My Shoes

Hello, this is Nishiwaki from THIRD PLACE.

Last time I talked about "our sweatshirts," but today I'd like to blog about "my shoes."

I have a pair of shoes that I've been wearing for the past three years.

That ROA is an Italian brand founded in 2015.

I first encountered ROA in 2022.

During this period, when the impact of COVID-19 was still significant, my fashion style was centered around a style that was "easy to live in," and I had become accustomed to wearing clothes made of crinkly (synthetic) fibers that were easy to wash, stretchy, easy to move in, and easy to care for.

Before COVID-19, I was more of a fan of natural fibers and had almost no interest in incorporating outdoor gimmicks or textures into fashion, but this period gave me the opportunity to come into contact with various outdoor brands, buy their products, learn about and enjoy their functions, and experience the feeling that my daily life is just a little bit richer, and before I knew it, I was hooked.

One of the things we came up with was ROA.

The first item I chose from the ROA collection was the technical shoes that are synonymous with the brand.

The photo shows the ROA shoes I have purchased so far.

These are models released in AW2023-AW2025, and I currently wear these six pairs.

Let me tell you about the appeal of ROA shoes, which have now become a part of my everyday life.

Until then, I had a strong image of shoes made by general outdoor brands being standard trekking and hiking boots, but when I first saw ROA shoes, that notion was shattered.

I was shocked at the time and thought, "It's so cool!!!"

The shoes are created with the idea of ​​applying the spirit of sportswear to outdoor shoes, and by using advanced materials and construction techniques that pursue performance, the value of functionality is enhanced. None of which I had ever seen before.

From the design of the form to the use of color, as someone who looks at it from a fashion perspective, I am first fascinated by the sense of style.

To be honest, I wondered if these were really shoes for climbing mountains, but when I looked at the brand's Instagram, I saw that their consistent approach, which clearly conveys the background and context, only enhanced the appeal of ROA.

It offers the best functionality and performance, while also having a great design.

It's becoming commonplace these days, but I think this is a brand that embodies the concept of "from outdoors to the city" with great quality.

Of the six pairs, the one I wear the most is the first one I bought, the "Cingino."

This is ROA's ever-popular classic model.

I think this is a sophisticated hiking sneaker and one of the models that truly symbolizes ROA.

They're not what you'd call "bulky" and the shape is sleeker than it looks, so from a fashion perspective I like how they look on the feet.

They have the grip to keep you wearing them for long periods of time and are water-repellent so you can wear them regardless of the weather, so you'll find yourself wearing them more and more.

This combination with WELCOME-RAIN denim has been my go-to for the past three years.

Especially during that time, there were many comfortable styles, so I was mainly wearing New Balance, Asics, and Reebok. I was wearing leather shoes much less often.

Because of this, I was getting tired of sneakers, but I still wanted the casualness of sneakers, but with the special feel and toughness of leather shoes, and that's how I found this model.

Until I discovered ROA, I rarely wore black shoes except for leather shoes, and I don't usually choose black sneakers in particular, so ROA was a breath of fresh air for me in many ways.

Since then, it has remained a staple of mine to this day, and I've grown more attached to it every year.

Compared to regular shoes, ROA shoes are expensive, so they are not something you can buy casually, but as I have actually worn them for a long time and frequently, I have come to realize their quality more and more each year, and my satisfaction with them has grown considerably, making me feel that I made the right choice.

This sense of security led me to become more and more interested in other models, and before I knew it, I had five more pairs.

As I was writing my blog, a long-time customer of mine bought this item three years ago. He came wearing Cingino shoes.

His job is Architectural design. He usually wears this model at work, and he wears them to the construction site, so he showed me a pair and said, "They're pretty much finished! Haha."

You can really feel that, it's a great look! You can really tell that they're wearing them.

Like me, many people who bought this model absolutely love it, and it's starting to wear out a little too well, so I've received many requests to buy the same model again, so I'm going to renew it for 26SS. this We have prepared Cingino for you.

It finally arrived last week and he's now done with his purchase!

Actually, one of ROA's characteristics is that it updates and releases items every season, and the 26SS model is not made with the exact same material as the one I have, but it has improved so much that I chose it at this time and prepared it.

While maintaining its overall good looks, it's now lighter than ever and even easier to wear.

The all-black design makes it easy for those who have never worn ROA before to try it out.

This time, the shoe features an extended shoelace system, allowing for adjustability and a better fit to suit a variety of foot shapes, and the upper is made of high-quality water-repellent nylon, making it lightweight, durable, and more weather-resistant.

Although it is a classic model, this attitude of pursuit is excellent.

This time we have also selected another model, "Hida Low".

This is the next thing I'd like to recommend to ROA fans.

I'll talk about this model again at some point.

By the way, the model name is derived from the "Hida Mountains" It has ties to my hometown of Gifu.

It's really good, so I definitely recommend you try it at the store.

Today I talked about "My ROA".

As I wrote in my last blog about sweatshirts, I believe that the best things are the things that are used often, so here at THIRD PLACE we collect the things that we really want to recommend.

You can also see our products at the THIRD PLACE ONLINE STORE, so please take a look here .