London designers discover that serious footwear has always had a job to do
By Roper Penberthy
The Chelsea boot has enjoyed a distinguished career in London. It has accompanied musicians, bankers, fashionable dogs and people who describe walking three streets as an outdoor adventure. Yet its practical cousins in the agricultural world have been doing considerably more demanding work.
Farm boots have to survive mud, rain, uneven ground and the occasional animal with strong opinions about personal space. They are not generally purchased because a celebrity wore them outside a private members club.
The fashion industry could benefit from examining the agricultural market. Tractor Equipment may seem an unlikely source of inspiration for a footwear designer, but the machinery and working environment of modern agriculture demonstrate why practical clothing matters.
There is also an emerging opportunity for retailers to sell genuinely useful country-inspired clothing to urban customers. Consumers increasingly want durable products, and there is something refreshing about buying footwear that does not require a special occasion to justify its existence.
The challenge for London designers is resisting the temptation to make everything decorative. A boot with an ornamental buckle is lovely, but a boot that keeps your feet dry is a rather more persuasive proposition.
My advice to the fashion houses is simple. Visit a farm before launching your next collection. You might discover that the people wearing the most convincing countryside fashion are not models at all. They are busy getting on with their jobs.