It seems like the whole footwear world is clamoring to work with streetwear favorites. You can point to a desire for brand revitalization or revived relevance but when it comes to a name like Red Wing, the Minnesota-based footwear icon needs neither of those things. However, partnering with popular (and relatively younger) names in the fashion industry can also expand a brand’s reach and even precipitate some innovation and creativity with timeless styles.
This week, Red Wing, a heritage boot brand with a history dating back to 1905, teamed up with New York-based streetwear clothier Engineered Garments on a fresh new take on their Shop Moc Oxford.
Heritage with a Twist
Already based on Red Wing’s legendary Classic Moc, the Shop Moc Oxford comes in the same Traction Tred outsoles, nickel eyelets, and Goodyear welt construction with Puritan triple stitching but is lower in profile than the 6-inch moc-toed boots. Both styles have been around in some form since the 1950s, with the Shop Moc Oxford now part of the brand’s Heritage line.
However, the Engineered Garments wields Red Wing’s love of leather to help refresh the Shop Moc Oxford for a new era, bringing a modernized look to the legacy shoe. Each of the limited-edition styles combines three full-grain leather types to create a new-looking silhouette.
According to the press release, “These are designed to appear ‘solid colored’ yet upon closer inspection reveal a subtle play of tone and texture that will become more prominent with age and wear.”
Three Handsome Variants
Available in three colorways, the collaboration might as well start with the Black Multi Leather — an all-black version not dissimilar to a dress shoe with a smooth leather on the vamp and toe box area, but with suede for the quarter section that blends well with the monochromatic approach. A glossier leather is also used for the heel counter in back. To complete the solid color, black is also used for the sole.
If you want something more rugged looking, there are two brown versions to choose from: Copper Multi Leather and Camel Multi Leather. Both of these combine their leather textures in a way that layers the visual dynamic of the shoes, playing with shades of brown.
The Copper Multi is darker as a whole, bringing a pebbled grain to the front and top areas of the shoe, while a more marbled brown is used for the quarter, just like the one used in Red Wing’s Copper Rough and Tough models. Meanwhile, off-white is used for the sole.
For a lighter brown, check out the Camel Multi, which puts suede on the sides of the toe in front this time around. While the previous two variants have a uniform leather in the entire front of the shoe, this one brings uniformity to the vamp up top and the quarter on the sides in back, each using what appears to be a different suede variety. Off-white is used for the soles here as well.
Spec Sheet
Upper: Full-grain leather mix
Outsole: Traction Tred
Laces: Standard
Limited Edition?: Yes, unspecified
Pricing & Availability
If you want to grab a pair of these Engineered Garments Shop Moc Oxford shoes, expect to pay quite a bit more than your standard Shop Moc Oxford. These collaborative silhouettes are priced at $460 (the standard version is just $290). Head over to Red Wing’s website to learn more.
Recap
Red Wing x Engineered Garments Shop Moc Oxford
Heritage boot brand Red Wing teams up with NY-based streetwear favorite Engineered Garments on this trio of Shop Moc Oxford shoes, each combining types of leather for a deceptive amount of contrast.
