THE ANATOMY OF A LUXURY SNEAKER

EVERY COMPONENT EXPLAINED: WHAT EACH PART OF A HANDMADE LUXURY SNEAKER DOES AND WHY IT MATTERS

A LUXURY SNEAKER IS A SYSTEM. EVERY COMPONENT HAS A SPECIFIC ROLE. EVERY ROLE AFFECTS EVERY OTHER. UNDERSTANDING HOW A CORRECTLY MADE SNEAKER IS CONSTRUCTED IS THE FOUNDATION OF UNDERSTANDING WHY SOME ARE WORTH INVESTING IN AND OTHERS ARE NOT.

THE LAST

THE LAST IS THE THREE DIMENSIONAL FORM AROUND WHICH THE SNEAKER IS BUILT. IT DEFINES THE FIT, SILHOUETTE AND STANCE. REMOVED BEFORE THE SNEAKER IS FINISHED, IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT AND THE ONLY ONE NOT PRESENT IN THE FINISHED PRODUCT.

THE UPPER

THE UPPER IS THE VISIBLE EXTERIOR OF THE SNEAKER. IN A CORRECTLY MADE LUXURY SNEAKER, IT IS CUT FROM FULL GRAIN LEATHER WITH ATTENTION TO GRAIN DIRECTION, SKIVED AT PANEL JOINS FOR SMOOTH TRANSITIONS, AND STITCHED UNDER CONTROLLED TENSION. THE QUALITY OF THE UPPER DETERMINES BOTH HOW THE SNEAKER LOOKS AND HOW LONG IT HOLDS ITS FORM.

THE INSOLE AND SOLE ATTACHMENT

THE INSOLE IS THE INTERNAL PLATFORM THE FOOT RESTS ON. OVER TIME IT COMPRESSES TO THE SPECIFIC ARCHITECTURE OF THE FOOT ABOVE IT, BECOMING PERSONAL. HOW THE OUTSOLE IS ATTACHED IS WHAT MAKES A SNEAKER RESOLEABLE. IN A SNEAKER BUILT TO LAST, THE SOLE IS ATTACHED SO THAT WHEN THE OUTSOLE WEARS THROUGH, IT CAN BE REMOVED AND A NEW SOLE FITTED, WITHOUT DISTURBING THE UPPER OR INSOLE.

THE OUTSOLE

THE OUTSOLE CONTACTS THE GROUND. IT WEARS. ITS MATERIAL AND THE WAY IT IS ATTACHED DETERMINE WHETHER THE SNEAKER CAN OUTLIVE THE SOLE OR MUST BE DISCARDED WITH IT. DENSE RUBBER COMPOUND, ATTACHED TO BE REPLACEABLE RATHER THAN GLUED, IS THE SPECIFICATION OF A SNEAKER BUILT TO LAST.

AT 1812, EVERY COMPONENT DECISION IS MADE WITH THE SNEAKER'S FULL LIFE IN MIND. NOTHING ARBITRARY. EVERYTHING EARNS ITS PLACE.