Despite being an icon of British footwear culture, these days most desert boots are made in the Far East on an industrial scale from cheap materials that have circled the globe. We believe a pair of boots should do most of their travelling on your feet, so for our latest collaboration, we set out to find a different way.
Nestled near Woodbridge in the Suffolk countryside, we found a small workshop that hides a huge amount of talent. Master shoemaker Jadd Friedman is the UK's leading expert in the stitchdown construction, a traditional method most famous for desert boots.
Desert boots made in England, entirely
Our latest collaboration, The Desert Goat combines our soft yet durable goat leather with the versatility of the iconic desert boot and Jadd's unrivalled quality. Our first limited edition batch of boots launched on 19th May 2021 in three leather options - two full-grain goat leathers and one stunning green suede.
Orders on this first batch closed on Sunday 30th May and boots are now in production. If you missed out, don’t worry, more should be along later this year but make sure to sign-up to our newsletter to be the first to find out.
Desert Boot Origins
The clue is in the name, but the desert boot originated in the sandy terrains of Southern Africa where it was later adopted by British soldiers. Introduced to the UK by returning soldier Nathan Clark of the Somerset shoe dynasty, the style has been an icon ever since.
Much loved by subcultures from mods to Geography teachers, their success comes, in part, from their adaptability. Lightweight and breathable enough for summer while also being rugged enough for winter, it's hard to improve on a classic but our goat leather might just have done it.
Exceptional desert boots, made to last
Desert boots were born out of practicality, but that doesn’t mean they have to be basic. Jadd has spent decades making subtle improvements to his design and it really shows.
Some of the key factors that make these desert boots so special are:
- Crepe soles made from natural rubber
- A hidden beechwood shank for added arch support
- Veg-tan leather lining and a cushioned heel pad for extra comfort
- A practical heel tab for easy taking on and off
- And of course, our exceptional goat leather that doesn’t need wearing in
It’s all in the details.
A new kind of leather company
Billy Tannery is here to bring a fresh approach to the ancient world of leather. All of our goat leather is tanned in our farm-based microtannery using goatskins that were previously going into landfill. Our core range of products is Made in England and includes leather bags for men and women, leather accessories and leather aprons but a few times a year we launch exciting collaborations with like-minded British companies.
We pride ourselves in sending great emails and never more than one a week, so to stay in touch make sure to sign-up to our newsletter. You’ll also receive 10% off your first order with us as a thank you. You can also follow us on Instagram @billytannery or learn more about us here.
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