I think many will understand when I say that Red Wings are the gateway drug into high-quality footwear and heritage clothing. What Red Wing did to work boots and heritage footwear is comparable to what the Japanese did with denim and sportswear: total reinvention.
Over the company’s century-and-a-bit-long existence, Red Wing has produced some of the most iconic silhouettes imaginable, from the 875 Mocs and 8111 Iron Rangers to the Pecos and Engineers. All of these boots – and more – have been documented in Lightning Archive’s “Vintage Red Wing” issue, available for purchase at Clutch Cafe.
Lightning Archives is part of Lighting Clutch, a well-known magazine publisher based in Japan. Lightning Clutch is made up of Japan’s finest heritage and counterculture publications, which include titles like Lightning Magazine, Clutch Magazine, and Men’s File, among others. The magazines cover anything from fashion, music, and classic cars, through to art, design, and food. Of particular interest are Lightning Archives issues, which are the holy grail in documenting ‘Amikaji’ (American Casual style) and vintage military clothing.
If you’re in the market for a beautiful coffee table book, or need a bit of inspo in the boot department, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Available for $66 from Clutch Cafe
