When I chat to other fans of the Spanish brand, it’s clear that Alohas’ main draw is its sustainability credentials. Though Rifes are slightly pricier than Sambas, they’re made locally, with leather sourced from Leather Working Group-certified suppliers. They’re also mostly made-to-order, which means they can take a little longer to arrive, but with less waste involved. “We launch new sneaker models through our digital platforms and only produce the pairs that customers have requested,” founder and CEO Alejandro Porras tells Vogue. “We never have stock available [with a few exceptions], thus avoiding having unsold pairs [left behind].”
My colleague Georgia practically lives in her red Alohas, so I asked her why she went for them. She tells me that she likes a production model that encourages considered shopping, which also means that “the Northern Line is not yet awash with my favourite Tb.490 sneaker.” They’re now the shoe she wears the most – usually with wide-leg jeans, or tailored trousers. “Alohas offers flair that Adidas and New Balance simply do not,” she says.
The problem with a lot of Samba alts, I’ve found, is that they’re often just not as cute as the real thing – the shape’s off, or the laces don’t hang right (you won’t catch me in an Adidas Gazelle, sorry!). Alohas Rifes are the first genuine alternative that I’m actually into. Plus, they’re less evil for the planet than a lot of other sneaker models, which automatically makes them cooler.
