Travis Gumbs: There comes a time when putting aside the wingtips, brogues, bucks, desert boots (just to name a few) and throwing on a pair of good old fashion sneakers seem most appropriate. One topic of discussion that always garners some interest is that both Josh and I were big into sneakers back in high school. “Sneaker heads” some might say. Today, our likes, taste and look has drastically changed and evolved. In terms of numbers, sneakers are by far the least popular in my closet. Reason being that there aren’t many sneakers that can blend easily between different levels of casual while keeping the  aesthetic that we appreciate. A simple canvas sneaker however, does that job perfectly.

Piggybacking on the previous post, floral prints is  an essential piece for the summer. This bkc shirt does an excellent job of having subtle floral on chambray. It is definitely one of my favorites shirts this season and has attracted many compliments. The sweat shorts are pants i purchased from Unqilo a few years back. I ended up cutting them, turning them into shorts.

There is a pattern that I see myself going through every summer. It starts with a pair of white canvas sneakers and ends with a shoe that shows proof of a summer well spent. This summer I have been religiously wearing these off white chucks that i got about 2months ago. Although sneakers have come along way to enhance fit and function it is the simple, classic, canvas shoe that gets me every time.

Joshua Kissi : Honestly there is a plethora of reasons why canvas sneakers are a necessary fit during the summer, and the Tretorn Canvas Nylites have stuck close to me during this season. From a visual aspect the design of the soles, split design in the midsection, and overall slim silhouette gives a stand out appearance from the bulk of canvas sneakers available. Although the term ‘classic’ is always thrown about, it was interesting to see people three times our age reminisce  on their  first pair of Tretorns.

History:

“Sneakers go back a long way. In the late 18th century, people wore rubber soled shoes called plimsolls, but they were pretty crude—for one thing, there was no right foot or left foot. Around 1892, the U.S. Rubber Company came up with more comfortable rubber sneakers with canvas tops, called Keds. By 1917, these sneakers began to be mass produced. (They got the nickname sneakers because they were so quiet, a person wearing them could sneak up on someone.)

That same year, Marquis Converse produced the first shoe made just for basketball, called Converse All-Stars. In 1923, an Indiana hoops star named Chuck Taylor endorsed the shoes, and they became known as Chuck Taylor All-Stars. These are the best-selling basketball shoes of all time.”

 

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