Pantofola d'Oro white & grey hi-top sneaker w sherpa trim, sz 40, EUC

I have so many questions about these sneakers. For starters, is that a BLANKET? Is there some functional reason for having sherpa trim on the outside of your shoe? Are these meant for shooting hoops in the wintertime? They do look pretty cool though, in a kind of unique, "Hello, I'm made in Italy", kind of way. I only wore them a couple times, but got several comments on the shoes each time. This pair is labeled size 40 but fits slightly roomier than the leather-lined canvas models by PdO; they fit my size 9.5 feet perfectly & I felt well-supported and comfortable all day. These should easily fit up to a men's 7.5. Apart from slight creasing at the toes, there are no visible flaws - 9.5/10