p.16-17 footwear focus 6:FOOTWEAR NEW TEMPLAT 10 08 20/05/2009 13:26 Page 16
Footwear Focus
RADICAL BOOTS
by their appearance, these boots are made to be used.
It reminded me of people who buy classic cars and
keep them in their garage, never to see the light of day
again, afraid something will happen to them if they
ever did leave the safety of the garage.
But all those fantastic machines, the old Aston
Martins, Ferraris and Bentleys want to be driven -
PAUL CLAPPISON ROAD TESTS BOOTS FROM MEXICO THAT WERE
they need to be driven. All the work that went into
MADE FOR WALKING – AND DANCING!
making the cars, the care and attention, the blood
sweat and tears, means that it’s a crime these cars
don’t ever get used. It’s very much the same with
Radical Boots.
T
he smell of a shoe isn’t the first thing I look A short dress boot, the outside is made from
for (or smell for), but it was certainly the first Grade A leathers, the inside from calf leather for
thing I noticed when I opened the huge extra comfort. It has a Grade A shock absorbing
white box my size 11 Phoenix Brown & Orix rubber sole as well as durable cushioning comfort
Radical Boots came in. The aroma that greeted me hit inlays. The seam is full Goodyear Welt for that
me like a raging bull, running by me so close you solid boot construction and the outsole that is both
could almost taste the leather. It was like being slip and oil resistant. You put these elements
thrust into the very Mexican factory where these together, all these different parts and you have one
boots are hand crafted. hell of a boot. Like the classic cars there is no time
Then, I noticed just what a good-looking pair scale for making these boots, no rush to get them off
of boots they were. The poet John Keats said “A thing the production line and out to the punters. These
of beauty is a joy for ever” and he was right. These boots are hand made.
boots, made from finest quality leathers, are The next question, where do I wear them? Do I
actually too beautiful to wear. But, don’t be fooled wear them for work and show them off in the office?
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FOOTWEAR TODAY
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JUNE/JULY 2009
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