What are we talking about if not the Sahara Sand?
A brand spanking new colour, and actually, not in suede this time...
Hello Robusto Leaf!
We have taken them out for a spin on this end to "test them out" (okay, maybe we're not just wearing them "for science").
The medium-brown is fine, and looks stupendous with pretty much every other colour.
We'll save the talk on these however, as - to reiterate - no, these are not available yet.
Sadly, they are not likely to be around long when they finally are available.
We think this because of the Type 01s in Black Sand being sold out in many sizes before our email blast even went out is an indication that different colourations we come out with are not sticking around very long depending on your size - some sizes selling out before we even launch.
What can you do to make sure you're first in line? Again, subscribe to our Back in Stock list:
Today - we finally deliver.
Introducing... until October 4 - for just one week as a custom-made, no-return, pre-order only...
Our Type 01 Havana Leaf Limited Edition Sprint Run:
You can view even more photos of this stunner in the product listing here.
Remember, these boots are a sprint run that will only be around in the form of a pre-order until October 4.
Then they're gone, never to return again, most likely forever.
Curious about our sprint runs? Read more about them here.
Wanted a coupon code?
Sadly, you had to have been on the list when we sent out the blast letting everyone know about these limited edition boots.
Didn't make it to the list this time? Subscribe to our email newsletter here so you get the email blast next time we have a sprint run.
Speaking of which, if you do subscribe now, you'll get a 10% off 'Welcome' coupon to be able to use on the sprint run or anything else you please in our shop.
It's not as good a deal as the coupons we sent out to those on our list, but absolutely better than no coupon code at all.
Way back when, we did a sprint run of our Playtime in tumbled grain leather. When we launched that sprint run, you couldn't even see what the end result looked like - all we had was an image of the leather, and you had to imagine it.
When the boots were shipped out to those who pre-ordered a pair, it was obvious they were a masterpiece. You can see images of the resulting Playtime Havana Leaf by clicking here.
Now the leather is back - this time in the form of a Type 01 sprint run, and luckily, this time with pictures so you can see the final result.
Featuring our signature high-quality crepe soles, stained by being brushed by hand on the sides to match the look of the stunning leather, this sprint run is one you won't want to miss out on.
Sizing of Our Type 01 Havana Leaf
Runs a little small.
Our Havana Leaf Type 01s are the same size as our suede Type 01s, except this type of leather will not stretch as much as our suede Type 01 Desert Boots.
If you typically have to stretch out your suede Type 01s, size up, especially as these are more wintery/intended for cooler weather, meant to be worn with heavier socks. Again, as usual - if in doubt PLEASE SIZE UP.
]]>Introducing... Our Type 01 Desert Boots in Nevada Sand:
They're a stunning colour that's really hard to describe, and, to our eyes, seem to glimmer gold in the sunlight.
(Straight out of camera, Nevada Sand in shade on top, Nevada Sand in direct sunlight on bottom):
Crazy cool colour, we've never seen anything like it. So we had to release it.
While this boot is not limited edition it is incredibly limited in number and we won't be restocking for a long time, as we have so many colours we want to bring out.
So please, if you're feeling this particular colour, do yourself a favour and grab a pair in your size before it's gone, because it could be well over a year before we refill sizes, as those waiting for a particular variant of our Playtime chukka (tan welt!!) already know.
Interested in having a closer look? We have photos of this bad boy in comparison to our Acorn Sand & Sahara Sand Type 01s showcased in our product listing, so be sure to take a peek here!
Speaking of Sahara Sand, we've been teasing a comeback for a while, and for those of you who were anticipating the re-launch, yes they will be coming, although it will take longer than we thought.
Essentially, we had ordered these amazing new coloured boots as well as the Sahara Sand, expecting to get the Sahara Sand first, but these absolutely stunning new boots showed up before our re-issued Saharas.
Remember, there are very limited numbers available and we won't be restocking this colour any time soon - so grab 'em while you still can!
]]>"Are your boots more comfortable than CO’s? I’ve a few pairs and as cool as they are they are torture chambers!"
Obviously, it's one thing for us to answer this ourselves - as the company that makes the shoes of course we would respond that they're more comfortable (especially since we make our boots with comfort in mind, as well as quality of course).
But it's another thing when those who have bought Hutton boots say it.
Our customers have no reason to lie about the comfort of our products, and since the vast majority have had Clarks Originals/Clarks Desert Boots in the past, they'd be excellent judges of whether or not the comfort levels are similar or different, and who takes the lead.
So we took to Instagram, screenshotting the question, and asking those who have bought Hutton boots in the past whether they could answer @dj_noodles_rotating_heavy's question about Hutton versus Clarks Original comfort on our behalf.
Here's the post in case you'd like to see it on Instagram, and here's what our post read:
Can we get a few opinions on this?
Obviously, you know what we'd say about our own boots (we make 'em the way we like 'em - comfortable!), but it means so much more coming from you guys!
