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Axel Arigato Clean 90 Review: The White Trainer That Checked Every Box

On retiring my Stan Smiths, the hunt for a classic, and finding the Axel Arigato Clean 90s.

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Trainers are the one piece of footwear I always come back to. They go with everything from dark wash jeans to a tailored coat, and add an extra zhuzh to any look. They carry me comfortably for hours on my feet. So whether I’m grabbing a cup of matcha, going grocery shopping, or taking long walks, a good pair of trainers does the work quietly and well.

When I finally retired my Adidas Stan Smiths, I started looking for a suitable replacement. Even though tonals and colourful trainers are having a major moment right now (and yes, I have a few pairs on my wishlist 😉), I never seem to bring myself to cop one. Instead, what I actually reach for are the classic white trainers as they work with everything I already own.

What I wanted, though, wasn’t just any white trainer. I wanted a pair that felt like a hybrid of the iconic Stan Smith and the ultra-minimal luxury of the Common Projects Achilles Low. A shoe with just a little bit of character. That's when I found the Axel Arigato Clean 90s.

The silhouette fulfilled my "hybrid" criteria perfectly. It feels intentionally pared-back and modern, accented only by the minimalist 90° V-stitch and the not-so-discreet gold "Arigato" logo at the sides. The materials live up to the aesthetic. The Clean 90 is made in Portugal by skilled craftspeople, using responsibly sourced Italian leather that feels soft yet structured. It’s the kind of construction you notice in the small details, from the stitching to the finish.

The sole sits at around 1.8 inches (approximately 3.5cm), which is not flat enough to feel low, nor high enough to read as chunky. Essentially, the right balance. I wear a UK 7, and got my usual size, as they run true to size (TTS).

Straight out of the box, these felt surprisingly plush thanks to the cushioned, removable insoles. Though they have a rounded toe, I noticed these have a slightly wider toe box than Common Projects, making them much more forgiving for daily wear. I didn’t even need to break them in and wore them for hours without any complaint.

I also didn’t experience the dreaded “ankle bite” that often happens with low-profile leather shoes. The padded tongue felt a bit stiff when I tried it on, but a quick adjustment of the laces solved that. By the fourth wear, the inevitable shoe creases appeared around the vamp, which I managed easily with shoe trees and proper conditioning.

Styling-wise, they’ve become the anchor of my current cold-weather uniform: jeans, a sweater, a coat and a crossbody bag. Even without the coat, they just pull everything together, making my outfit feel effortless yet understated without even trying. This is a pair I’m definitely wearing right into summer and beyond.

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