CLAE was founded in Los Angeles in 2001 by Sung Choi, reimagining classic casual shoes with the comfort and construction of athletic footwear. Its minimalist, architecture-inspired designs are shaped by the city's urban landscape, bridging the gap between sneaker and shoe. For more than two decades the brand has worked with the same workshop in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and it was among the first to introduce a sneaker made from cactus-derived leather.