In just a few years, Belledonne has established itself as a significant brand in the lifestyle sneakers market. Its success is due to controlled communication, reasoned production, and a coherent offer. If you don’t know it yet, we suggest you discover Belledonne and we give you our opinion on these French shoes… but not made in France.
The history of the Belledonne brand
Antonin Chabanne, Luc Faure, and Mikael Léo are three friends who love fashion and streetwear. Studying sales techniques, it was during their university studies that the idea to start their own business was born. So, Belledonne was established in 2018, with a name that invariably evokes thoughts of the Alpine massif…
Like many young designers, the three founders want to offer a different vision of fashion and consumption. In their manifesto, they explain “defending the idea of a fashion based on common sense, which bets on short circuits, recognized know-how, and sustainable products”.
Belledonne therefore focuses on a single product: sneakers. To meet the demands imposed by their high-end positioning, Antonin, Luc, and Mikael pay particular attention to the choice of their suppliers. Although they are indeed “conceived in France”, Belledonne’s sneakers are handcrafted in a family-owned factory near Porto, from raw materials rigorously selected in Italy from tanneries certified Gold by the LWG (Leather Working Group).
Our opinion on Belledonne
Beyond pretty speeches, the brand manages to capture the public’s attention. From general fashion enthusiasts to more discerning sneakerheads. Thus, in just 5 years, Belledonne has managed to make a place for itself alongside Axel Arigato, O.T.A, Caval and other big names in lifestyle sneakers.
We love the way the brand reinterprets the aesthetic codes of the genre to create understated and luxurious shoes. All while having the good taste to offer fair prices (despite a recent increase), around €200.
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The best products from Belledonne
At Belledonne, minimalism is often celebrated, but with touches of color that spice up the silhouettes. This is particularly true for the B0, the first model released in 2018 and still among the bestsellers today. Alongside the all-white monochrome pair or its “full black” counterpart, several variants of this model inspired by 1980s basketball sneakers are now available. Our favorite: the Bordeaux / Navy.
Among the other trendy references, the B2 is undoubtedly the one that best embodies the Belledonne DNA. Or, as the brand itself says, “the perfect balance between minimalism and dynamism”.
Here we find the inclined sole of the B1, which gives the shoe a beautifully straight line, the impression of minimalism is reinforced by the simple shapes found on the top and back, like this piece of leather on the heel, without visible seams and which seems “suspended in the air”.
Finally, in a slightly more sporty style, the B6 sneakers fully embrace the retro card with a sharper fashion twist. This time, Belledonne claims a 1970s inspiration for this quasi-fake pair of running shoes that combines cowhide leather, recycled mesh, and nylon.
The 3-layer sole adds more character to the set while a second pair of colorful laces is included with the shoe to give it an even more unique look.
Current Belledonne Promotions
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Where to buy Belledonne shoes?
In order to keep an affordable price, Belledonne initially chose to distribute without intermediaries. This is why the brand’s sneakers are mainly available online, on the official website.
E-commerce sites such as L’Exception, WeDressFair and 24S also allow reaching a wider audience today.
The latest news from the brand
What is the value of the Belledonne brand? Reviews and best products - In just a few years, Belledonne has established itself as a significant brand in the lifestyle sneakers market. Its success is due to controlled communication, reasoned production, and a coherent offer. If you don’t know it yet, we suggest you discover Belledonne and we give you our opinion on these French shoes… but not made… Continue reading What is the value of the Belledonne brand? Reviews and best products