Skating is as much about skill as it is about style, and it’s clear that Village PM gets it. Details like the asymmetrical lace-to-toe design, dual heel pull tabs, and grippy, undulating sidewalls hint at the brand’s bigger idea: a skate shoe informed by the DNA of rock-climbing footwear. The asymmetrical shape follows the natural contours of the foot, while the extended lacing allows for a more precise fit. High-wear zones are reinforced with a rubber rand and sidewalls that improve durability and grip during tricks. It’s made from the same sticky rubber used in climbing shoes for superior friction.

But even the most bomb-proof skate shoes give out, and most skaters can go through a pair in a matter of weeks, well before the soles have worn away. Village PM already has a solution: they’ve designed their shoes to be easily repaired by a cobbler. Once you’ve done enough tres flips and the rubber’s wearing thin, a cobbler can simply peel off that layer of rubber and apply a new rubber layer so your shoes can keep on pushing.

Beyond the engineering, Village PM’s shoes also happen to have real curb appeal. Lapray and De Cleen developed a custom shoe last that gives the sneakers a sleek silhouette that meets the fashion moment, which seems keen to focus on torpedo shoes and ballerina sneakers.

The streamlined but none-too-slim silhouette makes them a perfect pairing for a wide variety of pant silhouettes from slim jeans with an ankle-baring crop, to baggy cargos with a healthy break. Materials like hardy canvas, peached suede, and patent leather combine with versatile and trending colorways that hearken back to the sportswear of the late ‘90s. And if there’s a trend that has an enduring appeal with a perennially modern aesthetic, it’s JFK Jr’s era.