What do you think - are Hutton Type 01 desert boots more comfortable than Clarks Originals? How about the Playtime? How do Huttons compare to Clarks comfort wise, in your opinion?
#huttonboots #clarksoriginals #clarksshoes #clarks #desertboot #desertboots #clarksdesertboots
We got a slew of responses from people explaining in their own words what they see as the differences between Huttons and Clarks Originals - especially when it comes to comfort.
Here are the responses:
"I was a long time CO’s wearer and now that I own Huttons, I’ll never be able to go back to the discomfort of Clarks. And yes, they look significantly better as far as I am concerned." @glengarrysportingclub* * *
"Huttons all the way* * *
"I have worn my playtimes every day this week, they are the the most comfortable shoes I've owned. 01's are super comfortable too but I tend to wear those at the weekends because they improve any trouser." @mrjoewoolley
We'd have to agree with you, Joe. While we find our Type 01s ridiculously comfortable, nothing beats the comfort of our Hutton Playtime.
They are definitely the most comfortable shoes we've ever worn, too, and when we see our customers sometimes refer to them as "feeling like you're wearing slippers," we can't help but agree.
* * *
"Not only are Type 01 more comfortable but aesthetically better looking. The crepe on CO’s looks like polystyrene and I don’t mean the singer !!" @jeffries_passage
* * *
"Infinitely more comfortable And better looking too" @jonahjonahfalco
* * *
"CO’s seem to be everywhere ,used to always wear em, love the Huttons cooler more comfortable & very very classy..no contest 👏" - @louissylvian
* * *
"I have loads of pair of Clark’s Original desert boots and the Hutton Playtime are way more comfortable, and far better made than Clark’s Original desert boots. I don’t own a pair of Hutton Type 01 unfortunately, but I am in no doubt that they are also far better made and way more comfortable. Clark’s are made in Vietnam and China and Hutton’s are made in Italy, where the Italians have a long great history or shoe manufacturing, I know which I’d choose! Plus Hutton’s customer service is second to none!" @warrenbass66
* * *
"I own quite a lot of shoes. Since I’ve bought my Huttons Playtime all I can say is that I’m having a hard time not wearing them almost every day !" @randomcheeringstuff
After reading through the posts, dj_noodles_rotating_heavy resonded: "Looks like an investment is going to happen"
We can't wait to see what he thinks when he finally gets his own pair!
]]>They can be dressed up, dressed down, and worn with a plethora of different outfit choices.
The term "chukkas" or "chukka boot" is often misused, and chukkas are very commonly mixed up with the incredibly popular desert boot - which is similar, but not exactly the same as a chukka.
This post will explore what chukka boots are, starting with how the word is pronounced, giving a little explanation about what makes them different from desert boots, as well as touching on a quick history, and how to wear them/use them in your wardrobe.
The word "chukka" is a two-syllable word with a first syllable that sounds exactly like "chuck," and a second syllable that is the sound "kaa."
The word "chukka" rhymes with the word "yucca."
It is correct to say "chukka," "chukkas," and "chukka boot"
Chukka boots are a type of ankle-high boot that typically features two or three eyelets laces.
They are generally made from suede or leather, and are perfect for both casual and dressy settings.
Chukka boots usually come in two eyelet form, but also can be found in 3 and 4 eyelet form, although with more than two, the shoes can look unbalanced and ‘fussy’.
Chukka boots are not the same thing as desert boots, although the two terms are often used interchangeably by those who aren't aware of the differences.
Desert boots are traditionally unlined and unstructured usually with plantation crepe soles.
Here's an image of our Type 01 Desert Boot so you can have a visual:
Chukka boots, on the other hand, are usually more structured.
They may be leather lined, and often have leather soles, or commando soles, as well as the usual crepe soles.
Here's an example of our Playtime Chukkas for a visual:
Chukka boots usually feel more sturdy than desert boots which are more lightweight.
It's important to note that many manufacturers confuse the terms "desert boot" and "chukka boot" to this day. This definitely adds to the confusion and uncertainty.
We'll be writing up a much more thorough blog post on the differences between desert boots and chukka boots in a later article, and when we have it up, we'll link to it here.
Chukka boots were originally designed for polo players in the 1940s.
The time sections of a polo match are called a ‘chukka,’ which is of course where the boot style gets it's name.
The boots were meant to be worn on horseback to provide more ankle support and sit more comfortably in stirrups.
So as with much of fashion - the popular chukka boot was created to solve a very practical problem.
After their inital creation as a sportswear boot for polo players, to quote a 1939 edition of Esquire Magazine: "[Chukka boots] began to be sported for off field activities" and "used by Indian Maharajahs, unlined and one of the most comfortable shoes known to man."
Soon, Chukka boots became popular away from the polo field among civilians.
They've been a wardrobe staple ever since.
Esquire Magazine was writing about chukka boots being the "in" thing worn by the well-heeled for the season from which time they quickly became a staple.
