We’re back once again with a whole bunch of new releases including: the return of the a certain iconic French loafer to the U.S. after being mostly absent for a quite a few years, some Dark Cognac shell cordovan on Viberg’s Navvy Boot and Shoe pattens, two shorty ropers from Wesco at The Shop Vancouver, and more…
Scroll through all of our previous 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.]
Nicks x White’s x Frank’s Stronger Together Donation Shirt: $35 (Made to Order)
After almost two weeks, it’s a huge relief to see the evacuation orders put in place for the Spokane Complex Fire—which burned more than 10,000 acres in the city and surrounding areas—are finally lifted, but lots of support is still needed. After providing boots, meals, and other support to the firefighters working to contain the blaze, Spokane’s bootmakers are working together to help raise money for the relief effort. Here’s how it works: buy a shirt and 100% of the profits are donated to the H.O.M.E. fire relief fund. And to encourage people to pitch in, Nicks, White’s, and Frank’s have agreed to raffle off five pairs of boots each to people who buy a shirt. If you haven’t picked one up yet, give it some thought or consider donating directly.
J.M. Weston 180 in Black Boxcalf: $1,070
J.M. Weston is an institution. They’ve been around since 1891, they own the tannery that produces their sole and stiffener leathers, and, to give you a sense of scale, their restoration shop alone processes around 10,000 pairs of shoes a year. Add in the fact that some of their patterns (we’re thinking of the Golf and 180) have been incredibly influential for decades, and we’re left wondering why they’re nearly impossible to find stateside except for a few one-off models at Nordstrom that—to be honest—rarely include the cool stuff. Apparently, J. Mueser was wondering the same thing, and now the NYC-based bespoke tailor is bringing the 180 back to the U.S., in three leathers which you can try on for yourself in store. That includes a black boxcalf…
J.M. Weston 180 in Brown Calfskin Suede: $1,070
…brown calf suede…
J.M. Weston 180 in Brown Coffee Caviar Grained Calfskin: $1,070
…and a pebble grain calfskin they’re calling “coffee caviar”. Apparently if this goes well there might be other J.M. Weston models in our future too.
Viberg Navvy Boot BCT in Dark Cognac Shell Cordovan: $2,400
After nine years of tweaks and modifications, the Cantilever last has come a long way. When they were introduced you’d be hard pressed to find an anatomical last besides White’s 9338 Swing last or Alden’s Modified last, and even then both were tricky to find on an in stock shoe. The current iteration retains the arch support and asymmetrical design of the original, but packaged in a geometry that just sort of looks like a nice, regular, slightly dressy boot. It’s usually combined with the Navvy pattern. And this week it happens to available wrapped in some Dark Cognac Shell Cordovan on both the Navvy Boot…
Viberg Navvy Cut Shoe BCT in Dark Cognac Shell Cordovan: $2,100
…and the cut down Navvy Shoe, with 270˚ flat welts, Dainite outsoles, and blind eyelets on both.
The Shop x Wesco Short Morrison in Black CXL: $833
A West Coast holdout for in-stock Wesco boots, The Shop Vancouver has stayed firmly planted in the world of motorcycles, leather jackets, and selvedge. And what passes for summer footwear over there? A cut down version of the Morrison roper of course. Both versions currently available have double row stitchdown construction and V-bar half soles, but the black Chromexcel version has an MP toe…
The Shop x Wesco Short Morrison in British Tan Roughout: $883
…while the tan roughout version sports the rounder toe shape that’s standard for the Morrison.
Grant Stone Chelsea Boot in Olive Minerva Box: $435 (Pre-Order)
The beauty of the pre-order is that it lets you try out cool or unusual leathers that bootmakers would be a little more cautious about running as stock. Case in point, this Olive Minerva Box, vegtable tanned by Badalassi Carlo, which Grant Stone has spec’ed out with commando outsoles and a 360˚ flat welt.
Truman Moc Toe in Carolina Brown Chromexcel: $480
For years, Truman has had three last options: Formal, Casual, and Work. This week, they were joined by a fourth. The new Work LTS last shares the snugged up heel and wider toe of the original Work last, but reduces the toe spring and adds a little but of extra volume all around. Combined with their Moc Toe pattern, it prodces a boot with high walls and a sharp transition into the top of the vamp. For the first ever makeup, Truman is building them out with 360˚ split welts and rubber commando outsoles.
Truman Custom in C.F. Stead Rambler: $549 (Pre-order)
At the same time, they’re also running customizable pre-orders for two C.F. Stead leathers. Rambler is a waxed roughout with a ton of texture available in Burgundy or Coach (orange-brown)…
Truman Custom in C.F. Stead Crazy Cow: $549 (Pre-order)
…while crazy cow has a lot of the same veining and texture, but with a heavier waxed finish, and it’s on offer in Alder (medium brown), Seaweed (dark green), and Snuff (dark brown).
Flint and Tinder x Easymoc Camp Scout in Dark Brown and Tent Cloth: $398
Tents and boots have a surprising number of overlapping qualities—they keep you warm and dry, they’re mobile, and they take some skill to put together (slightly different amounts of skill). Which we must assume is why Flint and Tinder teamed up with Easymoc for a collab version of the Camp Scout built with quarters in cloth repurposed from vintage Army tents. Built with a hand-sewn moccasin construction on camp soles.