Straight out of the box, I was impressed with how clean and simple the overall shoe profile was. The leather was glossy, felt and smelled genuine, and the rubber soles looked to have good traction. I’m a huge fan of the crepe soles on these Chelseas. While it’s a more casual style than typical hard rubber soles, the comfort is unmatched. Each step has a springy, cloud-like feeling that makes me feel like I could walk for days in these. Like the Kurt Sneakers, the Sonoma Suede Chelsea Boots come in a wide variety of upper and sole color combinations. As you can probably guess, the primary difference between this lower-tier sneaker option from the New Republic and the Common Projects luxury-tier sneakers is in the materials. The Kurt sneakers are not hand-made in Italy from calfskin leather and don't have a margom outsole. Instead, you're getting a fairly low-quality (albeit genuine) leather with a rubber outsole.

Durable. I've worn them on hard tiled floors, walking around the city, dinners, etc... They are holding up fantastically.The Kurt also features a cupped rubber outsole, which helps alleviate the cost of manufacturing compared to shoes with a margom sole. FOOTBED & LINING Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the sneakers (to me) was the heftiness of each shoe. Margom outsoles typically provide quite a bit of heft in and of themselves, and that feels quite good on the feet, adding to the premium quality of the sneakers, which feature margom.

Summer, spring, fall… you can wear white sneakers year-round. You can even get away with wearing them in the winter, too, if you’re in a relatively warm climate. Every single outfit following this article from my archive showcases the Kurt. If you’re in the market for an affordable pair of white sneakers that are comfortable and priced honestly, you can thank New Republic for delivering just that. Pros:

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Quality control issues: As with any brand, there is a risk of quality control issues. Some customers have reported receiving shoes that are not up to their expectations. Full-grain leather is the good stuff. The complete and most natural animal hide provides the most durability for an item made from full-grain leather. Additionally, goods manufactured from full-grain leather often retain richness in color and texture, a quality that is commensurate with premium leather products. Full-grain is apparent when you notice the characteristics of the animal hide such as imperfections, marks, or scars left on the skin.

Limited product range: While New Republic offers a range of shoes, the selection may not be as extensive as other brands. Jaks Royale https://www.jakshoes.com/collections/men/products/royal-white-m (not from the post and I was wondering about the quality, I like how it looks) However, the soles look more greyish. Is that just me? The Sonomas feature a flat-welt construction, which is a way to describe how the sole is connected to the upper portion of the shoe. The welt is a flat strip of leather sewn around the perimeter of the upper and onto the insole. I was also curious to know if their apparel fit into the categories of being classic, affordable, and quality, so I grabbed a pair of their Frontier Work Pants.These definitely fit true to size, and are the most comfortable model in this group. It’s cozy where it needs to be (cork insole, padded collar), and breathable where it needs to be (lightweight upper). This suede upper portion is made from recycled leather, which I’m a big proponent of. The effort to make sustainably-produced sneakers wins big points in my book, and again makes me wonder if they’re making any money off these shoes, given the quality construction details and the cheap price tag. Fit and Sizing That is, until your cheap pair of shoes falls apart, and you’re still too much of a cheapskate to get a new pair of shoes after only a few months of wear. As far as materials are concerned, you get what you pay for here. No genuine leather or margom sole. If you are the environmentally-friendly sort, or perhaps vegan, these shoes might appeal to you as they are made with primegreen , a series of high-performance recycled materials, including a vegan upper and an outsole made from rubber waste and no virgin polyester.

In Mr. McNairy’s vision for his brand, any man can come to New Republic and find quality shoes from a company he’s proud to mention.

Ten years ago, a clean, minimalist white sneaker for men was hard to come by. The only pair available was the CP Achilles Lows. Nowadays, you have a plethora of options, all great quality, and are virtually indistinguishable from one another. We design and develop incredible products that are accessible for everyone. This is the ‘new luxury.’” WHAT YOU’RE PAYING FOR These fit true to size and the cork insoles are buoyant and immediately comfortable. The only “break-in” pain I experienced was that my pinky toes rubbed on the interior a bit, probably because of how flat it is. New Republic Bowery Canvas Sneakers