They became popular on both sides of the Atlantic, and are included in illustrations within the pages of several 1930s editions of Esquire.
Interstingly enough, these incredible illustrations actually feature our Hutton Playtime chukka boots.
Have a peek at some of these vintage Esquire Magazine pages here:
Needless to say, we at Hutton are unbelieveably proud to have been a part of this historical popularization of the chukka style boot.
As we’ve seen, once upon a time, the chukka was a sports shoe.
Then the chukka became country-wear before heading into ‘town’ in the 1950s onward.
These days, chukka boots can be worn super casual or even with formal attire.
Usually suede chukkas are considered best for more casual looks, but chukkas - especially those made out of leather - should not be written off for formal looks.
James Bond's iconic styling is certainly a testament to that!
Chukka boots can be styled with chinos, jeans, or any kind of casual pants like cords.
Off-white jeans with chukka boots was a big thing in the 1950s and 60s.
But there are really no limits with chukka boots. These days you can even wear your chukkas with shorts!
Chukka boots can be worn all year around, but they come into their own in fall and winter.
If you have suede chukka boots - don't worry too much about the weather damaging the suede.
These days all high quality suede (like the suede on our Hutton Playtime chukkas) is pre treated with water repellent to allow your boots to get wet, air dry, naturally with stuffed newspaper inside, and brush up.
]]>However, even within those parameters there are items that can get almost totally lost for a whole generation before making a comeback. Polo neck sweaters, rugby shirts, even desert boots.
In recent years the much maligned shearling coat is one such example.
Comedic images abound of sheepskin wearing cads, bounders and market traders on the British side of the Atlantic, but the shearling coat really has a dual history in the canon of Anglo American traditional clothing - being both a British tradition and an American West tradition.
In recent years we’ve seen numerous attempts to bring back a classic shearling silhouette. Here at Hutton, just as with other makers’ iterations of our iconic Playtime chukka, we felt that no one got it quite right, so we decided to up the game with our definitive take.
Several well known brands have recently launched shearling coats ‘inspired by’ the iconic model worn by Ryan O’Neal as Oliver Barratt in the 1970 smash hit Love Story.
We looked again at O’Neal’s coat and thought - this is a perfect example. All the details, we love plus Ryan is wearing his in a modern style, sweater or shirt underneath and not oversized for a sports jacket to sit underneath.
Our next task was to find a maker: preferably in England.
We reached out to Owen Barry 1948 (you may remember them from the collaboration work they've done with J Press in the past) of Street, Somerset (the spiritual home of British shearling) and asked them to work with us on creating the definitive model based on the actual coat worn by O’Neal throughout much of Love Story.
Within a few short hours of making contact, the team at Owen Barry was wholeheartedly onboard and thus the idea and so our first collaboration was born - ‘The Oliver’ by Hutton X Owen Barry 1948.
We examined all the key details of the movie coat, the short rear vent, the welted buttonholes, the top button closing with a loop, even the placement of the labels on the inside of the large welted handwarmer pockets.
By the time Love Story was made in 1970, it was common to wear a raincoat or overcoat without the need for the extra space for a suit jacket - something that is commonplace until today.
‘The Oliver’ is sized correctly, made to be worn over a shirt or a sweater but not over a sports jacket.
We sent the pattern makers at Owen Barry highly detailed instructions for all the elements needed to make 'The Oliver' the definitive shearling, and Owen Barry used their historic skills in turning our design into the perfect coat.
So experienced are the team at Owen Barry that they created this sample in one single attempt.
Ready to see a few pictures? Here's a peek:
Need to see more now? Check out the product page here. But not before you keep reading to learn more...
The Hutton of Northampton story is an integral part of the Anglo American history of menswear - part of the tradition that is known as ‘Ivy Style’ - so this shearling coat was an obvious choice for Hutton’s first foray outside of footwear.
In order to celebrate our partnership with Owen Barry 1948 we are doing a trial sprint run of 'The Oliver' that is SUPER LIMITED.
The turnaround time for your order will be approximately 3-4 weeks and yes, it may be getting towards spring in the northern Hemisphere but don’t miss out on these because it may well be a one off event.
So if you’re like us and know that when you see something - even when it's ‘out of season’ - and it so happens to be ‘just right’ then you need to press the trigger even if it's for putting away until the next cold spell. And for most of us, let’s face it, there will always be another cold spell.
The Oliver is made of premium shearling, hand cut and sewn in Street, Somerset, England by the Owen Barry craftsmen and women who between them have decades of experience in fashioning these iconic garments.
There’s a definite crossover of the history of the shearling coat between the exploration of the American West in the late 19th century and the British sports car scene that began in the 1920s.
Even before this, shearling was a plentiful natural resource for keeping warm in the days before technical fabrics.
