Reacting to Rose Anvil’s Common Projects TAKE DOWN Video
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 พ.ค. 2020
- Two days ago when I posted my Common Projects vs. Koio (Achilles vs. Capri Triple White) video, a TON of you sounded off in the comments about a video by Rose Anvil where they completely deconstruct a pair of Common Projects Original Achilles and determine that 1) the materials aren’t as high a quality as people have thought; and 2) that Common Projects sneakers should not cost upwards of $400. To the latter point--no surprise there, but you’re paying the “luxury tax”.
Let’s go over a little bit of a timeline here. I recorded my video on May 3rd and published on May 12th. Rose Anvil published on May 6th. I’ve never heard of Rose Anvil. I did not see Rose Anvil’s Common Projects video prior to posting my Common Projects vs. Koio comparison video. BUT, after so many of you mentioned it in the comments, I couldn’t wait to take a look and see what all the buzz was about.
CHECK OUT ROSE ANVIL'S CHANNEL → • Cheap Posing as Premiu...
What you’re seeing here is my reaction to the Rose Anvil Common Projects video. Prior to today (well, yesterday as this was recorded on May 13th) I had never heard of Rose Anvil, known about the TH-cam channel, or this video. Other than doing a quick survey of the Rose Anvil website--they sell small leather goods, sorry, artisan leather goods--I did no further research on the brand or this video. This video is my first time viewing the Rose Anvil Common Projects video. Hope you enjoy as I found it very interesting, enlightening, and entertaining.
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#roseanvil #commonprojects #reaction - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
For anyone interested in what luxury was vs. what luxury is today, I highly recommend reading this exceptional book: bit.ly/2ZxTPtk
I recommend Bedo's Leatherworks channel for the most indepth shoe anatomy anyone can perform.
Now it’s time for Rose Anvil to make a reaction video to your reaction video. Until then, I pray for his misfortune.
Pro trick : watch series on Flixzone. I've been using it for watching lots of of movies lately.
@Wesley Alvin Yea, have been using flixzone for years myself =)
I think Rose Anvil was less concerned about the brand and more concerned about the quality of the product. Unlike a lot of the slick promotional/fashion oriented TH-camrs, this guy is primarily a technical/product focused person. And I think a lot of men respect that.
Totally.
He's got a great channel. Great for looking at quality of shoes.
Everyday gentleman if you like him, I’d also recommend fellow TH-camrs Bedos Leatherworkks and The Elegant Oxford. They are also very good.
If "the quality of the product" means using veg tanned leather, then I guess. Common Projects released veg tan models before and they ended up being -60 % off. I had a pair but didn't like them. The retail price was exactly the same. Aesthetics and the design matters.
Strong User Sounds great,HMU when they’re 60% off again cause I’m not going to buy a $400 sneaker and half of it is for the name of it.
Rose Anvil is a breath of fresh air to the influencer world. Brands charge premium prices for sub pair quality which is nothing new but its about time consumers be informed and know that they are simply buying the brand name. Rose Anvil is truly adding value to us the consumers.
Completely agree
Watching Brian have his mind blown by one of my favorite channels made my day.
Sweet! Thanks for chiming in, Casey!
Are you related to A.J. Applegate?
Damn bro, you are one of the most straight forward, honest youtubers I've seen. It's clear you loved your CP's, and when people began commenting on your last video about Rose Anvil's, most people would have gotten defensive, but you remained so open-minded. Respeck.
Appreciate that very much. Thanks for taking the time to chime in.
Absolutely agreed, I was about to say the same!
Yeah. I can see the embarrassment look on his face but overall he's cool.
Why would you get defensive over shoes?
Rose is a high end leather product maker so he knows what he is talking about, and you are a style expert, if you two teams up together would produce a killer leather sneakers:)
this looks like a guy watching himself from 15 years ago ruining some shoes
Ahahahaha
I thought the review was well done. He basically said the shoes are overpriced for the quality or lack of quality you get.
Agree. My point at the end of this video was that I really didn't understand the "gotcha" nature of some of the comments it inspired on my previous video.
His review was actually quite calm and professional. But there was a lot of excitement around because the video went viral. He did not say they were trash, he said they were overpriced. Actually, I still think these CP shoes are better than a lot of other leather sneakers. So now after the video we know what to look out for: find a sneaker with better leather (remember the CP leather is not bad, it just is not the very top grade leather) and maybe a better sole, then let us see what it costs...
Exactly. As I conclude at the end of this video, I don't quite understand how people got so righteous after seeing his video. Many luxury brands aren't worth the price you pay in terms of materials or construction--no surprise.
He Spoke Style This is my exactly my take away. Not sure why people are going crazy over it. We already know it is a mass produced sneaker that also has a markup because of the retailers. However, I would say these are several times better than what you can get for maybe $100.
Rancourt offers a full grain, Made in the USA sneaker at nearly half the price of the CP. I imagine they also be resoled by their craftsmen in the future.
