Nostalgia time.
Remember when sneakers first transcended sports and became a cultural movement? New wave and synthpop were topping the charts, films came out a year later on VHS. Rubik’s cubes, Walkmans, and disposable cameras. Sneakers became a way of life.
That’s where our Triple A Sneakers come in—a tribute to the style and spirit of that unforgettable decade, with a modern twist on quality.
Let’s hear more from both our product manager and co-founder.
Back to the Future
The '80s sneaker icons like Reebok Club C, Adidas Continentals and Nike Jordans transformed everything.
Fast-forward 40 years, and sneakers are everywhere, but true quality’s as rare as a fax machine. Now, we’ve got two options: cheap shoes that wear out fast or luxury trainers that break the bank.
So, at Asphalte, we’ve looked to set this right. With our preorder model in one hand and co-creation in the other, we’ve designed the Triple A Sneakers with you
The Triple A Sneakers Philosophy
We didn’t create these for the sneakerheads. The Triple A Sneakers are for hitting the streets or trails, not just gathering dust on a shelf.
Comfort, durability, and practicality come first. Sure, that might seem a bit old-school in 2024, but these are all about wearability, not Instagrammability.
Incomparable Comfort
Walk 5 km in them and you’ll feel like you’re in slippers. That’s what we promise. It took us 8 prototypes to nail down the ideal fit with some help from Germain, a sneaker designer. We’ve crafted something that stands out but is still universal, fitting in right from the get-go. To make sure you don't get tired of them after 2 weeks, we've worked on a design that has character but is still fairly universal. Remarkable, in the best sense of the word.
We selected a few lucky members of the team to try out the latest prototypes day in, day out and the feedback was unanimous: the most comfortable things out there since Grandpa’s slippers.
How did we do it? Here's our special recipe:
First of all, we've chosen top-quality Italian cowhides renowned for their suppleness and robustness. Poletto for the smooth leathers, Mastrotto for the suede leathers - you'll wear one or the other depending on the Triple A model you choose. Unlike some leathers, you'll feel right at home in them from the first time you pull them on.
Next, we opted for a thick outsole that can cushion your every step. It's made from thermoplastic elastomer, which is as smooth as one of Roger’s drop shots. And to top it all off, they're made in Portugal. With these, you'll be able to eat up the miles.
These beauties are fitted with a mesh-lined foam, a knitted fabric that’s highly breathable and super comfortable, bonded to a padded foam base. We also use it on our removable insoles. The result: feet cocooned in comfort and happy like never before.
As for the finishing touches, you'll have noticed the small perforations on the instep. These keep your feet ventilated, allowing them to breathe without letting in water when it rains.
Maximum Durability
You're fed up with trainers whose soles give up after 20 clicks, and rightly so. In most cases, the soles are only glued to the body of the shoe (known as the ‘upper’). Advantage for the manufacturers: it's very easy and very economical. Disadvantage for you: they don’t last long. Between fluctuations in temperature, humidity and tension - in other words, when you sprint to catch the train - this kind of assembly can quickly fail.
The Triple A Sneakers are a completely different beast though and boast a Strobel construction. It sounds like an Austrian dessert, but it’s not. Strobel is a technique that glues and - importantly - sews the insole and the outsole together. It's the equivalent of Goodyear on traditional shoes, and it's a major guarantee of durability.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, we’ll leave you with this and say no more.
Clean as a Whistle
Quality and responsibility go hand-in-hand for us. Our Triple A Sneakers are conceived to be as sustainable as possible. We’re all about traceability and high standards at every step of the production process.
The leathers come from Italian companies Mastrotto and Poletto, the soles are made in Portugal, as is the assembly by craftsmen at Rilix. In short, you're about to step into a pair of 100% European shoes. These days, that's something you rarely stumble across.
A Price That Hits Different
Usually, sneakers that combine cleaver design, premium materials and top construction would set you back well over 200€. But our preorder model lets you have the Triple A Sneakers for just 119€.
You can look but you won’t find this level of quality at this price anywhere else.
Mark Your Calendar: 5 November
On 5 November, the Triple A Sneakers will make their grand entrance. After two years of hard work and co-creation with you, these sneakers are our pride and joy.
And as usual, to avoid missing out, sign up for the alert just below. The first to preorder will be the first to receive delivery.
Need to know anything else? Drop it in the comments below or check our international Instagram page for the answer. Possibly.
Until then,
The Asphalte Team