One of the earliest iterations were the shearling ‘bomber’ jackets and flight suits used by aeronautal pioneers in the early days of flight. It was then a natural extension that the open sports car would be the natural home for shearling coats.
The shearling used materials readily available gave cowboys, pilots, and open sports car enthusiasts the protection they needed from the elements.
From the 1930s through to the boom years of the 60s, as part of the creation of the Ivy myth in the US there was always a thread of Anglo tailoring influence that the Americans took and made their own.
Just like the historic adoption by Americans of the Hutton Playtime (especially in Hollywood with McQueen, Anthony Perkins and here in Love Story Ryan O’Neal), the shearling coat became a mainstay of the ivy traditional look.
In Italy, where these coats have never gone out of style, they are part of the culture, too.
In the UK, they became synonymous with various TV characters and the ‘chancers’ of the post war era like Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter in ‘Only Fools and Horses’ and and Arthur Daley in ‘Minder’ - but really both of these characters came from the same tradition of post war upper class ‘cads and bounders’ guys like Terry Thomas who played a big part in the Americanisation of British traditional style.
The flat caps, lapped seam tweeds, Hutton Playtimes, desert boots, even the Brooks Brothers button down shirt, these all came out of an American love for creating a tradition based on English style where they had previously had none.
The irony being that American clothing in almost every decade of the 20th century was far more traditional and a part of every man’s wardrobe from boy to grandfather, than any British styles outside of the very upper class.
Against this background we have the character of Oliver Barrett in Love Story. An East Coast scion of a wealthy family (Oliver’s father is played by the Welsh actor Ray Milland, himself an icon of the transatlantic idea of style since the 1930s) for whom it's only natural that part of Oliver’s ivy dress code contains the shearling coat.
Careful ivy nerds can spot Oliver wearing Hutton Playtime chukkas with his shearling in a wintery Central Park in the latter scenes of the movie.
Back on this side of the pond, James Fox the Chelsea pre-Sloane in Joseph Losey’s The Servant can be seen sporting a beautiful shearling.
Maggie Smith in the 1958 cult thriller no way out, wears a unisex shearling with capri pants and desert boots. A very British look, but also very American at the same time.
James Fox in Joseph Losey’s The Servant 1963:
So here we have it, your definitive classic shearling 'The Oliver' by Hutton x Owen Barry 1948.
This sprint run will close on Sunday, March 6.
This is a custom order made expressly for each customer. The product itself will be shipped at a date to be confirmed later.
Due the nature of sprint runs being made to order there are NO REFUNDS for sizing issues or variables in the natural marks and grain due to the nature of the natural (not man-made) materials used or due to the handmade (not machine-made) nature of the product.
If in the unlikely event you may have an issue with the quality of your item then a refund will be possible.
IMPORTANT SHIPPING NOTICE: Orders for the UK will be shipped directly from inside the UK.
EU orders will be imported together by Hutton and shipped to EU customers by us. No further VAT or customs fees will therefore apply to EU orders.
Orders from overseas (non UK/EU) may be shipped from UK or EU. All usual customs and taxes may apply in your country if outside the UK/EU.
We have priced this sprint run to reflect the cost of English handmade shearling items and the retail prices of Owen Barry products produced for retailers such as J Press.
Delivery in UK estimated 3-4 weeks from March 7th or earlier.
Ready to buy?
Grab your own "The Oliver" by Hutton X Owen Barry 1948 Collaboration Shearling Coat Sprint Run now:
]]>Back then, you had to use your imagination to picture how these bad boys would look, as all we had was a shot of the material to go by since these handmade boots were going to be completely made-to-order for those who wanted them.
We're no longer imagining how these will look!
We finally have Havana Leaf limited edition chukka boots in our hands - and on our feet!
And the vast majority of those who ordered have already got their pairs as well (the last few should be going out this week).
Here are some shots of what these chukkas look like on:
Handmade (and hand-oiled!) in Italy by incredibly skilled craftsman, it's hard to describe the incredible charm of these boots.
The hand oiled 'pullup' leather means that if you push your finger into the leather, or even when you're simply walking (with the movement of your feet), the oil content shifts, resulting in unmistakable character that's unique to these handmade boots.
You can think of this like the 'whiskering' on your favourite Japanese denim.
Nothing quite like it.
Needless to say, we love our own, and we hope those of you pre-ordered are loving yours just as much as we do ours.
The fact that these chukkas were a sprint run means they may never hit the market again.
While we'll never completely write off repeats of sprint runs entirely, they're a possibility that's incredibly unlikely.
Because we have so many plans for colours and fabrics we would like to do sprint runs for, the chances of us going back to do one again is very slim.
And for many colours and fabrics - not at all likely to happen.
Since we're planning on doing sprint runs every so often, there will definitely be many other chances to get unique boots - but to get a repeat of a style in particular?
You're probably out of luck entirely.
If you had your heart set on these, sad to say, you're probably not going to be able to get your hands on a pair (unless you can somehow convince someone who managed to pre-order a pair in your size to part with theirs, scoring it secondhand).