@@izy3109 totally agree. I'm a sneakerhead that spends roughly $200 for shoes that are made of low quality leather and/ knitted. If you have the money to buy these and you're not eating ramen noodles after the fact who cares. Lol
@@AntonioSantos935 I see, but still I like the shape of the Common Project sneakers better and I am not American, I can get the CP Achilles for as low as 290€ in Europe and they are way better than the average 150€ sneaker (which have "leather" that is worse than that of the CPs), so I am fine with that.
People forget common projects weren't always that expensive. I'm also curious if the manufacturing has changed at all since the first pairs were made. Like most other luxury brands the "luxury" tends to take a back seat to the bottom line a lot of the time.
Good question. I personally don’t know. Would be interesting to find out.
I have recently purchased a pair from mr porter, which arrived with mini cracks / splits all throughout the shoe and the leather seemed thinner. The retailer was kind enough to send out a replacement but I experienced the exact same issue. While I know the shoe would crease naturally over time, when paying that much for a sneaker, they have to be perfect. I couldnt justify it, so returned straight away. I suspect the manufacturing processes that they use now cut more corners than they did when the shoe first released, to cut down on production costs. What a shame.
"Luxury Tax" would be a cool name for a brand. Somebody patent that asap!
Hahaha yes!!
That’s a name of a rapper tho, part of Jackboys gang
Barney Stinson company pattern pending
i'd be curious to see if the koios were produced at an even higher quality than the common projects, which would make them even MORE of a bargain. And to be fair, this wasnt really a hit piece on common projects, this is his schtick ...cut popular shoes up and see if the price matches the construction. He's pretty transparent and honest about how he curates the shoes and that his reviews are as unbiased as possible. I think what he does is ultimately good for the consumer...know what your shoes are actually made of, where they are lacking, where they shine etc...ultimately, some people wont care and just want the flex, but some people may want to make an educated purchase if they are going to spend upwards of $200 on a plain white pair of leather sneakers
Yeah, I could tell at the end by the way he tried to stoke people just a little bit, but overall I think he's quite fair and very interesting to see his knowledge on display.
Yea but to be fair it’s a lot about clean minimalism and the look. The great construction is really just a bonus for people willing to spend over 400
Rose anvil is making a series on white sneakers starting next week
@@4M4D3USM0Z4RT looking forward to it
I like the Rose Anvil channel. Randomly started watching last winter.
He teaches, he doesn't shill.
LMAO true, he's also honest/humble. Saw him break down a belroy wallet and he was like "I honestly didn't think I'd like it, but it's a pretty great wallet, pretty impressed with the construction" and that's saying A LOT for mass produced wallet from an artisan maker.
According to this he doesn't know too much. If we aren't knowledgeable on a subject ourselves it is difficult to distinguish a teacher from a charlatan(and everything in between).
www.reddit.com/r/malefashionadvice/comments/hf7t6b/debunking_rose_anvils_common_project_video_one/
I actually chuckled when I saw the title of this video. Thank you for doing this.
You're very welcome! I really enjoyed his video.
So here's what I've taken away from Rose Anvails video, the price is ridiculous for the build, however, its also a "luxury" shoe, and I would saying in compassion to a brand like Gucci, I'd say the quality of the Common Projects is probably better. In the comments Rose Anvail did say he liked the shoe just not the price, which is fair. I also like that the Common Projects are less of a flex," look at me!" which is what I think(hope, hate big logos) is becoming a new trend, subtle flex. Your video was great, and thanks for this video.
You're very welcome. I really enjoyed the Rose Anvil video myself. Very fair, informative, and entertaining!
Gucci's products are actually really well made and great qualities, if you swap that comparison to a brand like Vivienne westwood them you're correct
I’m curious to know how the “Givenchy urban street” sneakers or the “Saint Laurent andy” compare to the “Common Projects” ?
No experience with either myself. Anyone else?
He Spoke Style similar design, much bigger name, but I haven’t worn and certainly have not cut any one up. Maybe the bigger name is a hint to something.
I've owned the Givenchy urban knots, achilles and koio. For some reason I prefer the feel of the Givenchy leather, feels more substantial and thicker than the CPs. The Koios leather feels like if It has a plastic coat on top.
I appreciate how not salty you are. It’s really hard to accept the fact that things you love isn’t the best,I respect you for that my man 👍
I appreciate that you seemed to have preconceptions about this video but you actually took the time to watch before commenting. So many others have not and it's very easy to spot them.
He Spoke Style Thanks,I watched that video before this one,so I knew how you might feel. Since I also like CP very much. But the way you acknowledged the fact that the video was honest and has a lot of interesting informations in it,makes me realize what a honest gentleman you are. So good job!
I’m kind of curious how these shoes would compare with Koio and Axel Arigatou if they’re also sliced in half as well. Hope he does more minimalist sneakers tear-down videos.
That'd be a great follow up video for Rose Anvil, for sure!
