miu Miu, New Balance also saw brand heat around its loafer with Junya Watanabe as well as the launch of its “Reconsidered” resale program.
As for more top footwear styles, Alaïa’s jeweled ballet flats was the second hottest shoe of the quarter, coming in at number four overall on the list. Alaïa makes its debut in The Lyst Index hottest brands ranking, with searches spiking 49 percent over the last three months. First released in 2022, the brand’s often sold-out, crystal-studded Mary Janes continue to drive global demand, with their recognizable design causing a halo effect trend for the shoe category.
Searches for embellished flats are up 43 percent this quarter, Lyst said. This is the second appearance for Alaïa’s Mary Janes in the hottest products ranking, following a fishnet version back in Q2 2023.
Searches around creative director appointments were also reflected in this quarter’s index. Following the announcement that Alessandro Michele would be taking over the reins as creative director at Valentino, searches for the brand spiked 84 percent week-on-week on Lyst. Meanwhile, demand is creeping up for Gucci following Sabato de Sarno’s second presentation in February, with a 10 percent increase in shoppers searching for Gucci accessories on Lyst.
The Lyst index is a quarterly ranking of fashion’s hottest brands and products. The formula behind the index considers Lyst’s database of 200 million shoppers and their online behavior, including searches on and off platform, product views and sales. To track brand and product heat, the formula also incorporates social media mentions, activity and engagement statistics worldwide, over a three-month period.
