Summary
the Great Wave off Kanagawa :
The starting point for this sneaker.
It is a work of which I have always appreciated the power that emanates from it, this impression of suspended movement and this play of curves. At my humble level, this is what I wanted to integrate into this pair of sneakers.
Since this pattern "takes up space" on the sides of the shoe, the sneaker needed to be balanced.
If we had done this pattern on a minimalist sneaker, it would have been inconsistent, and these waves would have “eaten” the visual.
This is why we put perforations and this reinforcement cutout on the front of the shoe, so characteristic of basketball sneakers.
This cutout was basically used to reinforce the front of the foot and add strength against the traction forces exerted on the shoe during physical activity.
Then, we needed a sole that was a little more imposing than usual to balance these waves about to break, a sole that provides stability, both from a visual and practical point of view.
And for that, go to my favorite Italian sole supplier: Margom.
This sole plays an essential role in the balance of this sneaker. Leather Working Group , an organization that evaluates the environmental practices of tanneries, according to their in-house protocol . For example, it measures the quantity of recycled water produced, the energy required to tan a given quantity of leather, etc.
Gold certification means that tanneries have implemented industry best practices. Knowing that the protocol becomes more and more strict each year, this is a pretty good sign!
AN ITALIAN MARGOM SOLE
If you follow our sneaker releases, you know that I'm a big fan of Italian sole supplier Margom. It is a key player that supplies most luxury brands, but also high-end sneaker brands, with Common Projects in the lead.
Here, we used the Virtus model, inspired by the aesthetic of sneakers from the 80s, with the usual Margom quality, namely a very uniform, firm and very durable rubber.
If you look closely, in the middle left of the sneaker, you can see the Margom logo in small letters.
Cork and laser
LASER MARKING
It's a discreet detail: each pair is laser marked, which provides a very clear and precise result.
Each pair is numbered 001/150 to symbolize, I hope, the beginning of a long story on this sneaker.
(thanks to Riku, Maruwa sales agent, who checked that the Japanese spelling was correct!)
AN INNER SOLE COVERED WITH A CORK FILM
Like our Ventile sneakers, the insole is covered with cork.
It is also a Portuguese cork (logical, given that the supplier is Portuguese).
Having a cork layer has several advantages:
- cork has anti-odor properties,
- it also has anti-bacterial properties , to prevent the formation of fungus,
- it’s a very good thermal insulator , whether it’s hot… or cold!
- it has a good moisture absorption capacity , it is a sole which therefore has higher breathability than 100% synthetic.
From denim to wool pants
The easy answer would be to wear it with jeans or chinos. It's obviously possible, but really, if there's one thing I want you to take away from this article, it's to not hesitate to wear them with nice wool pants and a turtleneck, or even a beautiful coat.
Wear these sneakers with your most beautiful wool pants! BonneGueule cap, coat, sweater, t-shirt, pants and socks.
Since they are white, they will fit very easily into many outfits, just like minimalist sneakers.
And they go to all ages. Really. I've seen a plethora of outfits for people in their forties or fifties who wear these kinds of sneakers nicely.
Hoodie, double-breasted jacket, cargo pants and BonneGueule sneakers.
