Low Key Luxe: The Best Quiet Luxury Sneaker Brands

From maximalist monstrosities to Day-Glo runners, sneakers have never been the most subtle shoes in the footwear arena. They’re often overengineered, brash and colourful – items of athletic function rather than stylish sophistication. But that doesn’t always have to be the case.

By now, you’re probably familiar with the term ‘quiet luxury’. It’s an aesthetic that marries high quality, refinement and fine materials with stripped back minimalism. The designers let the pieces speak for themselves, confident that they’re good enough on their own and don’t need to be propped up with big logos. It signals wealth and taste, but without feeling the need to shout it from the rooftops.

In the sneaker world, that means simple designs, clean lines and little to no branding. These trainers are often made in Europe, cut from Italian leather or suede, and suave enough to mingle with tailoring as well as sweatpants and jeans.

Below are the brands we believe have perfected this formula.

Common Projects

There’s one brand that’s always the first to come up when talking about the sort of luxe, low-profile sneakers that fall into the quiet luxury category. That brand is Common Projects.

This American label essentially pioneered the modern minimalist sneaker, shifting perceptions around what could be considered smart or casual in the realm of footwear.

Instantly recognisable from its gold foil numbering on each heel, the iconic Achilles Low took a simple silhouette and reimagined it in high-quality materials, each pair handmade in Italy.

They say so much while saying so little, making them a must for anyone who values the stealth-wealth aesthetic.

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Maison Margiela

Before Common Projects was even a twinkle in its founders’ eyes, there was Maison Margiela. The Parisian fashion house, founded by Belgian designer Martin Margiela, is famous for its avant-garde, deconstructivist designs, but it’s also behind what is arguably the original quiet luxury sneaker: the Replica.

Based on a standard issue German Army trainer, the Replica took a simple, utilitarian design and filtered it through a high-fashion lens. Every line was perfected, every stitch and panel of suede meticulously mapped out, and, crucially, the materials were high-end and luxurious.

The fact that it remains popular today, after a quarter of a century, tells you everything you need to know.

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Myrqvist

Swedish brand Myrqvist set out with a clear mission back in 2016: to make high-quality footwear as affordable and accessible as possible. Granted, the sneakers still aren’t what anyone would call ‘cheap’, but they’re significantly less expensive than comparable products from so-called luxury brands.

Made in Portugal, Myrqvist’s shoes, including sneakers, often utilise traditional shoemaking techniques and high-quality materials, selling directly to the consumer to keep costs as low as possible.

Crucially, there’s no obnoxious branding or gaudy colours – just clean, simple sneakers made with serious attention to detail.

Shop now at Myrqvist

JAK

JAK is another company that boasts Portuguese manufacture. Often touted as an affordable alternative to Common Projects, this minimalist sneaker brand is renowned for its stripped-back designs, buttery-soft leather, and timeless aesthetics.

JAK makes loafers, boots and even a small range of clothing, but it’s sneakers where JAK really shines. Styles span everything from basketball-inspired high-tops to classic understated court shoes. But no matter the silhouette, there’s a throughline of minimalism and restraint that ties them all together.

Shop now at JAK

TOD’S

Since the 1970s, TOD’S has been carving out a place for itself in the world of menswear as the go-to label for luxurious loafers and driving shoes. They’re known for being Italian-made, brimming with refinement and sophistication, and yet never feeling the need to shout about it.

The brand’s sneakers follow a similar script: high-end materials, Italian manufacture, and not an oversized logo or ugly colour combo in sight.

Not everyone will recognise what they are, but that’s the point. If you know, you know.

Shop now at MR PORTER

Zegna

Historic Italian menswear brand Zegna is probably better known for its tailoring than its footwear, but that’s not to say it doesn’t produce some truly exceptional sneakers that fit the quiet luxury bill to a tee.

Take the Triple Stitch model, for example. It’s a casual slip-on with the looks of a trainer and the DNA of a dress shoe, featuring premium materials and a unique elastic retention system to keep it locked in place.

As outlandish as it seems on paper, it looks restrained and low-key in the flesh, which is why it’s still one of the best options out there.

Shop now at MR PORTER

Velasca

Velasca is all about bringing local Italian craftsmanship to a global audience, and doing it all without charging exorbitant prices. The brand now makes a full range of Italian-made menswear, ranging from tailoring to hoodies, but footwear is where it cut its teeth, and it shows.

All of Velasca’s sneakers are handmade in Montegranaro, which is effectively the capital of Italian shoemaking. Quality is, as you might expect, off the scale, and while prices are still high, they’re extremely competitive for sneakers of this standard.

Shop now at Velasca

Axel Arigato

If any brand on this list could be considered the outlier, it’s Axel Arigato. The Swedish brand’s designs are, at times, a little more… visible, but that’s not to say they aren’t still subtle and clean.

Minimalism is a key element of everything the brand does. While it has experimented with bigger, bulkier, and more modern styles in recent years, the overarching mood remains one of restraint and quality.

There’s something for everyone within the range. Fans of simplicity will like the clean lines of the aptly named Clean 90, while those who prefer something a bit more retro and sporty will resonate with styles such as the Clay and the Daze Runner.

Shop now at END.

Tom Ford

Tom Ford at MR PORTER

Tom Ford is best known for fancy fragrances and razor-sharp tailoring, but the sneakers aren’t bad either. Unapologetically opulent in full-grain leather, with glistening hardware and flawless finishing, they’re every bit as sharp and beautifully executed as the brand’s famous suits.

Shapes are classic, visible branding is nonexistent and prices, unsurprisingly, are some of the steepest you’ll find.

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