Bad news for those who missed out.
And so - needless to say - making sure you hear the news straight from us when sprint runs come 'round is why it's so important to be sure you're subscribed to our email list for updates.
Our sprint runs happen quickly, and if you missed hearing about the news because you missed our social media updates for a couple weeks (say, due to the shoddy Facebook or Instagram algorithm!), chances are you're flat out of luck and may have missed out on the sprint run that just so happened to be the perfect look for you.
We choose unique colours and fabrics for our sprint runs, though we never compromise on quality.
And of course, as we've explained many times before, these shoes are handmade and have even been oiled by hand in a hundred year old family-owned factory where they've made boots since the 1960s.
Our shoes being made by humans and not machines mean there are sometimes incredibly minor imperfections, which we believe add to the charm and appeal of the shoe.
It's not something you can easily put in words - but the character is apparent when you look at each pair that comes out of the factory.
Charm that's hard to deny.
Ready to sign up to our newsletter so you don't miss out on a sprint run again? You can do so here:
]]>Around that time, photos of the any original Hutton chukkas were few and far between.
Finding actual boots and shoes, near impossible, and one of the reasons why so many copies are 'just not quite right.'
But, one surviving pair of shoes was already famous in online circles.
This fantastic original pair belonging to long time shoe obsessive, Ivyist and vintage racing cycle restorer, Rob van Driel (you can find him on Instagram under the handle @cyclolala) from the Netherlands.
Rob's pair was found on eBay more than a decade ago, and he was intrigued by the model but didn't know much about it at the time.
Posting them on vintage clothing forums, they caused a sensation, being so incredibly rare.
Dating from early 1960s and made for long defunct British high street retailer Dolcis, they are the only surviving pair of Playtime derby shoes that we've come across from that vintage.
So we were incredibly lucky that Rob agreed to loan them to us for our Hutton in-house 'museum.'
Stupendous.
There are a few things that stand out as incredibly fascinating about this shoe.
There are rumours online about a certain someone (you know who I'm talking about, the legend & King of Cool himself - Steve McQueen) wearing a pair of Hutton's original Playtime boots with black soles in the movie 'Bullitt'.
The soles of Mcqueen's Huttons look incredible dark in many pictures, and in some even go so far as to look jet black, though we've always been convinced this is due to the lighting as Hutton has never used black crepe for its soles.
Oddly enough, the crepe soles on these original, vintage Hutton Playtime shoes do look black as well - but only until you look closely.
Definitely brown, not black. But then there's also further evidence they weren't even originally this colour.
For that, you have to turn over the shoe...
See that spot of particularly light brown right in the center by the heel? Where the crepe soles would have been worn considerably less than anywhere else?
They're a much lighter shade of brown than the rest of the sole.
Not quite as light as undyed blonde crepe is straight out of box, but not very far off, and most certainly much lighter than any part of the sole that has a lot of wear.
Meaning these crepe soles went very dark with age.
The crepe soles didn't start out black, but by the time you'd worn them considerably - nearly black is the shade they pretty much ended up.
All this goes to show you just how much Steve McQueen must have worn his original Hutton Playtime shoes. He clearly wasn't wearing new ones whilst filming, and stills from the time on and off set show them to be comfortably worn in.
There's also the matter of the dark brown welt, which is considerably darker than the shade of the colour of the suede.
It's also apparent that the dark brown welt has faded over the years as these shoes have aged.
To be honest, in select spots, the welt is not only faded, but has even reverted back to tan welt entirely.
To us?
This aging process is stunning, and only adds to the charm of the shoes.
There's nothing better in our books than shoes that look plenty worn in - and yet have the incredible appeal that only quality footwear can have after so many uses.
There's plenty else of note, but we'll leave this post here. We'd love to hear what you think about these original, vintage Hutton Playtime shoes.
Let us know your thoughts by mentioning us on social media. You can find us on: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, & Pinterest. See you online!
]]>
Sadly, we have to close up shop for the time being - moving our remaining inventory after 48 hours.
Practically, what does this mean for you?
Be sure to grab a pair now if you were considering it before, as we don't know how long it will be before we're able to re-list our stock in the EU, at our new, sadly, higher prices.
You have 48 hours, and there's no guarantee your size will continue to be in stock for long. Get going -
Here's an example of only a few months wear:
And here's what the soles look like up close out of box versus after 7 months wear:
We're all about making sure your boots look the best they can as they age, not simply out of box.
Want to see more pictures of the new welt colour? You can see more images of the Hutton Playtime in English Tobacco with Dark Brown Welt here.
We let those who were waiting (many for months) for their size to return Back in Stock about the new dark brown welt first - and sadly, we didn't have enough stock in some sizes, so we are out of a few.
If you're interested in being notified when your size is available again, hit the "Notify Me When Available" button under the Sold Out button, and fill in your information.
