White sneakers are a thing this year.

Or, perhaps I’ve just been out of the loop.

Either way, I’d been wearing a pair of Italian-made Superga sneakers for the past couple of years, low-top canvas shoes that are somewhat similar to French Bensimon shoes, and they were just about done.  So, I began researching on brands of white leather sneakers, similar in style to Adidas Stan Smiths – which seem to be just about everywhere in Paris at the moment, except I didn’t want Stan Smiths.  True to my habit of wanting something that would be a little more unique, I stumbled upon VEJA sneakers.  The VEJA mark is a French-designed, Brazilian-made brand that focuses on sustainability and responsible supply chains.  I’m not going to pretend that I’m a super ethical shopper (I try to be, but it’s really hard), but in this instance, I was really happy to discover this brand, and I wanted to get my hands on a pair.

Thanks to Google and a timely trip through Bordeaux on the way back from Arcachon, I found Michard Ardillier on Rue Ste-Catherine. This bright and well-staffed boutique carries over 100 brands and countless styles, ranging from boots to sneakers to heels (and they have men’s stuff too).

I found my beloved VEJA Esplar sneakers, tried on my size, and promptly paid for them. I was so tempted to buy more shoes but remembered I literally had no room for anything else in my suitcase, so I had to settle for just dreaming about my next trip here.  Also, they had racks of marked down shoes outside so you can really score some great deals here if you happen to have the right size foot!

Michard Ardillier
10 Rue Sainte-Catherine
33000 Bordeaux France
http://www.michardardillier.com/