Over the past few years, old-school outdoor companies have made a habit of collaborating with some of the sickest labels in menswear. Merrell has tapped both Awake NY and Adsum to remix all manner of rugged moccasins, and just this month, Diemme linked with JJJJound on a pair of supremely covetable approach shoes. Now, the revered heavyweight bootmaker Sorel—another brand with serious outdoor bonafides—has teamed up with the eternally cool Japanese label Needles on a duo of fall-ready weatherproof stompers.
Over the past decade, Needles has expanded its footprint in the West, bringing its distinct brand of freaky colors and patterns to an increasingly broad audience. You’ve likely seen its A$AP Rocky-approved tracksuits, with their beefy side ribbons and embroidered butterflies, or its Seth Rogen-beloved fuzzy cardigans, rendered in trippy, Magic Eye-esque patterns. Needles has never shied away from getting delightfully weird with its clothes—and that sensibility is front and center in this new Sorel collaboration, which is set to drop on September 25.
Courtesy of Sorel
Courtesy of Sorel
Sorel is best known for its rugged 10-inch Caribou boot, and the brand’s new Ambler clog and chukka take cues from that iconic silhouette, distilling the tried-and-true, winter-busting DNA into more compact designs. The chukka ($250) has a full-grain leather upper and a subtle leather vamp, while the clog ($200) is a sleek and streamlined mule. Both feature the snug cushioning and waterproof construction you’d expect from a company that has been making snow-defying footwear for over six decades. Needles’s signature purple colorway gives the otherwise built-tough silhouettes a decidedly more fashion-forward twist, while the brand’s famous butterfly logo adds another layer of personality.
It’s rare to find this level of comfort and weatherproofing in a package that isn’t dull or drab. That freaky purple injects a jolt of color into a category dominated by blacks and browns. A weatherproof clog and chukka boot are always worthy additions to any autumnal rotation, but especially so when they’re this much fun to look at.
