We can’t imagine that anyone is keeping track, but I’ve written almost 150 of these roundups over the last few years (thanks Ben!)—consider that a cryptic announcement of big things to come soon, but in the meantime, we’ve got a great spread for you this week, covering everything from the new Division Road x Nicks Collab Boot to a Clinch pre-order with ceramic shards embedded in the soles as well as end-of-summer sales from White’s and Meermin that definitely warrant a look. All that and more below…
Trawl all of our archived roundups here.
[Ed Note: while we never choose anything specifically because of them, some of these recommendations contain affiliate links—the price is the same for you, but Stitchdown gets a small commission if you make a purchase. It’s essential to keeping the site alive, so we really, really appreciate it.]
Division Road x Nicks Western Rockabilly Boot in Natural Predator: $795
If you happen to be Division Road, and you want to build a “rockabilly boot”, well, Predator is about as on theme as you can get—after all, it can get very very pretty (and takes a shine better than you’d expect), but it’s also perpetually ready to get beat, thrashed, and scuffed. Built on the 10067 last, the makeup has toe bump and heel in equal measures, all secured to Dr. Sole half soles with two rows of stitchdown. And as a final note, the shafts are cut to exactly 7″.
Mutan Gallery x Clinch Bolyai Shoes in Bearskin and Ceramic: $1,443 (Pre-order)
While you will almost certainly not get a pair of these Boylai Shoes that Clinch is producing for a Mutan, a gallery specializing in Kutani porcelain (more on that in a moment), they’re interesting and unusual enough that we had to cover them anyways. They seem to be built on a new last variant, the asymetrical CT-Wide, which has a pretty clear inward curve to its whole length and lots of room in the ball. The oxford-style uppers are clicked from bear leather, which we weren’t able to find any more information about but which has a pronounced grain pattern. And the leather waist exposed between the O’Sullivan’s half-sole and heal is set with a fragment of Kutani, an intricately painted ceramic style originating in the 17th century. The fragments come from Kinzan Kiln, which we understand to produce most of what’s available at the gallery as well. Fifteen pairs will be made, and you can order by DMing Mutan Gallery on Instagram, just make sure to message by 8/28 JST. Winners will be selected by lottery.
The Flat Head Logger Boot in Black Horsehide: $1,045
They’re not going to help you drive screws, but—the Flat Head’s Logger just landed at Brooklyn Clothing. Clicked from Shinki Horsebutt and constructed with. Double-row stitchdown construction and a logger heels are stay true to the name, while the lace-to-toe uppers (in black teacore Horsebutt from Shinki) sit atop Vibram’s V-Bar half soles. It’s been a big week for Brooklyn…
Unmarked N1 Boondocker in Khaki Roughout: $549
…who also released two model from Unmarked: their Boondocker pattern, which has 270˚ flat welts, Dr. Sole’s Raw Cord outsoles, and heavyweight roughout uppers in Khaki…
Unmarked Archie Boots in Khaki Roughout: $549
…as well a version of their Archie Lace-to-toe boot in the same Khaki roughout. Built with 270˚ flat welts, they use the same V-Bar half-soles as the Flat Head’s logger. The Luigi last used here is a D/E width last, so expect it to be a touch wider than most of what Unmarked makes.
Ealdwine x Alden Leisure Handsewn in Snuff Suede: $768 (Pre-order)
Meanwhile, Ealdwine is doubling down on snuff suede, with a pre-order for the full-blown Leisure Handsewn (complete with Van last, 360˚ flat welts, and a leather outsoles) open until 9/2…
Ealdwine x Alden Leisure Penny in Snuff Suede: $708
…as well as the non-handsewn Leisure Loafer, which a machine-sewn apron but otherwise identical specs.
Parkhurst Allen in Tan Waxy Commander: $398
We’ve got no less than 9 new releases from Parkhurst, but this drop is a sightly bigger deal than your typical restock. They’re relaunching a modified version of the original 602 last with a slightly roomier toe and a more contoured ball as a result of feedback on their (narrower) 618 and (wider) 602M lasts. The guts of the boot also received an update, with a much thicker layer cork and a new stacked leather and foam arch support insert on top of the veg-tan insoles. Finally, the outsoles are revamped as well, debuting both a new design based on vintage Biltrite patterns and a new nitrile rubber compound. All of those updates appear on a range of makeups, including this new Allen plain-toe boot with 270˚ split welts and the new outsoles…
Parkhurst Richmond Stitchdown in Black Rambler: $428
…a cap-toe version of the Richmond with double-row stitchdown and the older commando outsoles (for which a wider range of sizes are expected to be available in September)…
Parkhurst Richmond in Saddle Waxy Commander: $398
…and a (270˚ split) welted version of the Richmond with the new soles and darker, “Saddle” Waxy Commander uppers. Check out the in depth production update here, and all the new releases here.
White’s End of Summer Sale
While it’s a little narrower than their bi-annual sales, the End of Summer Sale (which runs through 8/31) knocks about $100 of a whole bunch of different models, including both the wedge-soled and hard-soled Chelseas, the Perry Select, and Springdale among quite a few others. Discount is automatically applied at checkout.
Meermin Summer Sale
Meermin is also running an end of summer sale, though by the time this story goes live you’ll only have 14 hours left to check it out (the sale closes at 11:59 ET on Friday 8/28). A wide range of patterns are 40-50% off Meermin’s already reasonable pricing. Their BCT pattern in Tanneries Du Puy’s Oak Saddle Calf (above) is available in smaller sizes for ~$170, which is kind of absurd for a welted boot with veg-tan insoles, midsoles, and stiffeners. Another version of the same boot is available in Black Heritage Shell Cordovan for less than $300. And you’ll find just about everything you can imagine somewhere in between, including snuff suede Chelseas, black Jodhpurs in more Du Puy calf, and a handwelted, wholecut Oxford with J.R. outsoles from the Maestro line which is still under $300.