Introducing Solovair Vegan Leather

Before there was Dr. Martens, there was Solovair. It may be hard to fathom, but the lesser-known counterparts of the Docs mega-empire actually predate their more popular contemporaries by sixty-some years. That isn’t the whole story, though. Solovair began their life as the Northamptonshire Productive Society, a five-man manufacturing co-operative based in the small village of Wollaston. The gents behind NPS clearly knew how to make a great shoe, as by 1899 they were forced to relocate to a larger factory just across town (which they still occupy today!) Along the way, they picked up a lucrative contract for an upstart bootmaker named, you guessed it, Dr. Martens – going on to produce shoes for them under the name “Dr. Martens by Solovair” for over 35 years. These days, they’re back to doing things their own way – which means making classic leather shoes of impeccable quality and undeniable style.

It isn’t leather that brings us here today though. No, dear reader, today we’ll be looking at a few more recent additions to Solovair’s impressive roster – all featuring their very impressive vegan material. Pleather sometimes gets a bad rap, but it’s come a long way since the aughts. Solovair’s vegan line utilises a combination of recycled synthetic materials and plant-based, biodegradable matter that looks more like leather than leather. It For those who look longingly at the Dr. Martens of the 60s to 90s, thinking “gee, they just don’t make ‘em like that anymore”, you’re going to love these latest additions to our shelves. We’ve got three styles, each a vegan interpretation of a classic Solovair style, and each more badass than the last.

First up, the Vegan Dealer Boots. Dealer boots are essentially the Chelsea’s blue-collar cousin, and this one is even sturdier thanks to Solovair’s supple Soft Suspension Sole and a Goodyear welt. The Vegan Dealer is an absolute knockout in glossy black, with a sleek, high-street ready silhouette that belies Solovair’s grassroots origins. The synthetic suede-touch lining looks and feels great, and the boot’s smooth upper is a dead-ringer for real leather in every aspect– it even develops those coveted creases with wear!

We’d be remiss if we didn’t give our vegan pals a chance to experience Solovair’s take on the iconic 3-Eye Gibson for themselves. The Gibson, more commonly known as the Derby outside of the UK, is one of those shoes that everyone should have in their rotation. This pair is an exemplary effort that exudes vintage charm, and would look deadly with a pair of cuffed blue jeans and some white socks à la Tom Cruise in The Outsiders.

Rounding out this triumvirate of vegan footwear par excellence is, of course, the boot that started it all: the 8-Eye Derby Boot. Adorning the feet of just about every counter-culture movement of the twentieth century, the Derby boot is a heavy-duty stomper that makes you want to rage against the machine just by wearing it. The vegan upper really shines on a larger canvas, and the high-res finish on the 8-Eye Derby really drives home that style-conscious punk attitude the boots convey so well.
And there you have it. Three pieces of footwear history, all completely vegan... which path will you choose? Your destiny awaits – all three styles are in-store and online now.

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