Clarks Originals

It was in 1825 that two brothers, James and Cyrus Clark, began to dabble in the idea of designing and creating the best shoes.

In the beginning, their product was sheepskin slippers, but the idea quickly began to develop and morph depending on demand and incoming styles around the world.

Needless to say, their company was an instant success.

Le Coq Sportif Arthur Ashe Court

This company began as a small hosiery shop in the Champagne region of France, opening around 1882.

The owner had a passion for sports and wanted to make equipment that could be worn and loved by all.

The brand has now become one of the world’s most prestigious brands, renowned for its clothing, footwear and sporting equipment.

Designed in partnership with Arthur Ashe, the court trainer is a perfect way to complete any fashion forward outfit.

Whether in black or white, the leather finish on this trainer makes a statement all of its own.

Yet, the simple design makes it extremely versatile.

Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars

The All-Stars were created in 1917 by the Converse Rubber Shoe Company.

The materials and structure were intentionally combined to create a basketball trainer for a professional league.

Chuck Taylor joined this league in 1921 and became sponsored by Converse.

While working with the company he made suggestions to improve the shoe, wanting to increase flexibility and provide more support.

This is when the All-Stars began to also be known as “Chuck Taylors”.

Superga 2750 Cotu Classic Plimsolls

Italian brand Superga has been creating shoes since 1911.

While it has branched out over the past one hundred years, Superga was originally known for its best tennis shoes, including the 2750 Classic which was introduced in 1925.

Made of canvas and rubber in multiple colours, the 2750 Cotu Classic is lightweight and timeless.

They are the perfect trainers to pair with joggers and a hoodie to run weekend errands or take a risk and pair them with a formal shirt and trousers.

Keds Champion

Keds was founded in 1917, and while they wanted to name the company “Peds”, it had already been trademarked, but “Keds” was close enough.

The all-American brand became the first to mass-market a canvas top trainer.

Today, Keds has become a diverse company with shoes of all textures, styles and colours, but the Keds Champion remains its most popular trainer.

The Champion trainers are great for sports such as skateboarding where the support is less important than the style.

Once again, it is the versatility that make these trainers one of the best.

They can be paired with casual clothes, fit for outdoor exploring or a day at the skate park.

Yet, they can also be the perfect accessory for a night out on the town, taking simple trousers and a button up to a whole new level.

Adidas Superstar

As the second largest sportswear manufacturer in the world, it’s natural that a pair of Adidas trainers made their way onto this list.

The Adidas Superstar was released in 1969 and, like the majority of Adidas products, boasts the trademark three parallel lines.

In the 1970s, this trainer became the official shoe of the NBA and has been given many nicknames such as “shelltoe” or “sea shells” due to the rubber shell on its toe.

Nike Air Jordan

Created under the Nike brand name, this trainer was actually designed by basketball player Michael Jordan.

Although they were produced for Jordan in 1984, they were not released to the public until the following year.

Since then, multiple variations of this trainer have been produced and sold by the thousands, and have been known to be the best trainers ever made.

Andre Johnson, Derek Jeter, Dwayne Wade, Drake and even Bugs Bunny are among the many teams, athletes and celebrities that have been sponsored by Air Jordan.

Unlike the trainers previously listed, the Air Jordan has a much less versatile look.

The hi-top design and rubber textile give the Air Jordans a tougher feel, perfect for streetstyle.

This trainer is updated every few years to ensure that its design stays trendy and that its hype continues to rise.

Vans Slip-on Plimsolls

In 1966, four men, including the Van Doren brothers, opened up the Van Doren Rubber Company in Cypress, California.

These shoes, now known as Vans, are some of the coolest trainers ever made and were immediately adopted into the skateboarding community and anyone who was a “real skateboarder” would be seen wearing Vans.

The company even built its own skatepark in 2014 in Huntington Beach, California – a place for their fans to enjoy the shoes and the sport.

Adidas Stan Smith

Another iconic trainer from Adidas, the Stan Smith has had a revival in recent years to become a staple trainers in may men’s wardrobes.

The ongoing trend of mixing formal and casual together is still apparent in menswear, and the Stan Smiths are the perfect choice to team with a formal look.

Originally created in 1971 for tennis star Stan Smith, they feature a smooth leather upper with the iconic Adidas triple stripes perforated into the sides.

Their use for sports has become obsolete with new technologies, so the trainer took a little bit of a back seat, but as soon as the street style stars started to sport them, they soon became some of the most popular trainers to date.

Vans Sk8 Hi

Another classic trainer that has had a resurgence over the last few years is the Vans SK8 Hi.

Originally created in the 1970’s, and formally known as the ‘Style 38’, the SK8 Hi trainers was revolutionary when they first hit the market because of their cushioned high top ankle support and soon became the best high tops around and the best looking trainers.

Skaters and extreme sports competitors alike wanted a shoe that protected their ankles whilst practising and competing.

The Vans SK8 Hi offered them this and with varying colourways and materials now on offer, it’s no wonder why people are going mad again for this practical and stylish trainer.