New! Three summer-ready shoe styles from the Solovair collaboration

We first teamed up with the Northampton shoe-making icon Solovair last year when we decided to modernise the classic monkey boot. It turned out to be so successful that we couldn't just leave it at that, so we put our collective heads together with the Solovair team to bring you three exclusive styles that capture Solovair's unique aesthetic together with Oliver Spencer's relaxed vision of elevated menswear. The results are as follows!

The Suede Penny Loafer

The penny loafer is a timeless smart casual shoe that works perfectly with relaxed summer tailoring. This Solovair version was crafted on a last that was developed just under 100 years ago and produced with a modern mindset. Solovair sourced some premium suede from their Italian tannery, and used a PVC Goodyear welt that was heat-sealed with their 'sole of air' sole using super hot knife. Sophistication and comfort in equal measure, the penny loafer comes in three versatile colours.

Solovair x Oliver Spencer Tan Suede Loafer

Solovair x Oliver Spencer Black Suede Loafer

Solovair x Oliver Spencer Brown Suede Loafer

The Suede Monkey Boot

The monkey boot's heyday was in the early 60s but it actually originates from Czechoslovakia around the time of World War II. After the great success of our first OS x Solovair monkey boot, we wanted to changed the polished leather upper for something softer for the summer. Hence, Solovair were able to get their hands on some beautiful Italy suede and constructed these stunning iterations of the monkey boot. Think of them as an alternative to the traditional chukka boot, only wit more 60s attitude. They'll go great with our seasonal drawstring trousers or equally well with a pair of stone-washed jeans.

Solovair x Oliver Spencer Tan Suede Monkey Boots

Solovair x Oliver Spencer Black Suede Monkey Boots

Solovair x Oliver Spencer Brown Suede Monkey Boots

The Gibson

An iconic shoe style, the Gibson is really just another name for the Derby, and as such is constructed with open lacing for more casual look than an Oxford. The Gibson's we made with Solovair use their stitchdown construction, which dates back to the seventeenth century. As the name suggests it features an upper stitched down to the mid-sole. It's a variation of the Goodyear Welted construction method, however there is one main difference. Unlike the Goodyear welt method where the upper leather turns inwards towards the insole, in the Stitchdown method the upper leather turns outwards and is stitched directly to the mid-sole. The stitch is made using heavy thread using a lock stitch process. Even if one of the stitches should become damaged, the rest will remain in place. The Gibson's, like the Monkey boots, are Goodyear welted so they can be easily re-soled many times over.

The Solovair Story

Not only are these great shoes, but the Solovair story is actually one of heritage, commitment, and artisanship against all the odds. At the turn of the 20th century NPS, Solovair's parent company moved premises to a larger purpose-built factory in Wollaston such was their demand. It's the same premises they still occupy to this day. But nearly a century later, NPS hit trouble and were on the verge of collapse. It took the enterprise and magnanimity of a local village resident by the name of Ivor Tilley, who took it upon himself to save the factory from developers and galvanise the company, ensuring it continued to support local villagers without whose shoe-making skills the brand would not be able to continue. That was 2006. Today, Solovair is back to former glories and we're very proud to be able to collaborate with them.