Oak Street Bootmakers just dropped a new set of footwear using some of the finest leather in the world with its limited edition Nemesi Cotto collection. Part of the consortium of Genuine Italian Vegetable-tanned Leather, Badalassi Carlo has been making quality Italian leathers for over 40 years, most of which are engineered specifically for leather clothing and footwear, like this array of Nemesi Cotto leather shoes.
This chocolatey brown leather has been drum-dyed brown and then stone glazed to give it that seemingly perfect luster and firm temper perfect for a shoe. Being a darker tan color from the start, you can still expect some patina over time, and while the contrast might not be as extreme as your more natural fare, I think we can agree that these boots have no business looking any better than they do right out of the box.
This Nemesi Cotto collection is all made in the USA and comprised of four footwear styles. First up, Oak Street’s Field Boot, which is a service boot style as classic as can be. The Nemesi Cotto Field Boot and its slightly dressier brother — the Cap-Toe Lakeshore Boot — feature a re-soleable Dr. Sole 1091 Cork Half Sole, leather midsole, and tonal laces.
The Cap-Toe Trench Boot, a more rugged take on the cap-toe style, is a nice in-between of a service boot and a dress boot. The Trench Boot, along with the wonderfully low-profile Trench Oxford, dress shoe feature Vibram 700 Cork Soles, and the same tonal laces featured throughout the collection.
The Nemesi Cotto Collection is available now at Oak Street Bootmakers for $508 – $548.
Looking to learn about welted footwear? Check out The Three Tiers of Welted Boots and Shoes: Entry, Mid, and End Level
