3 Sneaker Brands You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of Posted by Ru Porter on 11/06/13 | Filed under Style, Sneakers

I’ve noticed there’s a void when it comes to relatively unknown footwear brands in the sneaker community. Don’t believe me? Search amongst the most popular outlets for new releases and see if you regularly find any names that haven’t already been exploited. The same rules apply to folks who call themselves “sneakerheads” but only wear major brands like Adidas, Jordan Brand, or Reebok. To me, those individuals aren’t true sneaker enthusiasts by definition. Real sneakerheads are the people with a passion for a variety of independent footwear companies across the globe – not just the labels made famous by a celebrity.

Quite frankly, individuals who pride themselves on making lesser-known brands hot are the realest and most authentic sneaker connoisseurs out; you know, the trendsetters that spend hours on end scouring the interwebs, mom n’ pop boutiques and social media platforms for dope underground finds. That said, below are three independent shoemakers you’ve (probably) never heard of under $500, but if you’re already up on the names mentioned in this article, or know some more worthy yet under-the-radar brands, feel free to kick game in the comments.

Barons Papillom (www.baronspapillom.com)

A Parisian based sneaker founded by Eric Lemaître (former director of Upla, Reebok and Lacoste) and Giovanni Fontana Giusti formerly of luxury designers such as Bally, Ferragamo, Sutor Mantellassi and others - this Franco-Italian hybrid boasts a sleek rounded mid-top silhouette inspired by its birthplace and co-founders’ love of basketball. Aside from utilizing exotic prints like crocodile skin and pony hair on the upper, the most intriguing features of Barons Papillom’s signature model are the innovative 180° velcro back flap design, which allows a much easier removal of the shoe, as well as the insole that’s comprised of 4 layers of calfskin and cork materials infused with aromatic herbs to guarantee optimal foot hygiene. And for a few hundred dollars buyers can also accessorize their gear with 24 carat gold plated studs or Swarovski crystals for 50% less than spiked Christian Loubuotins.

Heyday Footwear (www.heydayfootwear.com)

I treat my kicks as I do my watches: if there isn’t a concept behind it I’m not interested. So when my Twitter friends @dCsoulplusmind and @JosephAParker put me on to this Boston-based lifestyle brand, I reached out to CEO Darin Hager, to learn more about his company in addition to the idea for his designs – there are six in total, with the most popular silhouette being inspired by the Saints Row video game -- but what I dig about Heyday is the footwear’s unique configuration, which resembles the body of a boot, and the sole of a sneaker. Another added bonus is that Heyday Footwear offers FREE shipping on returns, and we all know how annoying it can be to pay for re-stocking fees, so that’s a key advantage compared to other indies like AH by Android Homme. But given that Heyday Footwear runs a ½ size larger than most brands, and their prices are no higher than $125, refunds should be the least of your concerns.

Inkkas Shoes (www.inkkas.com)

A handmade Peruvian-based label who’s name pays homage to ancient civilizations such as Aztec and Inca tribes, the Latin American shoemaker is a socially-conscious designer, which donates 10% of sales to organizations that preserve Amazon rainforests. It’s tapestry-like fabrics create a much more attractive option to other hand woven sneakers like Nike’s Flyknit Chukkas valued under $100.

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