You'll be the first to know and will get a coupon code when your size is available.
Those who were subscribed to our email newsletter in time for the blast when we first introduced the new dark brown welt got a coupon straight to their inbox.
If you're interested in hearing the news first & getting coupon codes when we have new products, sign up to our email newsletter here.
We have to mention - no promises on sizes staying in stock for long.
As we've already seen with the sizes that are sold out, sometimes we misjudge demand and are out of sizes much more quickly than we anticipated.
Have a closer look at the Hutton Playtime in English Tobacco with Dark Brown Welt & if you like what you see, check out before we're out of stock in your size:
]]>This year we want to bring you something special. A limited edition of our legendary Playtime in a tough but supple leather called ‘tumble grain’.
‘What is tumble grain?’ we hear you cry.
Premium grade skins are first tanned using eco processes and then placed in huge drums like industrial washer/dryers and literally tumbled into a kind of distress that creates the unique grain appearance. Unlike stamped leathers like pebble grain which are created by pressing the skins with a hot iron and a mould form of ‘grain’ pattern, the grain in tumble grain is organic. For this reason the skins end up soft and supple but with extended durability.
Here’s an image of what our Playtime Havana Leaf colourway looks like.
Like a baby elephant’s ear! Just like those vintage ‘exotic’ leathers of the past like, wild boar, and rhinoceros.
We’ve opted for the 'matte' unpolished version of this premium leather, as shown in the image above.
What does that mean?
Well by definition the leather is being tumbled, right? So, with that process comes a whole bunch of natural effects, marks, striations (look it up) and, well we believe…. Just pure character.
Sometimes, factories will polish the surface of the tumbled leather to hide some of those effects. We love them, and we think you will, too. Plus, you can always use boot polish yourself instead of a neutral creme when you clean them.
These boots are made to order for you and so they don’t yet exist - that’s why we’re showing you an example of the ACTUAL leather but not yet on on of our Playtime chukkas.
You will need to use some imagination as to what the boots will look like.
Meanwhile here's a photo of Anthony Perkins wearing a leather version of Hutton Playtime in the early 60s.
Here’s the Playtime chukka we currently sell.
And here's the Havana Leaf Tumbled Grain once again.
We think you can imagine the rest.
The model is the same, with the same sizing and fit as our suede models, just with that extra built ruggedness for the more inclement months. The iconic rolled welt will be 'dark' to match the leather.
This is a limited edition sprint run available only for 14 days.
How does a sprint run work?
We take advance orders up to the limited number of pairs we will make.
You must choose your size.
Once we have enough orders to send to the factory we will give you an estimated delivery date.
If for any reason the minimum order for the factory is not reached, your payment will be refunded in full, but we really don’t envisage that happening.
Due the nature of sprint runs being made to order there are no refunds for sizing issues or variables in the natural marks and grain that will appear in tumble grain products.
FAQs
Can I order more than one pair?
Yes, of course. They may never be offered again in this colourway or material, so if this is your thing, order a backup pair to be safe.
Will you ship to any country?
We will ship to the UK from the UK so no VAT and customs issues.
We ship to the EU from within the EU so no VAT and customs issues
If you are outside of the EU or UK we will ship from the most logical place at the time of completion by the factory. If for some reason you don’t see your destination listed please email shoes@huttonboots.com
How many pairs are in a sprint run?
The pairs are limited to the number shown on each sprint run campaign
I only just saw this sprint run but the date has passed, can I still make an order?
Sorry, once the order is filled there can be no additions and these boots will not form part of the regular stock. Only the pairs ordered will be made.
Check out the Playtime by Hutton Havana Leaf Limited Edition Sprint Run here:
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The launch was a little delayed due to the nightmare that is Brexit and trying to negotiate the ‘frictionless trade agreement’ that in reality, is nothing but friction.
Because of the news that we need to move our fulfilment, and due to the decision to move it into the EU, our UK customers were given first go at the first run.
Why? Once the Playtime needs to be exported to the UK, like every other import, they will attract extra customs duties and taxes.
Even with the sales restricted to UK customers, we almost sold out of the first run just a few short hours after sending our early bird email (if you want to be alerted to restocks and new sprint runs, it's worth signing up; we always send out a coupon code with our early bird alerts).
We will be switching on international orders very soon with no restrictions on our usual shipping countries.
We at Hutton just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped us get to this historic moment, the relaunch of Playtime by Hutton.
In the UK? Thinking of grabbing a pair? Double check to make sure there is a pair still available in your size by clicking the link below.
]]>Made in Italy the way the desert boots used to be made, super high quality. We sold out in 24 hours.
In September this year we ran a survey from our existing customers to see if they wanted a new pair of the original Acorn Sand colour. Based on the response we created the Deadstock Acorn Sand.
Why deadstock? Well the Italian tannery that made this suede closed its doors some time ago. So this run is the last that can be made in this iconic colour.
