Not a news flash: Good-looking shoes are awesome. But it's definitely a plus when they're also comfortable, durable, and whimsical, to boot. And for the Namibian shoe company Herbert Schier, it's check, check, and...check! This recent U.S.-import line has been gaining great traction for its hand-crafted Velskoen boots — usually referred to as "vellies" — and now their famous desert boots are more accessible than ever.
The 74-year-old African brand seems to be making some big changes before it hits its three-quarters-of-a-century mark. Herbert Schier has recently shot its very first lookbook, and, much to our delight, expanded to the States with a newly launched collection of exclusive "vellies" sold at Opening Ceremony.
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This heritage brand may be inspired by the traditional footwear of the local Khoikhoi tribe, but trust — the designs are anything but dated. (Just feast your eyes on the neon toe caps and leopard-print leather.) If our own praise for these modern-classic kicks isn't enough to convince, the incredibly happy models of Swakopmund, Namibia may be the ultimate endorsement for these local fashion treasures making international waves.
Photo: Courtesy of Herbert Schier