Our Values
The DNA of Premium, High-End Sneakers | National Standard
Our story
We created National Standard in Paris in 2010. Through our brand, we explore an essential vision of the sneaker—an approach where the right balance of lines, the nobility of materials, and the durability of craftsmanship come together. A clean silhouette. A clear intention. Our premium sneakers express a vision of refined, high-end style: carefully designed, rigorously made, and worn with ease.
An aesthetic of precision
Each Edition we create embodies a precise idea of style: a balanced silhouette, noble materials, a premium sneaker built to last. We stand for controlled elegance, without excess—one of the defining traits of our high-end sneakers—where every element has a purpose. Our design approach is based on consistency, not novelty. On mastery, not effect. Our numbered Editions exist beyond fleeting trends. Not because they ignore trends, but because they set their own rhythm. What lasts is what is well designed. What stands the test of time is what is built with quality materials. True modernity is what endures.
Materials chosen with respect for craftsmanship, time, and life.
At National Standard, every creative decision begins with material. Before the line, before the drawing, comes selection: full-grain leather, technical soles, flawless finishes. Because material is never a detail. It reflects our standards, our vision of the product, and our responsibility as a manufacturer. We don’t believe in compromise. A premium, high-end sneaker designed to last starts with materials that age gracefully, resist wear, and make sense in both their origin and transformation. We select LWG-certified leathers from committed European tanneries. EVA soles, known for their lightness and durability. Components chosen one by one—not to follow a trend, but to meet a standard—ours. This rigor defines our approach. A commitment to doing better at every stage. To producing less, but better. And to offering a product where every aspect has been considered, tested, and mastered. In a world of saturation, we choose clarity. Traceability. And honesty in what we make. Because to us, a well-made premium sneaker is not a consumer product. It is an object of trust.
Artisanal craftsmanship
Our premium sneakers are handmade in Portugal, in an independent workshop we have partnered with since the beginning. This choice is a commitment—to proximity, to direct dialogue. We build long-term relationships of trust with partners we know, respect, and who share our standards. Each pair is the result of precise work carried out by experienced artisans. This is how we ensure the high-end quality of our sneakers made in Portugal. Expert hands review every stitch, every finish, every component. Nothing is automated. Nothing is rushed. This craftsmanship is our foundation. It gives meaning to our approach, weight to our promises, and tangible value to every product that leaves the workshop.
A measured production rhythm
At National Standard, we have chosen a slower production pace. No assembly-line collections. No frantic calendars. No massive markdowns. We reject the logic of overproduction that exhausts resources,
craftsmanship, and ideas. Each Edition we release is designed to last. Our premium sneakers are made to accompany life, evolve with wear, and move through seasons without losing their balance. They are not meant
to capture a moment, but to exist over time. This is how we defend a durable, high-end vision of the sneaker. Fewer releases. More meaning. That’s how we choose to do things right—and to do them for good.
What “National Standard” means to us
“National”: Because a brand reflects a place, a rhythm of life, a way of engaging with its environment. Ours was born in Paris, shaped by a culture of design that is elegant, simple, and rigorous. Designed in Paris. This is how we claim our identity as a Parisian premium sneaker brand, made in Portugal. Worn everywhere.
The “standard” we set for ourselves. Because the word standard is often associated with sameness or conformity. For us, it’s the opposite. It’s a benchmark. A requirement. A level we refuse to lower. A standard is an invisible but constant line—one that guides us throughout the entire creation process. We believe in quiet products. Products with nothing to prove. Products you wear without noticing them, but never want to take off. Products that assert themselves through what they are, not what they show. Our high-end sneakers fully embody this philosophy of a fair, durable, premium product. That is our standard: a balance between the visible and the invisible. Between form, function, and time. That is our path. It reflects who we are: a brand driven by conviction, grounded in ethical values.
