What are the trends in women's safety footwear?

Are you wondering whether safety footwear follows trends when targeting a gendered audience or, on the contrary, are you among those who think it should have a masculine and timeless style?

Figures relating to women's place in the working world show how wise it is for work and safety footwear manufacturers to take the female workforce into account in their catalogues. Indeed, according to the Tableau de l’économie française Édition 2024 de l'Insee, the percentage of women aged between 15 and 64 present on the labour market in France (excluding Mayotte) stood at 71.2%  in 2020. Figures concerning the male-female distribution vary, but are equally revealing since, in certain sectors, they show a trend towards feminisation. One example is the predominantly food retail and wholesale sector, where 56% of employees are women, as indicated by the report on benchmarks and trends from the Observatoire prospectif du commerce a few years earlier. This percentage even reaches 66% in supermarkets.

Generally more inclined to follow fashion, these users appreciate wearing innovative and original products, so they should be provided with a range of suitable models. But are there trends in women's safety footwear as there are in the women's fashion sector? Do they follow its dictates, or do they have their own guidelines? The experts at Shoes For Crews answer all these questions in this new article. 

A different market

Unlike the world of fashion, which is constantly evolving, the world of professional footwear, whether safety footwear or not, moves more slowly, particularly because of the standard compliance tests to which it is subject. The rotation rate is lower and designs are limited by the regulations in force that must be observed.

In addition, the requirements for catalogue renewal are lower because when a company finds a model whose features suit it for equipping its workforce, it is less willing to replace it.

It is nevertheless possible to identify general trends that stand out in sales, particularly regarding colours, expectations in terms of designs and the performance provided for the occupied position.

For greater clarity, we will first discuss work footwear and then trendy women's safety footwear.

A closer look at trends in women's work footwear

• Colour: black models are the most sought-after by companies. They have the advantage of matching all uniforms and all generations.
• Design: among the best-selling models, sporty designs are popular. The sportswear trend, at its peak in the women's fashion sector, is also found in safety footwear brand catalogues. The models offered there are generally unisex, as is the case with many traditional sports shoes, although specifically feminine designs also exist. From classic tennis styles to sportier, more modern running styles, there is something for every taste to meet companies' image-related needs. In this regard, ballet flats, a more formal type of footwear, should also be mentioned, as they are sought after by high-end establishments to complete their more classic or professional uniforms.
• Performance: analysis of sales from different firms shows that criteria such as comfort, durability and, of course, safety are the most sought-after.

A closer look at trends in women's safety footwear

• Colour: despite the predominance of black, white is chosen for jobs in the food processing industry and catering because it makes it easier to spot dirt and prevent cross-contamination between different surfaces. 
• Design: models also vary depending on the sector. Companies in the food processing industry, supermarkets or restaurants will favour safety boots or safety footwear without laces and without seams to reduce the risk of contamination and make cleaning and maintaining their female employees' footwear easier. In keeping with the times, safety trainers are an alternative to traditional toe-cap footwear and appeal to the remaining sectors. These trendy women's safety shoes come in a variety of models with more or less sporty styles.
• Performance: companies are looking for models that comply with current regulations and insist on maximum safety criteria both for their employees and for end consumers in the food production sector: comfort, ease of maintenance, foot protection and excellent grip.

Whatever the professional sector or position, female employees will appreciate wearing contemporary models, without setting aside the safety standards that allow them to work without danger. As a manufacturer of safety footwear, we invite you to contact our team of experts at Shoes For Crews, who will make you a specific proposal for your company.