Indy Sneaker Brand No.One Just Figured Out How to Revitalize a Classic Silhouette
Sometimes, you don't know what you're missing until you see it. That's what happened when I first laid eyes on the Bravo Mid from Los Angeles-based brand No.One. It's a riff on the company's second sneaker design-the first was the Alpha; the team is making its way through the NATO phonetic alphabet-which itself is a riff on the classic German Army Trainer.
All No.One did was make the sneaker taller and do away with most of the paneling. In a world of increasingly out-there footwear design, that's not actually a huge shift. And yet it makes a world of difference. Suddenly, a design that I've seen a million times before (even in a mid-top, thanks to Maison Margiela) feels entirely fresh.
Of course, it's not just the aesthetics that set No.One apart from the pack. The label's devotion to craftsmanship-everything is handmade in limited numbers at its Venice Beach atelier-is at the heart of the business. And the brand chooses high-end materials to match that high-end construction.
The Bravo Mid is available in two colorways and fabrications: a khaki gaucho suede from English tannery C.F. Stead, plus a heavily textured wine leather from French outfit Remy Carriat. Both are finished with hand-stamped details and neon lace ties, which are also done by hand, take ages to complete, and look exceptionally cool.
Each colorway of the Bravo Mid is priced at $750. It isn't cheap, but it's exactly in-line with the kind of care that goes into making a shoe at this level (which, again, is a very high level). In other words: If you're in the market and ready to invest, this is definitely the right way to do it. We now live in a world where great sneakers are just as essential to a well-stocked closet as great dress shoes. And now that I know something like the Bravo Mid exists, I couldn't be happier about that.
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