For close to 150 years, Crockett & Jones has been perfecting the formula of fine British shoemaking. Originating in the shoe capital of the UK, Crockett & Jones was born, bred and remains loyal to its roots in Northampton. With a factory based in a town surrounded by swathes of nature reserves, reservoirs and wetlands, the British shoemaker certainly understands the science behind creating a shoe that can trudge through the terrain of the countryside and endure the hardships of the British weather. Much is thanks to the eight-stage production method that the family-owned company has championed for generations – ensuring strength, durability and comfort in wear.
The Islay boot is perhaps the strongest testament to this sentiment. Anchored by a robust Vibram cleated sole and supported by heavy-duty storm welts, the high-leg boot is the optimal autumn footwear in both style and function, suitable for travel and extended wear. Designed in a bold, full-brogue Derby style adorned with speed hooks, the Islay is a timeless creation that feels as though it’s been part of the Crockett & Jones story from the beginning. As well as the dark brown and black scotch grain colourways, a new muted forest green style makes a tasteful addition to the shoemaker’s seasonal catalogue, fashioned in its signature rough-out suede material.
The rugged, worn aesthetic of rough-out suede is a stylistic solution to disorderly climate conditions. Rough-out suede is one of the most practical materials you could wish for in a shoe. Its hard-wearing nature and water-resistant capabilities make it perfectly suited to the great outdoors; it’s quintessentially British in its ability to bear even the most volatile weather and look effortlessly suave while doing so.
‘An icon, Islay – our countrygoing, full-brogue Derby boot – has been a part of the Crockett & Jones story for nearly 30 years,’ says James Fox, head of marketing and ecommerce at Crockett & Jones. Cementing itself as a household style in the shoemaker’s canon of footwear, the Islay has been donned by some of the most notable sartorial figures. ‘The Islay has seen plenty of action and adventure over the years, not least on the feet of James Bond himself,’ says Fox. ‘Daniel Craig wore Crockett & Jones’s Islay in Skyfall, for the closing scenes in the Scottish Highlands.’
Whether you plan to stride along country pathways, hike across hillsides or strut through city streets, the Islay boot is tailor-made for the traveller who is on the move.
£555; crockettandjones.com