We already started shipping the pre ordered pairs but we have a few extras in some sizes available today.
]]>In fact, our last product launch was way back in March 2016, before Brexit caused the GBP to crash and burn.
We thought we'd wait it out and see how things got towards the end of the year, by which time we had a deafening shout from existing and would-be customers - 'we want more Hutton boots!'
Well, we listened and went back to basics for our new Sahara Sand Ltd Edition Type 01 boots.
A truly great vintage colour - a variation of sand, of course, this time a with a touch of mousey grey beige.
Natural un-dyed crepe soles of course. These are limited to 100 pairs and are already selling fast.
While we were at it, we couldn't ignore a further cry from our customers - 'we want them in black!'
Well, our original idea was 'any colour so long as it's sand' but of course there are such things as black sand volcanic beaches, right?
So, our latest 'Black Sand 'Type 01' Desert Boots were born.
And, whilst beige and tan may be the most prolific colours for desert boots throughout the ages, there have been some high profile wearers of black suede desert boots even amongst the ivy fraternity.
After all, who can forget Anthony Perkins mopping up Janet Leigh's blood in the bathroom of Cabin No1 in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho?
Well, when you've seen the movie as many times as we have, it's the clothes and shoes you look at. Sorry, Janet.
Truth be told, the black suede version of our cult 'Type 01' boot is pretty special.
Like all our other colours, the boots are vegetable tanned leather, the soles are natural crepe, but this time we asked the factory to darken off the edges a little to give them a 'noir-ish finish'.
Perfect with dark coloured corduroy or knocking about in vintage Levis.
By the way, as we always promised, everyone on our mailing list got early bird access to ensure they could get their sizes before we went public, and a 20% discount on top of that.
Sales during the early bird preview were brisk to say the least, but there are plenty left for sale if you weren't on the list yet.
Make sure you don't miss out next time - join our mailing list to get exclusive offers and discounts as well as early bird access to new releases.
]]>Already selling out fast to our existing customers, we have two new superb colours for our cult 'Type 01' Hutton Desert Boots.
Watch this space....
]]>With so many pairs walking around, it's inevitable that bad weather, accidents and in the case of one of our customers, Mark, waitresses with trays of hot oily food ready to dump on your nice new limited edition desert boots, are going to take their toll.
This is a problem that can face all of us, and seems to happen to our favourite items only when they're irreplaceable.
However, there are some tips that can help if something bad happens to your suede boots and so with Mark's permission we wanted to share some of the conversation in the hope that it may help you if your desert boots get inadvertently splashed with copious amounts of Pad Thai or Chicken Madras.
Mark emailed us to see if we had any advice on how to clean suede desert boots.
Here's Mark's original message:
Hi Hutton,
Unfortunately a very clumsy waitress spilt food (garlic, chili, oil combination) onto my right boot. I was wondering if you had any good advice on how I may be able to revoke some of the damage? They don't look good at the moment I'm afraid. Will the acorn sand boots be available again in the future? If not, is Clarks the nearest alternative? Hopefully there may be a way I can salvage this pair to wear again in the future.
All the Best,
Mark
Here's our response:
There are four things you could try to clean suede desert boots; in order of desperation:
Before trying to clean it off, first of all buy a big pack of bicarbonate of soda. Put the boot on newspaper and sprinkle the bicarb on the affected areas until completely covered. Leave for several days then dust off/hoover the powder off. Repeat as needed. Afterwards brush with a rubber/crepe suede brish (not metal). This is great for all oil stains.
Using the sun is not easy in the UK, but if you have a window with full sun put the boots on a windowsill in direct sunlight and leave for days. It's the UV rays that will remove stains.
Make sure you put both boots in the sun as the colour may fade a little and you should move them around a bit to avoid streak marks. I've used this to get oily tomato spaghetti sauce from a shirt when even Oxi Vanish didn't work. It was like magic.
Try a commercial suede/leather shampoo - this may work and is worth a try.
Note: You may be able to try this out with our Type 01 Desert Boots, but please don't try this with the Hutton Playtime! Playtime Chukkas should absolutely not be washed in a washing machine under any circumstance.
If all else fails try this, but only if you think the alternative is to throw them away!
Because our Type 01 Desert Boots are very well made and entirely natural and don't have those infamous cardboard bits inside, they could be washed.
It's not advisable to try this unless you have no alternative, but rather than junk them try putting them in the washing machine on a very gentle cycle (or hand wash in a basin) with natural soap - no bio soap as that will destroy the leather. Something like a liquid for hand washing wool and cashmere.
If hand washing, rub the soap well into the oil and stains and rinse well. You could hand wash and then spin them to get rid of excess water in the washing machine. Remove the laces and try putting them in an old pillow case before spinning.
Afterwards, when still wet, stuff them with newspaper and leave them to dry naturally well away from heat. It may take several days and you should change the newspaper daily.
