American-Italian luxury footwear company, Common Projects has managed to expand all over the globe. The products of this New York-based company can be found in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. However, their success has allowed them to expand beyond what they started out as, in a unique way.
Common Projects is mostly known for its signature “Achilles” shoe. It’s also the first sneaker that the company ever created, which was debuted in Fall of 2015. The “Achilles: is a low top sneaker with a rounded toe and a padded collar. The entire shoe is lined with leather and features a rubber sole. On the side, along the heel is gold metallic writing. It’s a row of ten numbers that refer to the shoe’s style, size, and color. This feature has become a signature for all of Common Project’s footwear.
Starting when men’s sneakers, the company has expanded to include slip-ons, Chelsea boots, Desert boots, and loafers. Besides using Italian leather, their shoes come in the highest-quality of canvas and suede. They now offer shoes to women and have leather accessories, including wallets and backpacks.
Back in 2004, American art director Prathan Poopat got together with Italian creative consultant Flavio Girolami to create hand-stitched Italian leather shoes. The name of the company came from the fact that the two worked on various “common” projects while living in separate countries.
Today, the company has had an impressive amount of success, making over $10 million by 2015. Celebrities like Kanye West, Ellen DeGeneres, Frank Ocean, and Nick Jonas are seen sporting Common Project’s footwear on a regular basis. However, the minimalist company has no stores, never had an advertisement or commercial, and doesn’t host events for their brand.
Common Project’s footwear can be found in retail stores and boutiques around the world. Their prices generally start at $400, however, resellers have usually sold them at half their original value.