FANtasy222 I have both those shoe brands, but do not own common projects. If he ever did such a video and they were both better than common projects, I’d feel like such a winner lmao
Axel arigato quality is garbage for the price. I had 3 pairs and after only a short amount of time the color start to chip off - the leather starts wrinkling heavily. In one pair the leather next to my ankle actually started tearing and ripped pretty far open
He just did the Koios very very similar to the common projects
Awesome format! Refreshing to see such a video in your channel! Doesn’t mean your other video/content is boring! ;)
Haha. No offense taken. Glad you liked the more unscripted approach.
Hello Brian, I know this is off topic but idk where to ask question and don’t want to comment on your video from year ago so I’m just gonna ask you here, hope to have answer from you. So what do you think about sunglasses with orange or yellow lenses from brand like Gentle Monster or Gucci, Tom Ford? I don’t want to buy $4-500 sunglasses and then it’ll be out of trend next year
Stay far, far away from that!
I'd love to see a partnership between booth channels to produce a true high end sneaker. 😁
That'd be sweet!
Rose Anvil did say in a previous video that to one day makr a limited quantity high end shoe was his dream.
The shoes aren’t bad, but they are inherently overpriced. Probably not even assembled in Italy.
You showed some real integrity being open minded to criticism of a shoe you recommended. That's the honesty I subscribed for. Keep up the good work!
Nice. I appreciate that, Pontus. And I still recommend CP if people want them. I've had a great experience with them over the years.
Hey Brian! I've actually watched the Rose Anvil video yesterday before watching your video, but was left with more questions like you were here! Watching that video made me question where Common Projects (CP) would stand in quality of the sneakers world. Nike's AF1 seemed to be featured for just a second, MSRP 1/4 of the price but with considerably lower quality materials (does this mean the whole sneaker industry is overpriced as a whole? Hmm). Koio as you and many have mentioned seem to be a great subject for comparison. Also I'm wondering if more heavy duty soles are better for general day-to-day wear compared to the more malleable soles found in CP, as I have found walking all day in Converse was more difficult than walking all day in a comfy loafer.
As with many products and services, I think what you get in raw material doesn't always describe the final MSRP on them. Especially with luxury items, I think you have to be comfortable knowing that you are paying for some intangible things and also for services that you might never end up using. That's what luxury is anyway, it's about caring for the extraneous, on top of a good product. - Han
Great comment, Han. Thanks for chiming in, as always.
Don't pay much attention to bad comments. Some people on TH-cam are really delusional and will say "OH, YOU SILLY BRIAN, THAT IS NOT FULL GRAIN LEATHER" without even knowing what that means because they obviously know shit about leather. They just repeat what they hear. So whatever.
Great video!
Haha, cheers. I thought this would be a neat way to share an experience together.
Oh my goodness, this made me laugh. So true.
@@clintony3000 Cheers.
Brian! You know we're trying to be like you. Could you tell me the mic you're using?
Pretty sure it's a Shure SM7B :)
Sure thing! It's the Shure SM7B: bit.ly/2zFZJ0x
A standard mic for podcasts and broadcasting. Here's a list of most of the gear we use for filming our TH-cam videos: kit.co/hespokestyle/hss-youtube-video-setup
That's the one!
Very well made video, it was really refreshing to see you stay impartial throughout the reaction and give your own, valid counterpoints
Thank you!
I'm a fan of R&A and your video was recommended to me by the almighty algorithm. I thought you made great points and took the breakdown of these shoes quite well. I was worried this was going to be some freak out video but was pleasantly surprised that you had a very open mind and approached this video in an honest way. Thanks! That's +10 to humanity
Thanks so much, Chris. Love that you thought it was going to be one thing and then actually watched before commenting. Respect. Many have not done that and they're easy to spot.
I just wanted to say thank you for being so open minded. I'm grateful there are people like you to keep us informed on all these amazing products. If you got the money for the CP and you like them, I got nothing but love and respect for you.Buy whatever is within your budget and enjoy them! Clothes are meant to be enjoyed. We are all entitled to buy whatever we want with our money. Thank you for all the content.
Well said, my man. Appreciate the comment and support.
I think since you've already established credibility with your subscribers (and it's obvious why), a weekly show would be useful for us to hear what you have to say about other channels/videos/styles so that we would make wiser, more informed purchase decisions. So yes, a weekly review seems like a great idea to me Brian! Hope you make it happen :)
Very cool! I would love to--it's just finding the time!
Really enjoyed this video! Love your normal vids, but there’s something refreshing about a paired back, non-scripted video. Definitely think you should keep doing reacts!
Thanks! It's fun to do. Any other videos you can think of off the top of your head you like to see this treatment of?
Awesome video Brian. What's your opinion about Axel Arigato Sneakers??
Thanks, man! No experience with those shoes. Sorry!