They may dry a little stiff, but over time with wearing that should soften up. I wore my prototype pair in a flood at calf depth and thought that would be the end of them, but you'd never know they'd even been wet.
So, we don't recommend it because it's untested, but in the 1960s Clarks advertised their desert boots as machine washable so it's not without precedent!
But please, all these at your own risk.
In the past, suede had a reputation as being ruined by wet weather.
However, these days not only can you buy silicone spray protector such as Scotchguard but the actual leather will have been protected at the tannery when being processed.
This helps give the suede nap a protective coating which can help when you need to remove spills or marks from your boots.
Always use one of those rubber and crepe type brushes - the old fashioned brass wire ones will rip your suede to shreds if you're not careful.
For really stubborn marks you can use a suede rubber block - these are like school erasers with sand in that you can gently rub on the mark. They last for years.
Despite having had over 150 pairs of suede shoes in the last three decades I still have one that I bought in the 80s, so it's well worth picking one up.
Meanwhile, if you still haven't picked up one of the few remaining pairs of our Ltd Edition 'Type 01' Desert Boots you can find them here.
]]>Our first run sold out of most sizes within a couple of days so if you missed them the first time around, or you just want to bag yourself another great colour, then don't wait around.
These will likely fly out, too.
Making boots is a pretty slow business but we've been working away behind the scenes to develop more products for Hutton, so watch this space!
]]>We opened our online store yesterday, 28th January and 11am London time and by midnight we'd sold nearly 70 pairs of our 100 pair Limited Edition Type 01 Desert Boots.
Truly amazing and so encouraging to know there were many others out there who felt the need for desert boots the way they used to be made.
Your support has definitely helped us with 'proof of concept' and we'll be investing proceeds from the sale of our launch to develop more products, so watch this space.
]]>Suedes that were stiff like plastic, man-made fibreboard inside, skimpy soles made of milled crepe that can get super slippery in the wet and made in faceless factories the far east. Prices seemed to go up, but sadly over time quality went down.
Digging into the archives, reviewing hundreds of vintage adverts, thousands of images of desert boot wearers in days gone by we came to the conclusion that we could make something as good as they once were, but for today.
We remembered these iconic boots when they were Made in England, of all leather components, made by generations of stitching machinists, pattern cutters, leather room experts. As a child in 70s and a teenager in the 80s I remembered clearly wearing desert boots that were beautifully made, soft and comfortable.
Thankfully, we knew exactly where to look to replicate that experience: Italy.
Aside from their love of producing quality footwear, the Italians have had a love affair with desert boots going back to the early 1960s and our factory was one of the biggest makers at the time. We persuaded them to dust off their old lasts and patterns and to help us reverse a global trend and add in as much quality as possible.
What we ended up with is something we truly believe is the best classic desert boot available today - a boot which costs nearly three times the price at our factory gate than our more famous competitor's product does at theirs, but which we are selling for only a fraction more*.
We knew we weren't alone in feeling there was a gap in the market for a return to quality - the response on social media to our plan to bring back 'desert boots the way they used to be made' has hit a nerve with the public and the response has been literally hundreds of fans signing up for updates*.
*For a limited time, if you sign up to our mailing list we'll give you a 15% discount code that makes our desert boots even better value.
Our Limited Edition 'Type 01' Desert Boots are available online only, whilst stocks last.
]]>When we visited our factory in Italy in November we wrote up the specification for our first issue of the Hutton Type 01 Desert Boot. We wanted to recreate the classic desert boots of the 1950s and 60s.
It was also very important to us to ensure the quality of materials was the absolute best available. The factory was pleased to hear this because so many desert boots today are made to a rock bottom spec and made to sell as cheaply as possible.
The marketplace is full of cheap desert boots, but we know from experience that there's a market of buyers like you who are looking for the best, when only the best will do.
We have to say, when the first sample pair (pictured above) arrived at our office it was exactly as we had imagined. We didn't need to change a thing. Only a factory with Italian craftsmen that have been making superior quality desert boots for decades could have produced our sample without needing tweaks.
The last shape, the fit, the colour and the finishing are all exactly as we hoped for and we're proud to reintroduce the legendary Hutton name with this boot.
Our first Type 01 model limited to 100 numbered pairs.
To be notified when these boots go on sale in January 2016 just put your email address in form below and we'll give you priority and a special thank you promo code when we launch.
]]>Seven years old and worn into the ground yet still going strong.
We are making our production boots even better by further upgrading the materials we use and ensuring that our Type 01 Hutton Desert Boots have all the classic features you'd expect:
We'll be posting images of the first Hutton prototype very soon. (Please note that the model shown above is a vintage example and not a current Hutton product).
We are proud to make every pair of Hutton Desert Boots to be the best there is.
Desert boots made just like they used to be, before production went offshore and the quality compromised for price.
And we do all this in Made in Italy with eco materials, free worldwide shipping and all for the same price as the leading competitor.
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