What goes around, comes around and the same can be said of sneakers.
We’re not talking about your typical sports shoe used to pound the pavements or to run around a squash court, but the relaxed alternative to a more traditional work shoe.
Herring have long stocked a rubber-soled brogue in the shape of the Silverstone II. We also carry the Thruxton II boot and the Goodwood trainer, but a sneaker is a casual step further.
Originating from the plimsoll style, still reluctantly pulled on by primary school children, sneakers evolved into canvas Keds and tennis shoes worn on deck by the British Navy. Then along came Converse with a shoe that was suitable for basketball.
Known as sneakers because their rubber soles mean they are so quiet, you could sneak up on someone, they subsequently evolved into shoes for other sports. With brands like Adidas, Puma and Nike weighing in, I think this is where we have seen the divide come between sports shoes or trainers and sneakers.
The science behind a modern-day sports shoe is big business, while a sneaker is not required to run fast, it does need to be comfortable whether they are high-top, low-top or slip-on. For Herring though, they need to have a certain sense of style that is synonymous with the brand.
It may not be science, but Herring invests the same craftmanship in their sneakers as we would our brogues. We treat them like a traditional welted shoe but apply a rubber sole. In fact as the name suggests, our suede Opito rubber-soled brogues, are exactly that – a brogue with a rubber sole. Genius!
Meanwhile, the Targa is more of a classic trainer style with some formal elements to make it something of a crossover between a formal and a casual shoe. With styles in all leather or a blend of fabric and leather, they all feature a flexible lightweight rubber sole making them perfect for casual workwear or weekend duties.
The Boxer II is a nod to the baseball style of a shoe endorsed by Chuck Taylor almost a century ago. A high-top in a mix of calf and suede with blue laces, we think this is a cool shoe in whatever colour your go for: cognac, navy or both! While the more classic style is evident in the Strike II, but is still smart enough if your office has a more relaxed dress code policy.
As regular readers of our blog will know, Herring does specialise in more formal shoes like Oxfords, brogues, etc, so our sneakers are what we envisage our suit-wearing customers wearing at the weekend.
What are you waiting for? Embrace the weekend; embrace the sneaker!
