Jim: Hot sneaker brands, this back to school season include:
Osiris (Probably the most popular, reminding me of "moon boots")
DVS Shoe Co.
Big, klunky skateboard shoes - very popular this season and have been for the last year. Not so big and klunky but still popular are:
DC Sneakers
Also very popular, in clothing and other goods:
Volcum
Anything 'Tony Hawk' or 'Roxy', for girls.
Quicksilver is a tried an true hot seller.
I don't know if these brands are manufactured by publicly traded companies, but companies related to the sale of these niche items will probably continue to outperform, imo.
GL