Universal Works x Walsh: City Runner Project

Bolton. Not a town you'd associated with trainers. More likely Peter Kay, Championship football, and a town gradually being swallowed by Manchester.

But you should, you really should, as that's where Walsh are based.

While other trainer brands trip over themselves in the search for a history, Walsh have it in spades.

Starting as a manufacturer of athletics and fell running shoes - that's right, fell running (check that grip!) - they stepped into the everyday sneaker market with their range of casual trainers and have now gone a stride further, collaborating with Universal Works on the City Runner Project.

If you don't know Universal Works, you should do. Pay them a visit online or at one of their stores in Soho or on Lamb's Conduit Street.

Together, the Walsh and Universal Works collaboration brings us a UK designed, UK made trainer, available in three colours, named after three cities: London, Tokyo, and Paris.

It's a stylish trainer, but don't take my word for it - see the sneakers in action, modelled on the streets of their namesakes.

We were luckily enough to be invited to the launch (lets play spot the dork!). A couple of beers, a sculpture made from shoe boxes, and a discussion about blueberry yoghurt - a standard product launch, to be honest.

Based on the success of the launch alone, I'll be surprised if Walsh and Universal Works aren't thinking of the next trainer as we speak...

Images: Universal Works and Walsh.