I’d be interested to know what materials of a Koio shoe are made of and if they are of equal quality of the Common Projects or if they are made of cheaper products. Maybe the Koios are made of even cheaper stuff and that’s just where we are with shoes. Maybe not. I suspect, given that Koios are direct to consumer, even they are made of cheaper stuff with cheaper construction than the CP, the gap in build quality is not that far off.
That would be a cool video for him to do and then compare at the micro level.
Others have said this as well, but appreciate your reaction. Would have been easy to get defensive and slam the video or people who commented negatively from the previous video. Classy response.
Thanks, Marcus. I'm the first to admit that I don't know everything about everything. It was cool to get the perspective of a true professional.
Great video Brian, i liked both your reaction and the Rose Anvil video. Both you guys are doing content for the right reasons, and makes for interesting viewing, and we learn stuff!
Really appreciate that feedback and support. I loved his video.
Hi Mr. Sacawa! I know that this question is off topic, but it has been on my mind since last week and I really want to ask you this and I hope that you'd answer this. Is your wedding double-breasted Tuxedo fully bespoke or was it made to measure? Also, what's your opinion on a black pinstripe suit? Thank you.
What's up, Aziz?! It was full bespoke from MAB. Black pinstripe? Unless you're in a production of Guys & Dolls I'd skip that. Navy blue, or charcoal or mid-grey.
A shank usually acts to strengthen the middle of the sole usually found in boots that are made for more intense wearing to protect the foot. His recent deconstructing of Doc Marten's revealed they don't have a shank which was met with criticism on the quality of the boot.
Totally makes sense.
Boots have a heel block which needs to be supported by a shank. These shoes have a flat sole.
Chrometanned leather is usually cheaper, but can be just as high quality as veg tanned. Thats why he says 'generally accepted as cheaper'
Like that hedge!
I don't know if chrome tan being $0.50-$5 cheaper per shoe makes a difference.
@@MooImaHippo I agree. People don't seem to understand what's the difference between chrome tan and veg tan. Also CPs were able to sell veg tanned models for exactly the same price.
@@stronguser5242 Not to mention a lot of different use cases. Why do people always think CP's are buttery soft? Chrome tan makes a difference here. You wouldn't get that same feeling with veg.
Hey Brian.....what's ur take regarding J.Crew filing for bankcruptcy ???
Interesting topic! Maybe I'll cover it in a future video! But it's not really surprising. I think they charge way too much for what the clothing is. And even the collabs couldn't save them. Was always on sale.
so you said its a luxury brand, which it is, so which brands would you rec that are cheap/affordable that makes good quality these days?
Brian, I do appreciate your very professional approach and quality of your videos. Keep up!
Many thanks. Really appreciate that comment.
You should definitely do more react content like this! Love it; keep it up.
Thanks! Any specific video recommendations?
Do we get a second reacting video now to Rose Anvil's comparison video? Thoroughly enjoying both your channels! Cheers
First time watcher. What I like the most about your video is that you don't do the annoying TH-cam edits. When you make a mistake or misspeak you just let it fly. Feels so much more natural and conversational than the quick cut TH-cam technique.
Hi Brian. Long time watcher, first time commenter. Appreciate your neutrality and openness to other views. There is definitely some schadenfreude going on with many of the reactions.
From your previous comparison video, I found reference to a reddit thread where the Rose Anvil dissection was discussed at length. By no means was a consensus reached, but reposting a few salient points from posters who actually worked in shoe factories and sourcing : 1) chrome tanned is not necessarily inferior to veg tanned and specifically for shoe uppers has advantages of softness, water resistance and brightness which helps white shoes. 2) the shank is part of the premade insole and that particular insole is of very high quality. 3) achilles were originally launched at $280 in 2004 and likely costed to be profitable at that price and market demand allows them now to increase the price, but not quality. 4) to compare to work boots is a false equivalency.
For me personally, I think the CP last shape strikes the right balance of proportion and detailing without looking clinically minimalist nor blobby. There are probably others who have better specs, but no one has been able to match the last proportion yet. I do hope they are dethroned as I’d like a cheaper alternative too, but in actual ownership I have zero complaints with my 4 yr old CPs.
Here’s the thread reference: www.reddit.com/r/malefashionadvice/comments/gemdot/this_video_rips_a_pair_of_common_projects_low/?
That's awesome. Thanks so much for sharing and for chiming in for the first time! All great points and I think more than anything this has been a powerful vehicle to open up a discussion.
He works with leather so he definitely knows a lot about leather quality, but I think what happens here is that the kinds of leather that he would prefer to use usually take quite some time to break in. I own vibergs and Thurman boots and those are not shoes that you take right out the box and feel very comfortable, they take time to get to that point while sneakers we expect them to be comfortable right away so I feel that CP has to find a balance in between. They are definitely over priced. It's the same thing with Doc Martens. If they were to use thicker leathers and leathers insole, midsole , those wouldn't be as comfortable out of the box. I really believe that if those were constructed with heavy duty materials people would find then uncomfortable, even though with time they will get comfortable, and they would get a fame as being expensive uncomfortable sneakers. Us the consumer expect sneakers to be really comfortable when they are new.
