The 2 Monkeys(JELADO the BOOTED) "TM94903" Sportif Horse Hide
The 2 Monkeys(JELADO the BOOTED) "TM94903" Sportif Horse Hide
[The 2 Monkeys(JELADO the BOOTED) "TM94903" Sportif Horse Hide]
The "Sportif" is a moccasin-style boot with a French vintage feel.
The 2 Monkeys Sportif boots are designed to evoke the boots worn for hunting and outdoor activities in France around the 1920s and 30s.
However, they are not a reproduction of an actual old boot.
They utilize styles mainly found in European boots of that era, while incorporating the moccasin-style toe design (*) that became popular in America around the same time.
The leather upper is made of supple horsehide, which molds to your feet from the first wear, providing a comfortable fit.
The sole, in particular, incorporates contemporary design elements.
By using the Goodyear welt construction for the forefoot and the McKay construction from the waist to the heel, the style of a spade sole with a significantly narrowed waist and beveled edge is recreated.
Looking at the sole from the bottom, the degree of this waist narrowing is clearly visible.
The heel has an S-shaped curve both above and below.
The soft leather faithfully reproduces the shape of the last, and the small pitch on the heel accentuates this curve.
The curves are combined on all sides of the shoe, creating an elegant style that resonates with traditional European aesthetics.
The toe area features a thin, soft leather toe cap.
As you wear them, the toe area will flatten and sink, allowing you to enjoy the aging process and the leather to conform to your toes.
A 3mm thick rubber sheet is attached to the forefoot area of the sole.
The heel top lift is made of 10mm rubber.
These rubber surfaces provide excellent grip on the road, preventing slippage and reducing sole wear.
The comfort is exceptionally light and soft.
This is due to the combination of the leather's characteristics, our unique manufacturing process, and a flexible sole (single leather sole).
Those accustomed to work boots will be surprised by the lightness and the comfortable fit from the moment they put them on.
The Sportif last, with a width equivalent to E, is designed to fit standard-shaped feet with a slightly relaxed fit, but even those with narrower feet can tighten the laces for a secure fit.
This is thanks to the softness of the leather.
Those with high insteps and wide feet can choose a size slightly larger than their foot length without significantly compromising the fit.
The sole narrows at the arch, allowing the foot to rest comfortably on the soft leather.
Beyond elegant style and the enjoyment of aging, this shoe incorporates the best qualities of 1920s-30s leather shoes in terms of comfort. (****)
At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, a considerable number of European shoemakers emigrated to America to learn mass production techniques.
This era saw a mutual influence and refinement of shoemaking between Europe, with its long traditions, and America, which quickly established mass production systems to cope with rapid population growth due to immigration and economic development.
The 2 Monkeys' Sportif boots emulate the boot styles common to both Europe and America during that era, making them a rare boot that suits both American and European tastes.
[Footnote]
(*) Moccasin-style toe: Moccasins and France have a historical connection. In the late 18th century, shortly after the United States gained independence, the present-day American Midwest was French territory. It was a vast inland area stretching from Minnesota in the north to Louisiana in the south, and encompassing Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado in the west.
A considerable number of French people were active here for fur hunting, trade, and missionary work.
However, at that time, the region was undeveloped, and it was impossible to set foot there without the cooperation of the indigenous people (American Indians). The French interacted with the indigenous people, bartering and living by doing so, and it is said that they changed the shoes they had brought from France into Indian moccasins.
At that time, the French may have been the white people who wore moccasins the most.
Perhaps because of this history, even today, leading French leather shoe manufacturers use moccasin-stitched toes in their signature models. It can be said that there is an affinity between France and moccasin-type shoe design.
(**) Beveling refers to the technique of covering the outstitch of the sole's waist with leather from the welt, in order to emphasize the tapered waist of the shoe.
This technique is still occasionally used in bespoke shoes. Sportif expresses this "beveled waist" style by using the McKay construction method for the back half of the shoe.
(***) Pitched heel: This heel features a design where the heel tapers linearly from the sole to the contact surface. This detail is commonly seen in European shoes of that era.
(****) The Comfort of 1920s-30s Leather Shoes: In the 1920s and 30s, there were many "soft leather shoes" made from kangaroo leather, goatskin (kid leather), and other materials.
In the subsequent era, as sneakers became popular, leather shoes specialized in the formal aesthetics required for business and the sturdiness required for work and outdoor activities, while softer leathers became less common.
The Sportif, which retains the comfortable fit of the soft leather shoes of yesteryear, allows you to experience another quality of leather shoes that was lost in the times.
Key details of the Sportif: A lightweight, flexible single leather sole. The rounded edge of the waist emphasizes the contrast with the forefoot. Combined with the slightly pitched heel, it evokes the style of the first half of the 20th century.
This sole, calf leather, and construction combination results in an incredibly lightweight boot.
The sharply tapered waist exudes the atmosphere of the era.
Because the upper is sewn to the single leather using the Goodyear welt method, the fit to the arch of the foot and the overall comfort of the boot are very soft.
While American moccasin boots from the 1920s and 30s mainly featured "decorative moccasins" with stitching on the round toe vamp, "Sportif" employs a moccasin construction where two pieces of leather, the side and top, are sewn together.
The toe cap, made of thin leather, molds to the foot and sinks in with wear.
Key Details of the Sportif: A lightweight, flexible single leather sole. The rounded welt at the waist emphasizes the contrast with the forefoot. Combined with the slightly pitched heel, it expresses the style of the first half of the 20th century.
The combination of this sole, calf leather, and construction method results in a surprisingly lightweight boot.
The sharply tapered waist evokes the atmosphere of the era. Because the upper is sewn to a single piece of leather using the Goodyear welt construction method, the fit around the arch of the foot and the overall comfort of the boot are very soft.
While American moccasin boots from the 1920s and 30s mainly featured a "decorative moccasin" with stitching on the round-toe vamp, "Sportif" uses a moccasin construction where two pieces of leather, the side and top, are sewn together.
The toe area, which has a thin leather toe cap, will mold to your foot and sink in with wear.
*NOTE*
This item cannot be exchanged or returned. Please carefully check the size before ordering.
The official price (110,000 yen) will be the price listed on the shipping slip upon shipment.
Price changes and gift delivery are not available.
In addition, this item is made using materials that make the most of the natural texture of the leather.
As a result, the item may have uneven color, varying grain, scratches, stains, or wrinkles.
Please understand that these are inherent characteristics of leather.
Even if the above conditions are present, this item is still authentic and cannot be exchanged or returned.
※ITEM DATE※
• Item number: TM94903
• Horsehide (Italian-made, vegetable-tanned, dyed in Japan)
• Goodyear welt construction (forefoot) + McKay construction (waist to heel) Leather (with half-rubber sole)
• Made in Japan
*Kikuchi's Sizing*
When I wear these Sportif Horse Hide, I wear a US 8.5.
My regular shoes are White's Semi-Dress and Smoke Jumper, and I wear a US 8.
I wear a UK 8 for Paraboot Chambords.
I used to wear a US 8.5 for Red Wing Beckmans.
I used a US 8.5 for Nike Air Force 1s.
Fit may vary depending on the height of your instep, so please use this information as a reference only.
*Product photos were taken with a digital camera. Please note that the color may appear slightly different from the actual product due to the monitor settings.
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