To see if these sneaker models (and the brand overall) are for you, check out my review of three Koio
Minimal leather
And yes, the classic luxury sneaker, the Common Projects Achilles, is quite a good shoe. However, we also believe that you don’t need to drop almost $500 for a good pair of low-profile, white leather sneakers.
This is why we’re big fans of Koio’s Capri sneakers. They look great, they’re handcrafted with Italian leather, and they’re a fraction of the price of a CP Achilles.
All that to say, we love Koio. I, however, have never tried anything else in their range other than that tentpole shoe — until now. I’ve been wearing three models from Koio’s range for about a month now.
Read on to see if these
Koio: The Brand
Koio was founded in 2015 by Johannes Quodt and Chris Wichert. They did their due diligence, having visited 34 manufacturers. They eventually partnered with one in Florence that allowed them to serve up luxury shoes at high-value prices.
Each shoe is hand-finished by actual Italian craftspeople, using truly high-quality materials. Of course, their Capri is made from LWG gold-certified Italian leather.
This means the Leather Working Group has systematically approved them of having eco-conscious practices. Related to their environmental efforts, their Pale Blue Dot is a fully vegan option (and one I tried on for this review!)
What I Tried
Here are the shoes I’ve been wearing for the past month:
I ordered them all in my regular sneaker size, which is an 8.
Review: The Pale Blue Dot Vegan 01
The Pale Blue Dot is Koio’s vegan sneaker, made from apple leather. It comes in four colorways. All of them feature a white body, with different colored swooshes on the side.
I opted for the Ocean, which is a muted blue that I’d say sits somewhere between a sky blue and a slate.
The Design
I love the look of this shoe. Its white body and low-profile silhouette, along with its decorative features make it look like a cross between a classic minimal sneaker and a GAT or athletic trainer.
In fact, the “marshmallowy” aesthetic of the vegan leather reminds me a bit of the Nike Killshots. The white surface looks softly granular. It’s pretty cool that the “leather” is plant-based, yet still mimics the Killshot aesthetic.
Meanwhile, the insoles and outsoles are made of recycled rubber, cork, and natural latex.
With this mix of cool and class, you can definitely wear this shoe with the most casual outfits all the way up to smart casual, depending on the context.
I also think that all of the colorways lend themselves to spring and summer wardrobes. They’re all muted but with a gray undertone instead of white. It’s a more dusty, vintage shade, rather than pastel.
And just as I expected from my experience with the Capris, everything is solid and cleanly stitched. The artisanal quality is clear to see in the fortified, double-stitched area beneath the eyelet stays and the back strip.
Comfort and Fit
I ordered my regular size 8s, and these shoes definitely fit true to size.
I will say that there was a bit of heel slippage at first. Part of this has to do with the thick rubber sole. The other part has to do with the fact I like to tuck my laces into the shoe for a “tieless” style. The slippage was completely fixed when I secured the laces properly though.
So, if you prefer a cleaner, hidden-lace look like me, you may have to either deal with slippage for a week or two or tie it up properly and then tuck the tied-up ends into the lip.
Other than that, no complaints here. They were comfortable right out of the box and got more and more comfortable the more I wore them.
Price
At around $150 at the time of this writing, the price is totally fair. This is pretty standard for a good vegan sneaker.
Some are a lot cheaper, but they likely wouldn’t last you very long.
Vegan leather doesn’t last as long as real leather. However, I’ve seen enough shoe stitching in my day that I’m confident the handcrafted construction of this shoe provides excellent durability.
Pros and Cons
Before we head to the Fabros, here’s an at-a-glance wrap-up of pros and cons, to quickly help you figure out if the Pale Blue Dot Vegan 01 is for you.
Pros
It has a cool and classy look that can work in a lot of dress codes. Plus, the dusty color accents have a warm weather vibe that doesn’t go too pastel.
On the functional side of things, it’s comfortable right out of the box, requires little break-in, and offers excellent grip. And as with all Koio shoes, the handcrafted stitching is impressive.
Of course, the eco-conscious construction is a big draw here. It features recycled rubber as well as apple leather.
Cons
In general, vegan leather won’t last as long as animal leather, though at least it’s organic and decomposes quickly once eventually disposed of. And as mentioned, there was some heel slippage in the first week for me.
Review: The Fabro
The Fabro is Koio’s line of pre-distressed
I opted for the Forest version, which exactly as its name implies, is in a forest green shade.