I think you should also watch the video he made about the boots he compare them too. The reason being that, those boots are made specifically to be the highest quality boots you can make in terms of the using the best quality materials, completely hand made, and just a creative exercise for the makers of the boot. And the price is about 500 dollars.
So his comparing of them has to do with the cost, because at that price you better be getting comparable quality. Which he just didn't see.
I wouldn't take reddit, self claimed shoe maker's option. Do your own research, the guy who ripped the shoes apart, is not only a leather worker, he hand makes the products, so he know what quality is, or isn't. And he has made multiple videos explaining leather quality, grade, and purpose. Chrome tan is usually used in work boots, do to the durability and forgivingness of wear, when treated right. Which he briefly explains in the video. Softness doesn't come from the quality of the leather, top vs full grain, but rather on the tumbledness and treatment of the leather. Since genuine(the cheap throw away leather) can be tumbled to be extra soft, but still be a garage cut of leather.
If you look up some of Tiffany beers video or tinker Hatfield, some pretty big names in shoe making. You can find more info on rubber used on the shoes soles. The rubber on the sole is softer (which is shown/alluded to in this video) so it'll actually wear out faster. The better quality the rubber, it usually means it will wear out fastet, usually what good quality rubber means is having better traction and sticking/gripping the ground better. Some shoe companies use car tire rubber, from Continental or Michelin, you would think they'd be very durable, but the purpose of such rubber is usually meant for better traction, durability is secondary. So the idea of the generic Italian rubber cup soles just being better is a bit ridiculous, and stems from people not knowing what it is meant to do. The rubber wears out quickly, and in the cut open part, you see the midsole is hollow. So its not more durable than any other shoe as you would think. There is also information on why that cup solenis used in a lot shoes, it has to do with cost of making last for shoes. It's very expensive making new ones, and then making one for every shoe size. So many companies just use the widely available one that its using, its not better than any other sole, it's just "Italian made".
I don't want to say CP shoe is bad, it's a pretty good shoe, using better material than any other avenge shoe. However you just pointed out the shoes were much more affordable before they gained their popularity and raised their prices. So what the guy is saying and what everyone should take away from the video, it's that it is significantly overpriced. And shouldn't be viewed as the pinnacle of the white classy shoe, that everyone has made it out to be.
And you should also know the video wasn't meant to be a takedown on the shoe, as he was mainly reacting to what was in side and didn't properly explain why they're as bad as he was suggesting, just do to him already having audience that should know what he's looking for based on his other videos and reviews. So if that's the only video you watched of his, you're missing a lot of the expected knowledge of shoe construction he's given in his other videos. It not your fault, or his fault, it was more of him not expecting this video to blow up like it did. I mean when he tried it, and trigger fans of a product, with the AJ1 SBB, thr sneakerheads pretty much did nothing to defend the shoe. They had said it was the "best quality" leather they had ever used for the shoe; only to be ripped open and see it was just decent leather, yet they said nothing. So crazy to see how this happened for the CP instead.
Honestly, if they were priced at 240 initially and now prices 400... c’mon that’s price gauging at it’s best. Yea sure the demand for these might justify the stark increase in price but to say the item (itself) is worth 400 dollars is completely false in itself as well.
@AK Milli looks just as good is based on your opinion though
Common Projects are attractive but I wouldn’t pay $425 for them. Have you looked into Feit sneakers? They’re handmade using veg tan leather. Very high quality.
Haven't heard of them before.
Feits are *super* nice but cost even more than CP. ...Crazy part is [i think] they made in China. ...I have 3 pair of CP [got em all on sale] and they are on point. ps- Common Projects website ain't been updated since F/W last year. Hopefully they still in business.
He is into quality craftsmanship, a dying breed. Some people want to jump on a trend, while he exposes the fact that it is a maximum money making venture (trend) as opposed to a quality product, worthy of it being trendy; for the correct reasons.
I love both of these channels. Love your humility to learn!
Many thanks, Tony!
Keep up the reaction videos, you are one of the more calm and classy people in the TH-cam sartorial community, a refreshing voice.
Glad you enjoyed this! I like having the little screen next to my head. I'm thinking maybe I'll do a weekly variety show! Thoughts?
He Spoke Style doesn’t hurt to try, like a news show or podcast interview or just whatever you want to talk about, as it is easier to listen to than a strongly opinionated loud voice.
@@banditmc12 Word.
Hey there Brian. Thank you for replying, and I was one of the people who recently posted on the other video. Perhaps it is getting a little too much hate, and I don't feel it is bashed for being a bad shoe either. It is just the price for what you're getting compared to many other similar shoes, or even better ones for that better. I can also understand if someone owns them they would be happy with it because your mind always wants to justify your investment as well. Thank you for this video though and being so objective to it.
Sure thing! Appreciate the dialogue!
