As a genus, the canvas sneaker is over-subscribed, over-worn and, arguably, over. Do you go lazy and pick up a pair of Converse (they’re the 70s heavy ones honest) or street-kid-wannabe and grab some Vans? Want to look like a European tourist? Go Superga. Still seduced by what John Lennon used to wear? Get some Spring Court. Thing is, none of these brands provide any stand out. They’re all too available. Too popular. Too well known. Paradoxical it may be, but to generate canvas sneaker stand-out, you need something less conspicuous.

These numbers are from Moonstar. And they’re certainly inscrutable enough to distinguish themselves from the vulcanised heard. The only branding, if you can call it that, is the phrase, “Made in Kurume” on the heel. While the natural rubber bleeding over the upper, means there’s significant waterproofing going on. They bring to mind North Sea Clothing’s Top Deck shoes, but there’s a far greater volume of rubber coverage going on here.

As far as the look goes, these would give their best performance beneath some wide, heftily rolled denim. I feel like you’d have to give these things some serious room below your hem, you’ve really got to show them off in their entirety for them to make sense. Too low a hem and you’d end up with a weird future-boot feel, with only the barest sliver of canvas preventing you looking like you’re wearing some kind of psychiatric ward safety shoe. But you know, such are the trials involved with being too much of a tosser to just buy a pair of Converse.