The Design
I don’t usually love pre-distressed
But, I actually quite like these shoes in Forest. The tone goes naturally with the distressed style because there’s something earthy, woodsy, and raw about it. And combined with an almost skater-like look, it creates an interesting dynamic.
You can wear it with a Norfolk jacket to bring out its woodsy side, or with shorts and a t-shirt to bring out the youthful side.
Objectively, I will say that Koio makes a good pre-distressed sneaker. They’re made from LWG-certified leather, they come in a range of looks for different personal styles (from all-white to gold accents), and they’re incredibly well-stitched.
No different than the Vegan 01 and the Capri, all of the necessary fortification is there. And, these shoes are fairly water resistant. I walked in the rain in them. My socks never got wet and the exterior was dry within an hour.
Comfort and Fit
Again, the size 8s fit true to size.
It was a little difficult to put on the first time, due to the brawny suede exterior and fine stitching. Also, I almost never loosen my shoelaces.
I was afraid there might be a bit of heel slippage, but this suede is a lot harder than the vegan leather of the Pale Blue Dot. So, everything stayed in place.
The best way I can describe the fit is beautifully snug. Even when I get on my tip-toes, the interior squeezes against my toes. However, it’s soft and comfortable when it happens creating a cushioned yet supportive feel.
Price
The price is completely in line with most pre-distressed
Pros and Cons
Here’s a quick overview of the Fabro pros and cons!
Pros
It’s an objectively well-built sneaker, using high-quality materials and hand stitching. Even more, the Fabro comes in a wide range of colorways.
I think the Forest colorway matches the used look, making it an easy wear for guys who aren’t into pre-distressed
Also, the pre-distressed look makes the shoes easier to maintain since scuffs just blend right in.
And of course, it’s a comfortable and supportive sneaker.
Cons
The pre-distressed look isn’t for everyone. And that’s fine. You can always just go for the classic Capri.
Review: The Garda
The Garda is Koio’s minimalist and classic slip-on, a sort of grown-up answer to Vans slip-on skater shoes. It comes in several colorways and constructions, including leather, textured textiles, and like the one I ordered, cotton.
The Deep Sea variant that I have sports a dark, neutral navy exterior with white outsoles.
The Design
Visually, the Garda is pretty straightforward and a top-notch choice for anyone who is looking for a versatile slip-on. This cotton version I have is perfect for spring and summer, pairing excellently with shorts, polos, and navy blazers.
I do like how the pull tab on the back, which is sewn onto the back fortifier, is full leather. It adds a subtle, grown-up accent that doesn’t interrupt the shoe’s minimal look.
Another thing that adds to the grown-up factor is the fully Italian leather interior. It adds comfort and long-lasting structure.
Comfort and Fit
Out of all of the shoes I tried, the Garda had the most significant break-in period.
It isn’t as cushioned as the other two
However, the inside is leather, so it eventually conformed to my feet. I’m not used to having to break in slip-ons, but the Garda is a leveled-up model made with substantial materials. So, I didn’t dock points just because of this quick break-in period.
Other than that, like every shoe I’ve ever tried from Koio, it fits true to size.
Price
Considering it’s so easy to find cheap slip-on shoes, the $245 price tag might seem steep. However, few cotton slip-ons are made with organic cotton, feature a full leather interior, and boast hand craftsmanship.
From a practical perspective, you pay a fair premium.
Pros and Cons
Check out this quick round-up of pros and cons to see if the Garda is the slip-on for you.
Pros
It’s a classic slip-on with a grown-up twist.
The interior is made completely out of full-grain leather, as is the pull tab, providing structure and eventually, personalized comfort.
As with all Koio shoes, they’re handcrafted and well-built.
Cons
The leather interior provides a dress-shoe-like structure, which is good but can take some getting used to.
Feel free to use an insert until it’s broken in — or permanently.
Conclusion: Is Koio the Brand for You?
Koio is a good brand to turn to for high-value, hand-crafted basics, and what I call, basics-plus. A pre-distressed shoe or a classic in a lively color is what I mean by the latter.
They offer high-value versions of classics that tend to be expensive, and leveled-up, well-structured versions of beater shoes that tend to be cheap.
Koio is eco-conscious and ensures all of their shoes are hand-finished by legitimate artisans.
One downside is that they don’t offer half sizes. They mention that if you’re a half size, to go down one, though I imagine this would add to the break-in period.
Still, Koio overall offers an impressive and compelling cost proposition.
Have you tried Koio shoes? If so, what are your thoughts? Let me know!
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