I don’t know if you’ve found this out by now or if someone’s told you but a shank is used to add stability to your foot and reduce arch stress. They add more comfort to your foot, ankle and knee basically
Can you show koio Vs Common Projects. Which one is better to buy.
I’ve been watching Rose Anvil vids, I find them interesting 🧐. BTW love that grey flannel shirt...
Thanks! It's by Everlane. It was really cool to discover his channel.
Really appreciate your humility in this video Brian. It's this kind of content that builds trust between you and your audience. At $400, there are a lot of great 'luxury' sneakers where the quality of materials correspond with the price. However, I completely understand Common Project's business model as the use of cheaper materials results in a higher gross profit (and hopefully net profit!). We live in a free market economy, so we can choose whether we want to buy the CPs in spite of its flaws. Keep up the great content!
Many thanks! Really appreciate the comment and continued support.
The good thing about Rose Anvil. He points out the pros and cons with facts. Then he gives a solution on how to make the product better
I like his sexy voice.
Great reaction video. My first video of yours that I’ve seen. I’m excited to view more. You mentioned you’re not a good reactor but some folks may overact in their reaction vida. Not TOO biased and you were empathetic. You understood both sides of the arguments.
Again great vid. Stay safe bud
Appreciate that very much. This was a weird first HSS video-I rarely do anything like this!
For the shank, I'd like to chime in from the knowledge I've gotten on watching his vids (I'm a big fan of Rose Anvil and they're very informative and entertaining to watch. The purpose of a shank is to offer arch support to the wearer as the insoles would wear down over time. From my understanding, the shank was very strange to see in a sneaker because:
a.) Sneakers don't really last as long as boots so even if the Common Projects were resolable, it won't really matter in the long run due to its construction and materials
b.) Boots were made with more "blue-collar" work in mind, therefore, the insole would wear down quite heavily and since the sole would flex a lot as well, the shank would provide needed support for the foot. Common Projects are only meant to be walked around a lot, so having a shank in is pretty impractical (and strange, like he puts it since it's supposed to make the sole rigid yet I believe the Common Projects flexes a lot)
Hope this helps and hope others can chime in! Big fan as well of your content and I've been a fan since your blog days :)
Appreciate that so much!
Shanks are for arch support for shoes with raised heels, that includes luxury footwear. It is irregular in a sneaker because 1 there's less heel lift and 2 that support is usually built into the sole
Trenton and Heath do something similar with Allen Edmonds, Thursday Boots, and others. Really cool to see cobblers break down shoes
I'll say!
Brian, glad u were enlightened, just like me- i had settled on a cordovan Florsheim sneaker with some nice pinking as flair and my vintage KSwiss and Stan Smiths are easy-to-replace white options for 2020...for me. Honest, sincere content, Sir! Much appreciated
You got it! As always.
Hey brian.any thoughts on pini parmas white trainer sneakers?
Haven't tried them
Well they go for 170.
Made in Italy.
Think its a bargain?
Hey brian, know any companies where I can buy polo collar shirts?
I wasn’t one of the ones commenting about the Rose Anvil video but I had seen it before your video. I really appreciate your willingness to sit through this and watch this, especially on camera for us to see. Cheers!
Thanks, as always, Theodore! Appreciate the support.
Short comment on shanks
Especially in running shoes shanks are used to stabilize your foot. They are placed under the insole at about the middle of the shoe. Because it is not natural for your foot to flex/bend at that part (the middle part, you can go and try to bend it there) they insert shanks to not let the shoe flex there. That still doesnt answer the question why they would put a shank at the heel part but I just wanted to share these information.
Sorry for my bad englisch I am a young fan from germany :)
Thanks for that explanation. And your english is great!
They also show up in boots a lot. One of the selling points of the iron ranger is the big, wide metal shank.
Great video as always HSS. Love the breakdown and your thoughts about the shoe. I agree - if you are a fan of CP before this video and continue to like the way it fits and the styling of it, just keep purchasing what you like even though it is not necessarily the "best" material for the money.
Thanks so much, Ryan. Appreciate the comment and the continued support.
Hey man, kudos for keeping an open mind while watching the video. Refreshing to see in today's world.
Appreciate that very much.
I wonder how far reaching Rose Anvil’s CP deconstruction video has gotten within the high-end sneaker manufacturing industry and in particular, if CP themselves have caught wind of it yet. I would hope that if and when this happens, they receive RA’s critiques of the inferior and/or odd materials he found with an open minded attitude and maybe can get to work on fine-tuning and correcting the issues of which were revealed. It’s the right thing to do, if you ask me. And because CP are lucky enough to ride the word-of-mouth wave and therefore spends little to no money on advertising, I’d think this company can afford the added costs of revamping their products. The good publicity that would garner alone, will likely increase sales and will also help to save/keep their reputation. In my opinion, of course.
That's a great question! I haven't tracked it at all.
Andrew Mudgett the reason the became popular is because like everything celebrities started endorsing them.
