Trainers: one can never have too many pairs. From the high-performance trainers lovingly stuffed in the bottom of your gym bag to the canvas run-arounds that you get from A-B and the smart, handcrafted leather pair that come out for especially-stylish occasions, there really is a trainer for every want and need. Aside from the big names that have dominated the trainer sphere for decades, there are a few brands that are doing things a little differently and ergo deserve a place in any sneakerhead’s wardrobe. From the Italian sports label enjoying a resurgence, to the French duo making environmentally-friendly footwear cool, these are the European trainer brands you need to know.
VEJA
It’s not often that you find a brand that places as much importance on the environment and ethically-sound practices as it does on style and design, but then VEJA is no ordinary brand. Sébastien Kopp and François-Ghislain Morillion founded the Parisian brand in 2005, with a desire to create stylish sneakers that would last a lifetime as well as having a positive impact on every part of the manufacturing process. The pair headed to Brazil – the only country to have organic, fair trade cotton and wild rubber – to realise their dream, where each pair of VEJA trainers is ethically created. The sleek, subtle branding and cult following helps too. Shop VEJA on Coggles here >>
