Floris van Bommel
About the shoes

A quick glance at a person's shoes tells me more about them than a two-hour conversation. Are the shoes old, have they been polished, are they pointy, the colour, heel height, material, and brand – it's the ultimate character study of the person wearing them. As a shoe whisperer, I can assure you that these shoes are just the ticket. They are both casual and smart, so you can't go wrong with them anytime soon. A nice, modern, and no-frills summer shoe for those moments when you want something more than a sporty sneaker. Take good care of this pair and that first impression will last a long time!"

It stood for casualness, freedom and flexibility. Until the 1980s, that is, when sports culture emerged and sneakers conquered the streets. I think it’s about time to bring back the boat shoe like a pop star who has fallen out of favour, and give it the credit it deserves. The boat shoe belongs on the streets, both in its classic style and as a modern version. This model has a fresh grey and white sole and a simple, flat last. Super trendy, yet maintaining the timeless casualness that made the boat shoe so famous. The boat shoe is an Air Jordan that was ahead of its time, your grandfather's Yeezy, the ultimate retro sneaker. And yes: it's back!"

This shoe is the direct result of this wisdom. We’ve been making this elegant men's shoe for over 300 years, and we have done so again here. But of course, it's a little different from everything else out there. With classic uppers, the sole is what determines the look. We took the shape of a boat shoe and turned it into a modern casual sole. The result: a lovely, beautifully formal, yet casual leisure shoe. Recently, I came across a saying about our colleagues in the clothing industry: ‘Kleermakers naaien hun klanten de zak’, which basically means ‘tailors charge too much for their services and rip off their customers.’ All considered, I'm really glad about our cobbler’s proverb."

Real crepe is natural rubber, which is very delicate. In the few cases where we’ve used real crepe soles in the past, these shoes have come back to our factory like carrier pigeons. Dried out soles, cracked soles, unbendable, rock-solid soles, faded soles, too slippery soles, melted soles from sitting in front of the heater. There was no end in sight. So: Long live the crepe look and long live all mothers-in-law with artificial teeth!”

In recent seasons, however, the trend has been shifting towards a more pronounced, sporty look. More mesh, more technical, more dynamic trim lines and soles. Sneakers that no longer pretend to be elegant shoes, but openly express where they come from: the sports field. And that brings us to the sneakers right here. If you had worn these with your everyday outfit three years ago, everyone would have thought you’d just come off the running track and that your normal shoes had been stolen from the changing room. But now? Bull’s eye! Super trendy, the new neutral. Get in that Ferrari!"