Spring Court

Spring Court makes canvas tennis shoes, and it has been at it since 1936. Georges Grimmeisen, a keen tennis player with a background in the rubber industry, designed a breathable shoe in cotton canvas on a vulcanised rubber sole. The giveaway is the four ventilation holes in the midsole. Tennis players, amateur and professional, took to them quickly. By the 1960s sports shoes had moved beyond the court, and Spring Court pairs were being worn by rock stars, artists and everyone else. The brand says it has sold over 25 million pairs. Its own site describes unisex models built for comfort, simplicity and lasting quality, and it offers navy as a plain, easy colour for everyday wear.