![]() ![]() “It’s like trying to convince a kid not to eat Taco Bell because it’s not real Mexican food. It’s fair to argue, as some detractors have, that Rose Anvil’s videos fixate too much on value that comes from materials and construction - that might make sense for a work boot, but not necessarily for a streetwear item. Some Redditors claiming to be shoemakers, meanwhile, note that this is par for the course on all sneakers. Kay points out in the video that Common Projects is using cheaper “chrome-tanned leather” of a lower grain quality than the best vegetable-tanned, full-grain leather available on the market, despite the top-end price tag. It doesn’t appear that Kay is trying to pivot his brand to being a Notorious Shoe Truther, but with this one video, he became the buzzing subject of a million threads on Twitter, Reddit and shoe forums.ĭespite Kay’s experience as a leather expert, these “Truth About…” shoe deconstruction videos have sparked more vigorous debate than conclusions about what the hell we’re actually paying for when we buy shoes. But to see it analyzed, literal layer by layer, by a man who could seemingly care less about sneaker culture, feels refreshing. It doesn’t take a genius to suspect that a brand like Common Projects is in the business of marking up its above-average wares to high-end prices. So I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the quiet, bummed-out disappointment Kay showed as he cut up the leather of the upper and assessed it as the cheap stuff. You either love ‘em or hate ‘em devotees claim that the construction and quality makes them the gold standard for a sleek luxury-brand sneaker. Without a doubt, the channel received its biggest dose of notoriety when Kay decided to take his blade and pliers to a pair of the coveted Common Projects Achilles Low - the $400 white sneaker for minimalist hypebeasts. ![]() What he knows is leather, stitching, glue and assembly - and what each of those components look like, and cost, at their best. Kay doesn’t really spend time opining about the aesthetic of a shoe or the culture around it. But his mellow demeanor and matter-of-fact narration, even when he comes across something puzzling in a shoe, is oddly soothing. There is a shock factor to Kay calmly taking a knife to the toe of a shoe, stabbing it in and beginning the process of sawing the whole thing in half. And the subscribers have exploded in 2020 in the aftermath of Kay releasing some eye-opening teardowns of some of the most beloved shoes in the game, ranging from Timberlands to rare Jordans to regular ol’ Converse high-tops. Martens boots racked up more than a million views combined - a big boost over the 5,000 to 10,000 views he was averaging on other uploads. ![]() Case in point: About six months ago, two uploads on the inner workings of Dr. While he’s been uploading videos since 2018, it’s his recent shoe reviews that have taken him viral. Kay seems to have appeared out of nowhere. And while there are literally countless content creators who focus on dissecting the look, feel and construction of popular shoes, I’ve never quite seen anyone do it so literally as Weston Kay, the soft-spoken man who runs the leather goods shop Rose Anvil and a YouTube channel of the same name. Instead, I’ve turned to watching YouTube videos of the shoes I want, in the hopes that endless research can be an effective salve for cravings. But for me, shelling out for shoes with nowhere to actually flex them still feels a little obscene. Stress-shopping is absolutely a form of self-care as we face the wrath of COVID-19. But the reality of being stuck inside so much of the time makes the prospect of dropping several hundred dollars on a pair of kicks less… well, justifiable. I always have an idea of what pair I need (okay, mostly want ) next right now, it’s a mid-cut boot and a pair of sneakers. All kinds, to wear to all sorts of occasions, most of which no longer exist in the context of California’s quarantine - parties, bars, clubs, tailgates, to say nothing of the office and the beach. ![]() I’ve been daydreaming about shoes lately. ![]()
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