White mesh.Green rubber soles.

Orange leather heal accent.

Surely you know the Adidas Rod Laver-as classic a tennis shoe design as there is-but what you are looking at is an exclusive and rare color combo made rarer by the accumulation of grass stains, paint splotches and a ruggedly-handsome, shaggy and frayed ollie-spot.

There’s something special about how a white shoe evolves over time. Every shoe gets dirty, but-much more so than a darker shoe-a white shoe seems to pick up and carry a bit of every adventure it embarks on; just like the Stanley Cup collects nicks, dents and barf stains. A flowing brook of footloose, city living has eroded my shoes into the Grand Canyon of toe comfort and laid-back aesthetic perfection.

Particularly important to this pair of Lavers is the aforementioned ollie-spot, which enhances the shoe’s snowflake-esque nature. I skateboard. And as a skateboarder my ollie-spot is akin to a uniform or a battle scar. A stranger on the subway is no longer a stranger when mutual ollie-spots are espied. With a subtle meeting of the eyes and a miniscule nod of the head, a mild brotherhood is established. I’ve only been on my skateboard in these shoes once. The mesh couldn’t survive much more. But once was enough to turn that gentle weave into a violent, burlap gash.

Look at the picture. These shoes have, no shit, been up a damn volcano and back. My Lavers are very nearly the best pair of shoes I’ve ever owned. While they’ve lost some sparkle, it’s a small price to pay for the wisdom with which they embrace my feet.