This review is all about the distressed Oliver Cabell Low 1s. Does the popular low-profile sneaker lend itself to the scuffed-up look? Read on to find out!

The distressed sneaker movement came into being when Golden Goose started building pre-tattered shoes using high-quality materials. 

Oliver Cabell is known for their Common Projects Achilles alternative, the $200 Low 1 White. So it’s no surprise that the brand caught the attention of would-be shoe buyers when they released a distressed sneaker line, lower-priced counterparts to the $500 Golden Goose Super-Stars.

To see if it stands on its own, I’m going to do an in-depth, hands-on review of the Oliver Cabell Distressed Low 1s. 

I’ll tell you what I liked about these hand-made sneakers, what didn’t work for me, and my comprehensive take, so you’ll have a clearer idea if it’s the right pre-scuffed shoe for you.

Table of Contents

Part of Gabrielson’s motivation came from a visit to a fast fashion clothing factory where he witnessed objectionable working conditions. That’s why Gabrielson decided to do things differently with Oliver Cabell.

The company takes pride in their close relationships with manufacturers, in cutting out the middleman, and in providing high-end fashion.

They source manufacturers in the Marche region of Italy, the exact same factories used by the world’s leading, and way more expensive, fashion houses.

Distressed Low 1s Review

Oliver Cabell offers many colorways of distressed sneakers, from the pebbled and cracked Stingray, to the Ghost, which is just a pre-scuffed all-white with one red contrast stitch.

The variations get pretty nuanced, which I like because it adds a sense of customization.

I went for the Shamrock, which features a mix of leather and canvas construction.

Here’s my experience with these sneakers!