Today’s Fade of the Day is a pair of R.M. Williams Kangaroo Craftsman that ought to elicit some opinions:  patinated, or just trashed?

These Chelsea-style side gore boots were sent in by Heddels reader Chris Estaway of Australia who says they were his everyday boots for 8 years. At first, he babied them, until he had a baby and they started to get roughed up at playgrounds and other play sessions. The kangaroo leather gathered plenty of patina, showing its lighter-brown core through scuffs and creases to the point of being torn away on the toebox, and even splitting on the edge of the creaseline. That’s no easy feat considering kangaroo leather is known for its high strength-to-weight ratio!

Chris went through two soles on these but never had them completely resoled and rewelted. At this point they’ve simply been retired.

R.M. Williams Kangaroo Craftsman Leather Boots

• Material: Leather, rubber, elastic, etc.
• Material weight: Unknown
• Material source: Australia, etc.
• Made in: Australia
• Additional Details:
  • Made from a single piece of kangaroo leather
  • Leather sole
  • Leather lined
  • Elastic sides
  • Two branded tug pulls
  • Regular and wide sizes
• Available at: Port Philip for AUD$560 (~USD$377)