The sneakers Victoria from the French Days

From Cervera to Arnedo: a century of Victoria

The Victoria brand was born in 1915 in Cervera del Río Alhama, in La Rioja, a region where shoe manufacturing is a tradition. Its founder, Gregorio Jiménez, named it after his first love. He made a bold choice for the time: abandoning leather soles in favour of rubber, which is more durable. The success was quick and, by 1928, the company moved into larger workshops in Logroño. Today, Victoria shoes are made in Arnedo, one of the main shoe manufacturing areas in Spain: more than a century after its creation, the brand remains true to its origins.

Other brands

The French Days sneakers are also available from:

• Hoff, another Spanish brand in the selection.
• Asics.
• Saucony.
• Mizuno.
• Puma.
• Steve Madden.

All the brands are gathered on the sneakers page.

The Inglesa, the iconic vulcanised tennis shoe

The flagship model of the brand, the Inglesa, appeared in the 1950s when Victoria adopted the vulcanisation process to assemble a cotton canvas upper and a natural rubber sole. This process involves cooking the whole thing at high temperature: the rubber hardens, becomes elastic, and bonds to the canvas, resulting in a soft, lightweight, and durable shoe. Partly handmade, the Inglesa is recognised by its low profile, rounded toe, and the rubber band that circles the foot. It comes in many solid colours and prints, for both adults and children.

Platform sneakers and children's models

Victoria has released its canvas tennis shoe on a platform, a thicker sole that lifts the silhouette without the arch of a heel and provides more cushioning on hard ground. The upper remains true to the original model, in canvas or leather, with the same low profile, keeping the shoe's relaxed look. For children, the brand offers models with hook-and-loop fasteners or laces, in bright colours; the breathable canvas is suitable for school days in spring. As with adults, we leave about a centimetre of space in front of the big toe, the necessary margin for the foot to move without slipping.

Wearing and caring for a canvas tennis shoe

A canvas tennis shoe can be worn from spring until the end of summer, when the breathable cotton keeps the foot cool. To clean it, remove the laces, brush off the dust, then scrub the canvas with a soft brush and warm soapy water; the rubber band can be brightened with an eraser or a bit of bicarbonate. Machine washing is possible at thirty degrees, in a laundry bag and without strong spinning, but it can wear the canvas over time. Always air dry, padded with newspaper to maintain its shape, never on a radiator or in a tumble dryer, which distorts the sole.

Frequently asked questions

Do Victoria shoes run large or small?

They generally fit true to size. The canvas stretches a bit when worn: between two sizes, the smaller one often provides better support, especially on lace-up models that allow for adjustment.

Are canvas tennis shoes suitable for wide feet?

Canvas, being flexible, adapts better to a wide foot than stiff leather. Choose your usual size and loosen the lacing at the front; if the little toe still rubs, half a size up often solves the problem.

How can you whiten a yellowed canvas tennis sole?

A paste of baking soda and water, scrubbed onto the rubber with a toothbrush and then rinsed, reduces yellowing. Avoid pure bleach, as it can damage the canvas and cause the rubber to yellow more.

Can you wear Victoria shoes in winter?

Canvas allows moisture and cold in: they are not suitable for rain and freezing days. The leather versions, which provide more coverage, take over in autumn, and the platform elevates the foot slightly from the wet ground.

What is the difference between a vulcanised sole and an injected sole?

The vulcanised sole is baked with the upper, resulting in a soft, thin shoe that quickly conforms to the foot. The injected sole, moulded from a block, is often thicker and stiffer, with more cushioning.