1950s MaTes Myrna Classic trainers

I have featured the maker before, but not these wonderful and handmade 1950s MaTes Myrna Classic trainers.

You might recall (as they were one of my more popular finds) the handmade 1960s MaTes Carmel Classic trainers, which are still available to buy if you fancy a pair. A good range of colours these days, for what I presume is the maker’s best-selling footwear. But it isn’t the only shoe.

From a decade earlier, we have the Myrna Classic, which looks every bit the stylish, old-school trainer today. If it had Adidas stripes on the side, it would be all over.

But it doesn’t. The shoe has the MaTes logo on the side for a maker (Francesc Mates) who started producing competition footwear in the 1940s but came into his own during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Before the big boys pushed their way into this market.

The vintage look is absolutely on the money these days. Especially with the Myrna Classic. It was a shoe designed as an all-rounder in the 1950s, staying on the shelves for that purpose for decades after/ And now it is back, but likely more for leisurewear than sporting prowess.

Note also that the Myrna Classic shoes were the first to develop a sole with an impact cushioning system due to the absence of material, a concept that is still in use in many of the sports shoes available on the market.

Just the one colour available right now (the one you see here), with each pair handmade from a premium leather upper, with suede reinforcements in the toe and heel, a double-density EVA midsole and a handcrafted crepe line MaTeS sole.

Not cheap at €162, but you are getting something handmade as a lot less obvious than your average, mass-produced £100 Adidas shoe.

Find out more at the MaTes website