About resoling sneakers: Crown Northampton was the best sneaker brand all-around on Kavalier's video, and they offer a very good resoling service, so that the sneakers can have a longer lifespan. I bought a pair of CNs myself and since they keep comfortable and stylish, resoling them seems like the best choice. Like others commented, great video and very sensible approach on such a hot topic for some people.
Many thanks, Rafael. Really appreciate the comment.
I really enjoyed this video. I love Rose Anvil and was curious about what you had to say, but I am very glad that you weren't like most others who do reaction vids and try to defend everything. Thanks
Love your CP vs Koio video and this reaction video. My 2 cents: I think the deconstruction video was insightful but focused mainly on quality of materials. A more balanced review would have included craftsmanship and labour costs in Italy in the full costs of the sneakers.
There was a time back then when quality was everything. My dad had really good pairs of leather shoes he was really proud of and it lasted a lifetime. Now all this quality is being put aside for fast fashion. It’s sad really.
I noticed that John Lobb make a similar sneaker probably at a higher price point. I wonder how that would stack up to CP? It seems like many of the traditional shoe makers now make a premium sneaker - good margins..?
Good question!
Save ur money
Mad respect to you for making this video. I actually saw the Rose Anvil video before I saw your comparison video and I did get a bit of a laugh when you said Common Projects was high quality. But of course, at that point, I was already had the knowledge imparted to me from that really informative video by Rose Anvil. The Achilles are still really good looking pairs though and if you can afford it, I wouldn't think it's the worst thing to spend on.
Thanks for the comment, Jed. And thanks for admitting your time of enlightenment.
Wow I like this video!
I like seeing how the two gentlemen interact in terms of your professionalism.
No harsh words, no uncomfortable bias comments.
Truly nice .. and Mr Sacawa, thanks so much for your show up & how you take it.
You have my respect, TQTQTQ 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Glad you enjoyed it!
its common to have shanks in shoes when you are in PRISON!
Bwahahahaha.
Most of the online comments thrashing CPs are from people who say why buy a bespoke suit when Suitsupply makes perfectly good stuff. Pointless conversation, everyone has their preferences.
I would not spend 400€ for CPs but got a slightly used pair for just 40€. This way I can put the price aside and look at them without trying to justify spending a huge chunk of cash. I really like them for their sleek silouette (no copy I've worn is as sleek), they have held up well despite heavy wear (better than my "value" pairs, like Svensson) and I must say I feel good knowing that people recognize them as CPs due to the golden numbers.
Clothes are all about how they make you feel. You shouldn't be ignorant of the actual quality, but it is perfectly fine to pay a brand premium if that's what makes you happy.
Preach, Henri.
Have you tried products from FEIT and comparing it to common projects?
I bought my first pair of common projects in 2005, after doing a quick search just now I can't seem to find the model that I bought back then, it was a slim low top white and gray sneaker that had a pretty wide toe strap that was held down by Velcro right in front of the bottom lace, but I remember rocking those for a good couple of years and while I beat them up pretty good they did hold up for quite a while. Having said that even back then I could tell that the leather wasn't of the utmost quality, that what you'd expect from a sneaker that cost a considerable amount. But, I was also fully aware that I was basically paying a luxury tax as you said. I think a lot of people don't realize that when you buy quote luxury sneakersyou really are not paying for super quality and construction like you would find in a really nice work boot or something.
Thanks so much for chiming in, Stephen!
It’s definitely good to learn how it is constructed and made, but when I bought my Common Projects, like you said, I purchased it knowing that I was paying the high price tag mainly for the brand name.. so it really depends on if YOU want to spend that money on brand named sneakers or not
Exactly.
100% agreed , just recently got into sneakers and bought a whole bunch of different brands. decided to get common projects and has instantly become my most used shoe.. so what if its not made of the BEST materials , i wear them frequently because of the COMFORT and how easy they are to put on and take off, in the end thats what matters most. oh and the silhouette of a common project just looks RIGHT!
He cut lots of shoes in half 😂😂😂 everytime i feel the pain.
Hahaha. It's a cool channel!
I think his follow up review where he talks about the koios as being similar, a shoe that I personally like more, he says they are essentially the same and clarifies some of his common project statements.
Brian! That’s why I subscribed to your channel. Nothing but class my brother. 👍
You rock! Thanks, Emilio!
He did just do a video comparing the CP’s to the Koios.
Usually I’d think”damn people just “destroying shoes” BUT. He dissects it and explains to people the build of the shoe and what leathers are used and informs thousands. It’s pretty awesome
Agreed.
I have wide feet, and I think narrow shoes look better, sucks for me, but I can see why they went more narrow.
Very very Nice and Genuine reaction from you. Really Appreciate your honesty and thoughtfulness towards others who give reviews based on their opinion. As usual it's really great to watch your videos. Good luck.👌👌😇
Thanks, Alamin!
Although I love Common Projects Silhouette, it's really difficult to put in a balance what you're actually paying for brand and the quality of the product so in a certain way Rose Anvil made a really complete shoe review. Actually I was looking to buy a pair but is more important quality over brand to me.
