For most products, color placement can be tricky. Too much and it can look tacky or busy, but not enough and it can fail to draw any attention at all. Paul Smith is one such designer who knows a thing or two about color theory, applying his multicolored signature to his menswear products since the 1970s.
Smith has now teamed up with fellow British fashion staple Barbour for a rare product in their catalog: clogs.
Built on 130 Years of Mud
Beginning as a rugged workwear brand that made gear for sailors in the late 19th century, Barbour has since evolved considerably, today known primarily for its legendary waxed cotton jackets. And while they’ve always had footwear options available in their catalog, these Paul Smith Loves Barbour Clogs are some of their most stylish in a long time.
Barbour has dabbled in weatherized rubber clogs before (the Quinn clog being the most recent example), but those were strictly utilitarian. Part of a broader collection that features jackets and graphic tees, this collaboration is a very different animal. Paul Smith, who has spent five decades injecting “classic with a twist” into everything from tailored suits to cycling jerseys, brings his signature stripe webbing to the heel of what is otherwise a purpose-built outdoor shoe… although, I guarantee you’ll end up wearing these everywhere just like you would your Blundstones or Crocs.
A Dose of Color
Similar to a duck boot, the upper is 100% rubber, while the lining is a 70/30 blend of neoprene and polyester and the sole is dual-density rubber. The grippy outsole is meant to handle anything from sidewalks to the campsite. A contrast-textured toe panel adds to the aesthetic but also serves a practical purpose of reducing surface scuffing.
The heel tab is where Smith really makes his mark with a multicolored webbing. Attached is D-ring hardware that nods directly to Barbour’s utilitarian lineage. You can use this to stap on a small gear pouch if you’d like. The blue footbed features some cheeky co-branded text. One she says, “Paul Smith Loves Barbour,” while the other says, “Barbour Loves Paul Smith Too.”
Two colorways are available. For a more understated shoe, the Dark Navy looks almost neutral from the outside in black and gray, save for the aforementioned heel tab and a blue-lined collar. However, the Fern colorway leans into the vivid palette you’d expect from a Paul Smith collab, with an olive upper giving way to a navy mudguard and bright blue sole.
Spec Sheet
Model: Paul Smith Loves Barbour Clogs
Upper: 100% Rubber
Lining: 70% Neoprene, 30% Polyester
Sole: Dual-density rubber (100% Rubber)
Outsole: Grippy rubber, multi-terrain
Details: Signature Stripe webbing with D-ring, contrast textured toe panel, dual-branded footbed
Colorways: Fern, Dark Navy
Made In: China
Price: $170
Pricing & Availability
The Paul Smith Loves Barbour Clogs retail for $170 and are available now through Paul Smith’s website and select boutique retailers in both the Fern and Dark Navy colorways.
Recap
Paul Smith Loves Barbour Clogs
Paul Smith and Barbour have joined forces on a rubber clog that manages to be both a real outdoor shoe and a design statement, built with a grippy dual-density sole, neoprene lining, and Smith’s signature stripe webbing at the heel. The two colorways, Fern and Dark Navy, cover the spectrum from bold to understated.
