Why these €50 sneakers are the latest craze in Spanish fashion

They can be seen in universities, in the upmarket areas of large cities and even at the crowded concerts of Spain’s most popular musicians. They are Pompeii: the canvas and leather sneakers of striking pastel colors, and they have become a signature brand in a market driven by young people who are increasingly drawn to the concept of “smart-casual” attire.

Behind the brand are four 25-year-old Madrileños. Friends since high school, they were at university when they began contemplating the idea of setting up a business. They have come to the world of fashion from slightly unconventional backgrounds: three of them pursued degrees in business administration and the fourth studied industrial engineering.

For them, the pastel colors and leather laces are the key identifying features of their sneakers. “We wanted to make a shoe that you could wear every day, to work, to the grocery store, but one that could still give you personality through its design,” says Jaime Garrastazu, one of the founding partners. “We saw that leather laces made them into a smarter shoe, depending on the design and the colour of the sole. It gives them that vitality and sense of fun, which was a perfect balance.“It’s the latest evolution in canvas shoes,” says Daniel García, an expert in men’s fashion. “Many influences come together in this product: classic tennis shoes (like Superga, for example), skater shoes (Vans), and summer sneakers (Victoria). The leather laces also make them similar to boat shoes.”

The Pompeii catalog is made up of small variations – canvas or leather exteriors, with or without laces, espadrille or rubber soles – all of which rest on the same theme: “Their success lies in having come up with a series of designs that reinvent the sneaker,” explains Arturo Gil, expert in fashion and beauty with the website The Adonis Lab . And their clientele is ecstatic with the mix: “They’re comfortable, they stand out, even if you’re dressing casually, and on top of that, it’s a Spanish brand,” says José María, a 22-year-old architecture student.

Perhaps another key to Pompeii’s success is that these shoes will not break the bank. One pair runs to €50, and shoes from the summer collection cost just €35.

Adapted from El País English Edition 17 July 2017

Question 1: indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

1. The designers belonged to the world of fashion.
2. Pompeii shoes are both elegant and informal.
3. Everything about these shoes is absolutely original.
4. Some people are proud of the sneakers' being Spanish.
5. The only drawback to Pompeii is their price.

Question 3: Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given.

1. 
   expensive (p.1)
2. attractive, impressive (p.1)
3. more and more (p.1)
4. think about (p.2)
5. kind of cloth (p.3)
6. consist (p.4)
7. delighted (p.4)
8. be noticed (p.4)
9. in addition (p.4)
10. be too expensive (p. 5)

KEY

Question 1

1. False. "They have come to the world of fashion from slightly unconventional backgrounds: three of them pursued degrees in business administration and the fourth studied industrial engineering. "
2. True. “We saw that leather laces made them into a smarter shoe, depending on the design and the colour of the sole. It gives them that vitality and sense of fun, which was a perfect balance."
3. False. "“Many influences come together in this product: classic tennis shoes (like Superga, for example), skater shoes (Vans), and summer sneakers (Victoria)"
4. True. “They’re comfortable, they stand out, even if you’re dressing casually, and on top of that, it’s a Spanish brand,” says José María, a 22-year-old architecture student."
5. False. " these shoes will not break the bank. One pair runs to €50, and shoes from the summer collection cost just €35."

Question 2

1. upmarket
2. striking
3. increasingly
4. contemplating / to contemplate
5. canvas
6. is made up
7. ecstatic
8. stand out / to stand out
9. on top of that
10. break the bank