It's great to have channels like Rose Anvil.
I think one prerequisite to consider: high end luxury brands have a very homogeneous target group who won't care about price but about exclusivity. Once such a brand gets mainstream awareness critique comes from people who cannot afford those brands based on their "basket value".
Hence the conclusion: of course you're paying at least a 30%-50% premium. If you want value for money you're 400$ are better spent at a pair of Crocket & Jones that you will wear for a decade.
There is a great chapter of luxury marketing in Scott Galloway's "four horsemen"
I also recommend Dana Thomas's Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster: bit.ly/3cwFjWs
What are the insights from the chapter?🤔
I got a pair of Ace Marks minimal white sneakers and I'm pretty happy with the quality. They were about $200. The interior is completely lined with tan leather and they've been great thus far. I agree it would be interesting for Rose Anvil to do a comparison between Common Projects, Koio, Ace Marks, Gustin or any of the other minimal white sneaker brands.
Totally!
The only shank plate I’ve seen are in Jordan’s or other basketball performance shoes. They have carbon fiber shank plates to rebound from bending quickly
The soles are premade and are known to be high quality margom soles... They literally just buy them, glue them and stitch them on.
Really love this style of video!
Nice! Thanks, Gregg. We threw it together really quickly.
I’ve never bought any sneaker for more than $100 I’ve disoné research on white leather sneakers. I think CP definitely is the best looking one. It’s more about the design and style rather then the quality of materials. Sure I expected much better leather on a $400+ sneaker, but I might still buy it if I have that much money, just for the style.
Great perspective. Thanks so much for chiming in.
I feel this same way but personally have always liked the look of the koios and I was happy to see the leather was pretty similar. So i feel good knowing the quality of the two is similar.
I’m glad that you dove into the Anvil video like this. I think you both do an excellent and admirable job in your videos. And, I don’t think he was harsh or had an agenda against the CP’s. But, he obviously has a solid acumen when it comes to shoe construction. I think the CP’s are cool, but not worth the price even before his video. For example, I think Grenson’s Sneaker 1’s for almost $200 less are better looking, and could possibly last longer. Those Koios also look interesting to me since your video comparing the two. Thanks again for your entertaining and informative videos! Especially during the lockdown!
Really appreciate the comment and support, Scott. I'm glad to have found his channel. No experience with Grenson sneakers, but I have a couple pairs of boots. Really nice stuff.
Wait, why the f am I watching a video of you watching another video. I’ll just go watch the video directly myself!
LOL
Here for this 👌🏻👌🏻
NOW we can get the party started!
Maybe the shoes you reviewed are actually better than common project quality, atleast the upper anways.
This was great, keep it up Brian :D
Thanks, Robert! Wilco!
Brian, check out his video where he takes apart Crown Hamptons. I watched it before I was redirected to this one and thought they would probably be your next pair of sneakers if you don't have them already. British craftsmanship at it's finest
I like how he spoke style pushed back on the chrome tan vs. veg tan part, I think chrome tan provides some benefits, but is technically "less authentic" so...it's one of those weird situations.
what i can say about CP is they are butter on the feet...and I love the clean aesthetic. tried on too many dressy sneakers in the same range and cheeper sneekers as well that were all uncomfortable.
Agree.
100% man! common projects fit like a glove straight out of the box , absolutely no break in period from what ive experienced ..
In a boot or shoe, the shank is a part of the supportive structure between the insole and outsole. The presence of a shank is crucial to the functionality of boots as they diminish the load incurred by the wearer's feet and calves over the course of an ascent.
Shanks can be made of wood, steel or nylon. They are common in boots and dress shoes... Sneakers like the Common Projects are luxury products and that is what you pay for, people also pay thousends for Gucci bags made of cheap materials, it is the name, the hype and the so called luxury you pay for......is it worth the price? That is up to you.......
Exactly, Dirk. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks, Brian. Really good follow-up on this. I agree that the video did not expose CPs the way others portrayed it to. I wouldn't say it opened my eyes to never purchasing CPs again - as a purchaser of other luxury brands - I've come to expect that a luxury product does not necessarily mean you are getting best materials. What I imagine happened with CP along the way (and I believe this to be true - but take this with a grain of salt because I cannot provide supporting evidence - but I've had this conversation with others about CPs) is that there was a period of time when CPs were getting started where they used those more premium materials. As their popularity grew - they looked to mass produce - and I believe moved their facility for manufacturing. It's was then that the quality dropped. I have no personal experience with this as my first pair of CPs came about 5 years ago. Whether or not the story is completely true - there as aspects here that feel right. I still couldn't tell you why there is a metal shank in there either. I've just never seen that construction. All the best.
Thanks so much, Quincy. Really appreciate you taking the time to chime in.
My wife works in MRI and says that she sees shanks in all kinds of sneakers. I found that to be surprising!
Whoa. Interesting.