What's the deal with Common Projects?

[Humperdink]

It's been said, but CPs are basically a gateway to the baller sneaker game. The quality, construction, etc. are all more than solid - you'll get some creasing, of course, and the leather's not super hot-damn "buttery soft," but there are a number of designer baller sneakers that have either construction issues or use thick hides for aesthetic reasons that are two or three times more expensive than CPs.

And yes, the aesthetic of standard CP models is boring, but that's the point, too. There are a lot of downright beautiful, fascinating sneakers out there you can drop $750 to $1200 for (just check out the baller sneaker thread), but the aesthetic is usually so damn specific with brands like DBBS, RO, Fujiwara, etc., and the shoes become the immediate centerpiece of an outfit: people wearing purple and gray Lanvin highs with McQueen blazers and trousers is the more aggressive equivalent of MC guys wearing bespoke blue stingray Corthays on x-y-z last. It goes from the shoes making the outfit, to the outfit being predominately about the shoes, which can make for an awesome look. But you're still more likely to wear your pair of C&J Weymouth day in and day out.

There are days when you might want something that looks good, but is more low-profile, and that's what the basic CP designs like the Achilles are great for - "understated design" in MC parlance. Plus, they're comfortable as hell. I've never had problems breaking them in (three pairs now), never developed blisters, and I can walk in them all day. Fwiw.

 

[notwithit]

Originally Posted by DLester

Seinfeld makes me puke

+1. I sometimes get weird looks when I say I don't like Seinfeld.

Originally Posted by transient

This thread probably isn't the appropriate place to rant, but oh well.

I can't see myself ever owning any of the common project shoes. I appreciate quality and craftsmanship of a timeless basic as much as the next guy, but at some point you're hitting diminishing returns. The shoes are basic, it's a super high quality version of a plain sneaker. I mean, it's a rich-mans imitation of a chuck taylor, a plebe shoe. I'm sure one feels a certain level of sophistication in wearing an over engineered version of a basic street shoe, but by god, if you you're going for a sneaker based fit then just wear something real that approximates the original sneaker look. For $500 a pop it's just too much and doesn't make a whole lot of sense, thoughts come to mind of a Saudi prince who'll shell out unnecessary fortune to just be one level above the ordinary, even if it is essentially completely ordinary. Again, diminishing returns.

There are sneakers that are definitely worth that price of admission and at least they have a bit of design and creativity behind them along with the quality and craftsmanship. What cracks me up is that people complain that they aren't even comfortable. But I guess some people will shell out the dough just so that they can have what amounts to a generic shoe done to the nth degree.

On the one hand, this is total threadshitting. On the other hand, I somewhat agree; CPs are expensive enough at retail that I can't see the logic behind shelling out that kind of $$$ for something that looks like a nicer version of [fill in the blank with low-top shoe that everyone would immediately say look nothing like CPs].

Also, I have handled CPs - I just sold a pair of Italian army mids (which were cool but didn't quite work for me), and I have a pair of training boots that're too big (seriously, someone needs to buy these). I can totally get behind the love for the less basic models. I definitely want to get a pair of training boots (in my size instead of a size or so too big for me

), which to me are just about everything you could ask for in a pair of hi-top sneakers.

I don't know where I was going with this, but I just finished my second cup of coffee, so I think I'm awake enough to go to the gym now.

 

[Makeshift_Robot]

Originally Posted by *#..

Just a nitpick, I really like the design on the CP achilles but I still do not like the barcode, even after owning my own pair for 4 years. If I could get rid of the numbers on the leather, the achilles would be my favorite sneaker design, hands down.

You can take it off with vinegar I think, or maybe Murphy's Oil Soap or the equivalent. Probably vinegar.

 

[jet]

I don't mind the barcode and it adds a bit of visual interest to an otherwise blank canvas. It's not like it says cp on it either.

