A trainer like no other... At the end of 2025, Louis Vuitton invited the French press to delve into the world of its Sneakerina, the brand's latest major footwear launch. A silhouette halfway between a sneaker and a ballerina flat, it breaks with convention. Inside the brand's workshops, street footwear is taking a new direction, challenging traditional construction and flirting, in a way, with couture.
Discovering the Sneakerina
Although Louis Vuitton is often associated with the excellence of its leather goods, the brand likes to remind us that its expertise is multifaceted. Launched within the elegant footwear department, and surprisingly not sneakers, the Sneakerina was born from a paradoxical dialogue between streetstyle trainers and ballet flats. An unexpected encounter unveiled to the public in April 2025 and quickly appreciated...
Our curiosity piqued, we headed to the Louis Vuitton Shoe Manufactory in Fiesso d'Artico, Italy, where the hybrid model comes to life. Opened in 2008, the site covers nearly 14,000 m² and is shaped like a shoebox, thanks to the creativity of its architect Jean-Marc Fabolini. As is customary with the luggage maker, nothing is left to chance. In fact, the site pays particular attention to every detail, from its decorative sculptures evoking heels to the well-being of the artisans who work there...
250 steps, more than 70 hands
Behind a pair of Sneakerina trainers, priced at €850 in stores and online, lies a dizzying production chain: more than 70 artisans are involved and nearly 250 steps are required to make them. While some machines are used in the process, none can completely replace the hand, the movement, the eye. At Louis Vuitton, as you might expect, every step counts.
After its initial design, the Sneakerina's journey begins in the Last Maker Office. This is where the designer's sketch leaves the paper and takes shape. In other words, 2D becomes 3D. Specialised craftsmen known as formiers sculpt a wooden form by hand, which serves as the foundation upon which the entire shoe will be built. This precision work is essential to ensure the correct proportions and balance of the silhouette.
This shape is then modelled on a computer and duplicated in plastic on a larger scale. This is a key step, designed to support all the artisans throughout the process: every hand, every gesture, relies on this common reference to ensure perfect consistency of the model, from the first assembly to the final finishes.
Next comes the choice of materials. Depending on the Sneakerina model, the artisans select smooth or velvety leathers, technical mesh, satin, embroidery or sequins. Each material is carefully chosen and then cut by hand using traditional tools. It is on this basis, the covering, that the Sacchetto construction takes place. Originating in the world of dance and dating back to the late 19th century, this iconic Italian technique involves sewing the shoe inside out before turning it completely by hand. Inspired by ballet slippers, it gives the Sneakerina maximum flexibility and that second-skin feel that makes it so unique.
The artisans then assemble a leather upper that wraps around the foot like a glove, an injected outsole for lightness, a reinforced midsole at the heel and a removable insole for optimal walking comfort. The result is an effortlessly chic silhouette, somewhere between a sneaker and a ballerina, as its name suggests.
Once assembled, the shoe is delicately turned inside out and then entrusted to another expert responsible for softening and disciplining the leather with a hammer. Then comes the final phase, undoubtedly one of the most crucial: quality control of the stitching, edges, hardware, lacing and overall finish. Here, every detail is inspected, adjusted and validated, right up to the moment it is boxed, in order to uphold Louis Vuitton's reputation. In other words, it is a masterful chain of production that begins with the initial designs and ends with the wrapping of the shoe in tissue paper, which will be unwrapped by its future owner.
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How to wear Louis Vuitton's Sneakerina?
After learning more about its design and journey from Italian workshops to the shelves of Louis Vuitton boutiques around the world, the desire to slip a Sneakerina onto your feet becomes almost obvious. That leaves one essential question: how can you wear them without risking a fashion faux pas?
On the street, the Sneakerina can be worn with confidence and without hesitation. To complement your summer or spring looks, we recommend wearing them with loose-fitting Bermuda shorts or cycling shorts, high socks that are clearly visible, and a minimalist T-shirt or sweatshirt to play up the contrast. A bit like Lady Diana's sporty looks...
From left to right:
Seamless top by MIU MIU – €395
MOTHER denim shorts on Zalando – €216
LV Sneakerina trainers LOUIS VUITTON – €850
Oversized sweatshirt CELINE – €850
Triomphe technical jersey cycling shorts CELINE – €490
Heattech socks UNIQLO – €7.90
For a more casual look, we're drawn to bolder Sneakerina styles to tone down the overall effect. We particularly love the leopard print version, which we can easily imagine in a light spring outfit: white knit dress by Ba&Sh, small scarf in the same print by Pablo and mini Peekaboo bag by Fendi.
For a more urban look, we can also imagine the green version of the Sneakerina with the unbeatable combination of a white shirt and well-cut jeans. After all, why complicate things when basics are enough?
From left to right:
Sinnta mini dress BA&SH – €225 / Striped shirt with removable tie SANDRO – €215
Rubina PABLO wool and silk leopard print scarf – €95 / GANNI light blue wide-leg jeans – €275
FENDI cappuccino-coloured Peekaboo Mini – €5,000 / LV Sneakerina Green – €850
LV Sneakerina Leopard LOUIS VUITTON – €950
Finally, for the more daring, the Sneakerina is making its way into the officewear wardrobe. One of our favourite combinations is undoubtedly the oversized suit with the famous streetstyle pair. It's the perfect way to shake up conventions and bring a modern, resolutely youthful look to the open-plan office. Our little tip: match the colour of your sneakers to your outfit!
Still not sure? In that case, head to social media, where many influencers and other content creators are embracing the Sneakerina, offering a multitude of interpretations and providing inspiration. But that's not all. The shoe has also won over celebrities such as Phoebe Dynevor, Noémie Merlant, the Haim sisters and Devon Ross. All of these figures confirm one thing: the Sneakerina is not just a style exercise, it is indeed a new Louis Vuitton signature piece that will continue to be talked about for a long time to come...
Translated by Bethszabee Garner
