A&S 2024AW – New Chelsea Boots

The New Chelsea Boots have been an integral part of the AW collection since the brand’s inception. The Side Gore Boots, Beatle Boots, and Chelsea Boots have all evolved over time, each design thoughtfully updated to seamlessly complement A&S clothing while offering the practicality of easy slip-on wear for daily use. While the Side Gore Boots and Beatle Boots had a long nose and mid-length design, the Chelsea Boots introduced a shorter, more compact style. Later, the New Chelsea Boots were created with a wider, thicker, and rounder last.

Each design emphasizes the silhouette when viewed from the side, with a beautifully refined line at the ankle opening. Even with the same model and material, the leather varies from piece to piece, offering a unique texture and the natural aging process that develops with wear.

Currently, four different variations of the New Chelsea Boots are available at each A&S store. We invite you to stop by and try them on.

The leather is sourced from natural South African antelope and is chrome-tanned. It is thicker than cowhide, with finer fibers and a beautifully soft pile. The surface features distinct scratches, giving it a unique character and texture, offering a supple feel that is unlike any other.

This leather is tanned using the traditional vacchetta method by the Italian company BADALASSI, a process with a history of over 1,000 years. Due to the light finish, natural markings such as bloodlines or unevenness may occasionally be visible, but these are part of the leather’s unique character. The leather is carefully tanned with tannins and treated with cow hoof oil, which is made by boiling the shin and heel bones of livestock. While cow hoof oil takes time and effort to penetrate, it deeply nourishes the leather, making it durable and resistant to losing its oil content. Over time, the leather develops a rich patina, becoming more supple and beautifully aged.

This leather, like the Box Shoulder, is tanned using the traditional tannin method by the Italian company BADALASSI. The leather is treated with oils and given a wax finish, enhancing its moisture retention, flexibility, and durability. Though it was originally developed with the flesh side (the underside) as the outer surface, the grain side (the outer surface) also has a beautiful, textured look. Unlike typical leather, this one has more visible imperfections, such as scratches, which add to its wild, rugged character. The grain side, with its distinctive appearance, is intentionally used to highlight this unique quality.

This leather was developed in the U.S. around the 1920s for work and outdoor boots. It is chrome-tanned and further tanned with tannins, then hand-finished with natural oils and waxes. While it contains a large amount of oil, it also offers excellent flexibility, durability, and water resistance. The ‘Snow’ model features a tank sole design, enhanced with cold protection.