Originally Posted by London

Been wearing them since they launched at NDG back in the day. The first pair i bought were uncomfortable as hell until I broke them in. I've had about 6 pairs over the years and the leather has gotten progressively cheaper as the price has gone up and the distribution has opened up. I don't like that math.
Yep this is why I don't buy them anymore. Older ones had much higher quality leather and were 236 at retail. Now let's kill this threak before it becomes another 100 page cp thread.

 

[Kagemusha]

Yeah, I'm a CP fanatic, have had about 10 pairs....LOVE THEM. However Jet is correct on the quality.....it's gone down. Not to the point of 'bad'....but it's not as good as it used to be. However, there's nothing else like them in my opinion and for $250-$300 I'll purchase them.

 

[OrlandoMo]

Seinfeld makes me puke

+1. I sometimes get weird looks when I say I don't like Seinfeld.


This thread probably isn't the appropriate place to rant, but oh well.

I can't see myself ever owning any of the common project shoes. I appreciate quality and craftsmanship of a timeless basic as much as the next guy, but at some point you're hitting diminishing returns. The shoes are basic, it's a super high quality version of a plain sneaker. I mean, it's a rich-mans imitation of a chuck taylor, a plebe shoe. I'm sure one feels a certain level of sophistication in wearing an over engineered version of a basic street shoe, but by god, if you you're going for a sneaker based fit then just wear something real that approximates the original sneaker look. For $500 a pop it's just too much and doesn't make a whole lot of sense, thoughts come to mind of a Saudi prince who'll shell out unnecessary fortune to just be one level above the ordinary, even if it is essentially completely ordinary. Again, diminishing returns.

There are sneakers that are definitely worth that price of admission and at least they have a bit of design and creativity behind them along with the quality and craftsmanship. What cracks me up is that people complain that they aren't even comfortable. But I guess some people will shell out the dough just so that they can have what amounts to a generic shoe done to the nth degree.

On the one hand, this is total threadshitting. On the other hand, I somewhat agree; CPs are expensive enough at retail that I can't see the logic behind shelling out that kind of $$$ for something that looks like a nicer version of [fill in the blank with low-top shoe that everyone would immediately say look nothing like CPs].

Also, I have handled CPs - I just sold a pair of Italian army mids (which were cool but didn't quite work for me), and I have a pair of training boots that're too big (seriously, someone needs to buy these). I can totally get behind the love for the less basic models. I definitely want to get a pair of training boots (in my size instead of a size or so too big for me

), which to me are just about everything you could ask for in a pair of hi-top sneakers.

I don't know where I was going with this, but I just finished my second cup of coffee, so I think I'm awake enough to go to the gym now.

I've just read this and it's funny because we're doing a special collaboration with Styleforum to create the ultimate sneaker with the community and offer it, exclusively to the community, at a price that will essentially mean that we're doing so at cost, with no mark-up whatsoever.

We know through experience with our Ghirlandina sneakers that we can do a better sneaker in terms of material use and craftsmanship, as we are working with a master shoemaker in Italy who specialises in hand-welted shoes and essentially only believe in a hand-cut upper for sneakers.

Part of your rant is the price point and I think we take care of that given that we are looking to retail this at circa $130 delivered.

We're running a survey and, as you have such a strong opinion we would love your take on what the design of the pair should be.

And get this, the shoe will, without a doubt, be incredibly more comfortable than a CP ever will be; strong and considered opinions like yours are only gonna make this thing more successful so I hope you choose to take part.

 

[London]

Yeah, I'm a CP fanatic, have had about 10 pairs....LOVE THEM. However Jet is correct on the quality.....it's gone down. Not to the point of 'bad'....but it's not as good as it used to be. However, there's nothing else like them in my opinion and for $250-$300 I'll purchase them.

The leather depends on the model, color and/or season you buy. I've been wearing them since they launched and have had too many pairs to count. Good quality, but they aint cheap. Go to Grailed and get a slightly used pair to try for yourself. The thing is, I have narrow feet so they fit me well. They're not a universal fit like a Nike, Adidas, NB, etc.