In the age of the sweat-shop produced disposable sneaker, it's always good to be reminded of what this much-maligned footwear category is capable of when shown a little more respect - as we were when this pair of Common Projects Achilles Lows landed in the office this week.
The people behind the brand - Prathan Poopat and Flavio Girolami - have previously referred to the CP philosophy as the quest for the perfect sneaker. After trying them on, we reckon they've come pretty close.
Aside from the simplicity of the design, you can instantly tell these are no ordinary high street pair - made in Italy from the best leathers and materials, they're also hand-stitched as opposed to vulcanized. The fact that they will age well and ultimately last much longer than an average pair may help soften the blow of the £160 price tag. Maybe.
Available online at Oki-Ni and at Poste (10A South Molton Street, London; 44 20 7499 8002)
