Secker Hi-tops

Bespoke trainers are something we make more and more of after we made our first hand stitched pair, the Buckland during lockdown. In response to a customer’s request, we created our first hi-tops, the Vince. Well the Secker bespoke hi-tops are our second venture into sneaker boots

The customer came to us with a pair of Diesel hi-tops which were beyond battered, but he loved them and they had sentimental value to him. Now, usuallywe avoid copying existing shoes as it rarely goes well for many reasons. But we liked these trainers and we liked the backstory, so we agreed to make a new pair “inspired” by the originals. And the Secker is the result – we love them!

The Secker hi-tops are hand lasted on a standard trainer last with a low heel and rounder toe, so technically, they are not fully bespoke – the customer was lucky that our standard size 9 fitted him just right. The foxing (the leather strip around the shoe) is hand stitched to the insole, much like a storm welt. We then filled the space behind the foxing with light flexible EVA before finishing it with a durable  rubber sole which can be replaced any number of times so they will be infinitely repairable which is very important to us.

There is a long zip for easy access which renders the laces redundant and they are really only a design feature. We sourced luxury nickel eyelets and incorporated the pockets from the original Diesel trainers as an homage to them. The customer thopught that was a nice touch.

UPPERS: alabaster nubuck; black and white claf additions; padded tongue; padded quarters, zips, nickel eyelets

LINING: black specialist trainer lining which wicks away moisture

MAKING: hand lasted; hand stitched foxing; EVA sole; Wellen outer sole

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