by Nikki Gotianse-Tan
FEW of us made it through high school gym without donning a pair of Tretorn shoes. Owning a pair was like a rite of passage back then. Although they were nothing impressive, they basically served their purpose. They were your prescription plain white tennis shoes, more need-be than must-have. You appreciated them for being reliable and nondescript, and not for much else. Boy, have things changed. Or that is, until you see what Tretorn has to offer now.
Unbeknownst to many, the backbone of this Scandinavian brand of shoes is intimately tied to many greats in tennis history such as Billie Jean King and Chris Evert. This shows that the dependability of Tretorn was never in question. They were always sturdy to the core and the workhorse image of their sneakers sustained them. However, it does make one wonder why such a great line of footwear could leave our general consciousness for such a long time. I believe the answer lies in the fact that they left people wanting in the design department. And we all know that it’s hard to consider a product, even if it is a great one, if it isn’t a sight to behold.
I never thought I’d want to buy another pair of Tretorns again but I am glad their recent offerings are leaving me standing corrected. Gullwing, the banner name of their Fall/Winter 09 collection and inspired by the alpinist lifestyle, fully embodies just how much about them has changed. With thoughtful details and rich materials, these are products that feel oddly familiar but are really things you’ve never seen before. They skirt their “aged” heritage and an adherence to current trends all at once. They manage to let both qualities play off each other quite beautifully to avoid being boxed in by neither seeming too dated nor extremely out-there. Pop and style star Justin Timberlake neatly summed it up in his blog when he called the collection’s Midlevel Skymra shoe a “modern classic.”
Stylish comfort is something that is widely appreciated but seldom found in just the right amount by today’s active individual. Coincidentally, this is something that Tretorn understands quite well. Now with casually refined designs under their belt, they aren’t about to make us forget it.
Tretorn shoes are locally available in the G/F of Chimes Davao, Gov. Sales Street, Davao City.
