Retro trainers don’t have to be Adidas, Puma or Nike. Something niche like the 1970s Valsport Olimpia trainers stand out from the crowd.
The downside? Well, there are actually a couple of things: the cost and the difficulty of finding a pair. But these are definitely worth the effort on both fronts: handmade sports shoes with a 1970s look.
It’s not that the Olimpia is the only retro shoe available from Valsport right now—far from it. There are different styles and some variations of this particular design. But the clean take on the Valsport Olimpia has aged very well.
But this isn’t a 1970s label. Valsport has been around much longer. The company dates back to 1920 (you might have noticed that year on some of the shoes), with the brand building both a following and a reputation over the decades in its native Italy. Rather like the similar MaTes brand in Spain.
By the 1960s and 1970s, Valsport was pulling in some impressive sponsorship deals, supplying the Italian national football team and the Juventus club with its footwear. But it wasn’t to last.
I mentioned those big brands at the start of this article, and their growing dominance and technical prowess meant that smaller labels fell by the wayside. Not completely, of course. But labels like Valsport are becoming more niche concerns.
Thankfully, they kept going, and most importantly, the company kept on making shoes like it always had—by hand-making shoes with quality materials and basing their designs on archive footwear. That’s the pull here.
So, if you want some classy, classic old-school trainers for your feet, do check these out, particularly the Valsport Olimpia.
This is a more minimal design than some in the range. That simplicity works with its Nappa leather upper, the stripe (or boomerang) and heel that contrast or stand out (depending on what you opt for), the honey-coloured rubber box sole, and a cotton lining and laces.
As I said earlier, the downside is finding a pair (it’s not a high-street purchase) and affording a pair. Handmade shoes are always pricier, and in this case, you are looking at something like €249.
