Mark McNairy for Norse Projects Wingtip Brogue

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Images

—01. British Millerain and pebbled leather upper.
—02. Ridgeway sole.

Words

These brogues by Mark McNairy for Norse Projects are the kind of shoes that often go unnoticed. The upper features a combination of pebble grain leather and British Millerain fabric while the Ridgeway sole adds considerable practicality. The result is a subtle mix of tone and texture with a distinct military feel – a measured collaboration that deserves a lot more attention than it's likely to recieve.

—Available exclusively at Norse Store

Comments

[William]

Thanks for posting these. Now everyone can surely get a ticket on the band wagon. "And don't call me Surely."

[Brian Braddock]

Further fuel to the fire that McNairy hasn't got a clue.

[hi mom]

Has anyone else noticed the kind of irony that this whole trend-whatever, all about reappropriation of western/euro resources from the past 100 years-yet western/white designers are doing such a crap job? The good western stuff seems to be all repros of Japanese repros. The Japanese have this on lock, and this guy just continues to suck.

[MA]

Mark McNairy's shoes are starting to look like bad Nike SB concepts...enough already.

[Sorrybut]

What western designers are you talking about ?

If you talk repro then the Japanese are kings. If you talk vintage inspired stuff, some western designers are doing a rather good job. Two slightly different areas imo.

Putting designers in categories according to the colour of skin is pretty retarded brah

[hi mom]

Cabourn, Bastian, whoever does the head designers for Gitman, J Crew, Gap, Brooks Brothers, the Mister Freedom guy, and pretty much any American or European company (there are, of course exceptions) who has mentioned their "heritage" in the past 2 years. And yes, McNairy, who I think is awful. . I was generalizing Western and/or white designers, not those who are exclusively both. What's so funny about you (and me, I guess) playing the race card is that many of the designers for the companies I'm talking about probably have asian heritage. In any case Japanese is a nationality, not a skin color, and yeah, they're doing it the best right now. Why do you think like 90% of the posts here are about Japanese brands?

[SoryBut]

I know the story behind Post, EG, Yuketen etc but putting all western designers in the same crap category is not relevant.

Cabourn for instance appeals to the same Japanese audiences (including F&E editor) as many Japanese brands that you seem to love because it has this same kind of blend of authenticity and creativity, plus a lot of effort that goes into the product. I don't like the aesthetic but would not call it a fail.

[William]

These are I-L-L-! Especially the brown version. I think you guy's are bang on crazy for thinking these are not great. Like -Gary Busey, Ron Artest, or even Joaquin Phoenix- CRAZY

[Andy]

Hi mom,

The Japanese have been reproducing "heritage" (I hate using that word, but it fits) clothing for a lot longer than "white" designers have been, so there's definitely a bigger culture around it and they definitely have a head start, but it seems inherently racist (and stupid) to say that "white" designers do a crap job of it. I think Cabourn does what he does VERY well, and I'm clearly not alone judging by his explosion in popularity. Look at brands like Patrik Ervell, Margaret Howell Engineered Garments (now headed by McNairy.) There are plenty of good, western "heritage" brands, they aren't all Red Wing-wearing lumberjack peddlers.

Also, for the record, being Japanese may well be a nationality, and though I wouldn't say it as crassly as you did (Skin colour? Seriously?), there is definitely a Japanese ethnic group that one can refer to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_people

[Sorrybut]

Wait, since when EG is headed by McNairy ? That would be a disaster.

[Cooly P]

Andy buddy itś Woolrich Woolen Mills that is now headed by McNairy.

[Mark]

My heart stopped for a sec when I read Andy's comment about EG being headed by McNairy. Then I remembered McNairy took over in Woolrich Woolen Mills.