Sneakers Smart Gen 2 Men Black

Welcome to the Gen 2 Smart Sneaker.

The sole now runs unbroken from the stitched sidewall through to the ground — one continuous piece, clean the whole way round. The cupsole is built as a single cup (100% TR) that the upper sits down inside, then stitched through the wall rather than glued to it, which is what holds the shape of the shoe over years of wear. They are grippy underfoot, and lightweight at 870g a pair.

That lightness comes from how the upper is built. Gen 2 is Strobel construction — the upper is stitched to a soft fabric base that runs the full length of the foot, then set into the cupsole. It's how proper sneakers and trainers are made, and it does two things: there's no rigid board underfoot, so the shoe flexes with your foot from the first wear rather than needing breaking in, and there's less weight in the middle of the shoe where you feel it most.

Inside you will find deep removable EVA contoured sports insoles that really cushion your feet, and a breathable sports mesh lining (100% recycled polyester) that helps move air through the shoe and keeps your feet cool. Wide woven laces (100% recycled polyester) with metal tips sit flat across the facing. A discreet WVS emboss is pressed into the tongue.

All of it layered onto a shoe we've been refining for years.

The uppers are our signature Italian bio-based vegan leather (62–66% plant-origin materials), smooth with a matt finish. It's a low-cut sneaker — the collar sits well below the ankle bone and the vamp runs long and low over the foot, which is what gives the shoe its line and what stops it reading sporty. No logos, no panels, no contrast.

The stitching is where the making shows. A single clean seam down the centre back, the facing stitched twice along its length, the topline turned and stitched flat so nothing rubs, and the sidewall stitch running visibly right round the join. Nothing decorative — every line of thread on this shoe is holding something together.

Wear them with a suit, trousers cropped just above the shoe, no sock showing. With a wide-leg pleated trouser and an oversized shirt worn open. With a knitted polo and a straight leg for dinner. They'll take a tailored short in summer and a heavy raw denim in winter, and they'll sit under a long coat without looking like you've given up on the outfit. If you own one pair of sneakers that has to work Monday through Sunday, this is the shape to own.

• Upper: Italian bio-based vegan leather (62–66% plant-origin materials)
• Lining: Breathable sports mesh lining in 100% recycled polyester (rPET) – an open mesh that keeps air moving to help feet stay cool and fresh
• Insole:1cm deep removable EVA insoles
• Outsole: Side wall stitched cupsole (100% rubber). The sole is built as a single cup that the upper sits down inside, then stitched through the sidewall rather than glued, which holds the shape of the shoe over years of wear. White throughout, running unbroken from the stitched sidewall to the ground. Grippy underfoot and lightweight.
• Laces: Long, extra-strong laces (100% recycled polyester), with metal lace tips (100% zamak — a durable zinc alloy)

Construction and Features

• Shank: No shank – a soft, flexible build that moves with your feet
• Hardware: Metal eyelets and lace tips — both 100% zamak (a durable zinc alloy)
• Construction: Strobel construction – the upper is stitched directly to a soft textile base, with the sole bonded underneath. With no rigid board or stiffeners inside, it flexes naturally with your foot and stays light underfoot
• Water Resistance: Water-resistant for everyday wear – keeps you dry in rain, puddles, wet streets, and most winter conditions. Just avoid heavy saturation or full submersion.

• Width: D width fitting – a slightly wider fit with more volume than standard
• Fit: Order your usual size. Half size? Wider width fittings size up, narrower width fittings size down.
• Heel Height: 3.0 cm
• Toe Height: 3.0 cm
• Toe Shape: Round toe
• Instep: Contoured, removable insole that follows the shape of your foot and gives light arch support underfoot
• Break-in Time: You should find these comfy straight out of the box.

Care Guide

• Clean: Wipe the uppers and outsoles with warm soapy water and a cloth or soft brush, then towel dry thoroughly.
• Polish: A synthetic polish can be used to bring back shine and refresh the colour — any synthetic product should work fine, applied as described in its instructions. If your footwear has a burnished effect on the toes and sides (we apply a darker polish to some of our brown vegan leather uppers for effect), this is best reapplied by a cobbler, or at home using a darker shade of polish worked around the toes and sides.
• Drying: You can dry your footwear on top of or near a radiator or other heat source. Depending on the heat, it can take a few days to dry out the insides fully. Never put your footwear in the washing machine.
• Deodorising: Don't let your footwear stay damp between wears, especially inside boots, as this can damage the water resistance and let microbes develop, causing a smell. If this happens, dry the footwear thoroughly and use a footwear deodoriser until the smell stops. In extreme cases, wash the insides out with warm soapy water, then dry fully and reapply the deodoriser.
• Waterproofing (optional): You can treat the uppers with a waterproofing spray to improve durability, stain resistance and water resistance. We recommend doing this every 2–3 months depending on use — most standard waterproofing sprays work fine on our vegan leather.

Source: Shop Like You Give a Damn

Will's Vegan Store launched in 2012 as a vegan shoe company. Since then, they've moved into fashion and other products as well.

The brand continuously reflects on it's operations to see where they can do better. 

Eco-friendly: The majority of items are made from vegan leather alternatives. Some are still plastic-based (PU/PE), but since 2017 they've introduced more biobased and recycled materials into their vegan leather. They have created a sneaker that's fully biodegradable and are certified carbon neutral.

Extra cool is that they have a take back scheme, where you can send back your old shoes to be recycled into outsoles for new Will Vegan's Shoes.

Vegan: As the name suggest, Will's is a completely vegan brand. It's PETA-approved.

Fair & local production: Will's Vegan produces in factories in Portugal and Italy, of which some are part of the Fair Wear Foundation.