At first glance, these are exact copies of the originals, but with a rubber sole, they're a big improvement. They are made in China but the build quality is good. The big test will be durability/durability. I have several pairs of the original sneakers and after my cobbler glued on the flimsy rubber soles they lasted for decades. They were described as large so I ordered half a size smaller and they fit perfectly. It's useful to remember that the design of these shoes is so that they stretch.