8 High Quality Sneaker Brands (Common Projects Alternatives) To Invest In
Tired of the overexposed Adidas, Nike or even Common Projects? It's time to check out these 8 cult sensation.
Former Céline creative director Phoebe Philo kicked off a global sneaker renaissance the day she took a bow wearing Adidas Stan Smiths after the fashion house’s autumn/winter 2011 show.
Today, trainers and luxury sneakers continue to dominate the footwear market, and the revolution has also given birth to many interesting sneaker brands who are striving on controlled production of quality pieces.
Tired of the overexposed Adidas, Nike or even Common Projects? It’s time for you to check out these rising cult sensation. Here are the brands we’d recommend:
1. Veja
We’re not exaggerating when we say Veja is Paris’ favourite sneaker brand – their famous clientele include French actress Marion Cotillard, who named the brand one of her favourite brands (after Chanel and Dior) when asked by French Elle.
Veja pride themselves on their fully eco-friendly production process and sustainable business model. We love the minimalist design and affordable price point.
2. THEY New York
When architecture meets graphic design meets sneakerhead, you get THEY. The shoes’ construction, Bauhaus-inspired geometric design ideas and color selection alone fascinated us. #TakeMyMoney
Note: These sneakers are made of Nappa leather – luxurious, soft, delicate and also vulnerable to dirt and not easy to clean – so you have to be a little bit more careful.
3. Axel Arigato
Swedish sneaker brand Axel Arigato found their fame through Instagram, and we’re glad the brand stayed in the game and grew into a cult brand by continuously churning out quality iterations and expanding range – from the earlier minimalist model “Low 1” (our favourite but now discontinued) to the current Clean 90 and CATFISH LO.
Not to miss: their Laceless and Zipper range.
4. Eytys
Eytys (pronounced as “80s”) is another Swedish brand making a dent in the market. Although their signature thick mid sole might not be everyone’s cup of tea, the brand managed to grow into a respected brand – and then now, a clothing brand.
5. JAK
Looking for a very minimalist, simple and quality leather sneakers that just scream “premium” without all the bells and whistles AND more affordable than Common Projects? Portuguese brand JAK could be your answer. These shoes in their rich colorways are just beautiful to look at. JAK’s “Royal” line is our favourite.
6. KOIO
Another excellent brand for no-fuss minimalist premium leather sneakers is KOIO.
Different from other leather sneakers such as Common Projects and THEY, KOIO leather sneakers are made of Vitello calf leather. KOIO sneakers are made in Italy and they’re highly praised among sneakers enthusiasts for their quality.
7. Filling Pieces
Filling Pieces is an Amsterdam-based fashion label who started out by making premium low top with the aim to bridge the gap between high-end and street-inspired aesthetics. All Filling Pieces shoes are made in Portugal with finest Italian materials, making them supple and comfortable to wear.
Our favourite is the classic “Low Top Ripple Nappa All White” with the brand’s signature elongated tongue and padded heel.
8. Casbia
If you’re looking for something fun and different, check out Italian footwear brand Casbia.
Casbia’s futuristic and architectural silhouette combines the best of contemporary design and Italian quality. On the other hand, the brand has not abandoned classic footwear entirely – they do offer classic shoes with contemporary design in their collection. You can expect to see interesting new style and collaboration every season.
