Take the finest vintage blue Italian leather, combine it with a natural Margom gum sole and you have the Blue Gum Sole High Top. When we gained access to this stunning leather we knew that it would make the perfect sneaker.
These Gustin high tops are made out of vegetable tanned mistral leather from one of the finest tanneries in Fucecchio, Italy. This style is a perfect combination of texture and color. It begins with the high quality mistral leather. This leather is vegetable tanned without any artificial chemicals. The process yields an amazingly supple and breathable leather. Over time, perfect creases develop where your toe bends, adding to the aesthetic appeal. It's dyed to one of coolest vintage blues we've seen. It's somewhere between periwinkle and navy. A natural Margom gum sole provides the perfect complementary color to enhance the vintage appeal. The tan calf skin lining peeks out of the inside of the shoe to provide contrast. Tonal stitching and laces keep things clean. This is one of our favorite styles around the Gustin office because they pair perfectly with denim.
NOTE: We have observed some color variation with this leather. Some of the hides are a more vibrant blue than others.
The Gustin high top pays homage to the now classic sneakers we grew up wearing. Take one look at the shape of our high top and you know it captures everything perfectly — from the extremely low profile toe box, to the ultra clean stitch lines, to the absence of any extraneous materials. Beauty is in the small details such as the way top of the ankle gently swoops up at the back, the tight arc of the stitching on the heel counter, the perfect diameter of the eyelets. Our styling truly captures what we loved about our old sneakers, now done the right way.
Our sneakers are constructed by hand in the Tuscany region of Italy by a group of craftsmen who have been making shoes since 1901. They have perfected their craft to the point where the industry's biggest and best names, including Lanvin, use them for production. All leather is die cut one hide at a time. Single needle stitching is used to construct the uppers. Custom lasting creates the unique Gustin shape. An Italian-made Margom rubber sole is cemented internally and reinforced with 360° stitching to the upper. A calfskin-lined removable footbed is stamped with the Gustin logo. These are time honored techniques taken to the highest level.
Sneakers made in Italy to our quality level, that finally get the styling right and that use only the highest quality materials carry incredibly high price points. The Gustin model allows us to offer you a radically better value.
Gustin sneakers run true to size. If you typically wear a US 9 or EU 42 in dress shoes or Converse Chuck Taylors, or measure 9 on a Brannock device, we recommend ordering a US 9 in these as well. We only make full sizes as well, and we recommend you order down to the nearest whole size - if you’re a US 9.5 in dress shoes or on a Brannock, please order a US 9.