While not the oldest, Rancourt is one of the few remaining hand-made footwear manufacturers based in Maine — a state with as much, or even more, footwear heritage as any other region in the lower 48. While Rancourt honors the area’s rich traditions by continuing to offer the standard assortment of frontiersman and maritime classics — like moccasins, boat shoes, loafers, and boots — they’ve also taken strides to offer more contemporary takes on minimal sneakers for the urban jungle.
Bridging the gap between the two extremes is their Carson Low, a ‘clean’ sneaker with historical roots of its own. Over a year in the making, their take on the infamous ‘wino’ design is decidedly more higher-grade in every way than the original, which was a disposable shoe made to be affordable during harder times.
Constructed in Maine, the uppers are crafted from a mid-weight #10 cotton duck and soaked in a water-repellant and fade-resistant finish by Fairfield Textile in New Jersey, while the comfort insole was made in New England specifically for the Carson. Solid brass eyelets welcome leather laces, and the considered blend rests atop a Vibram Strighton outsole.
Available for $175 at Rancourt.
