Come cool off at Inkerman in our Polar White Charle and Max shoes! After six months of development, Inkerman is proud to announce the release of its first trainer shoe.

The Charlie White’s smooth leather profile makes it the perfect summer shoe. The Charlie’s lining features perforated leather in certain sections to provide breathability and comfort in all conditions.

The Inkerman Max has a semi-perforated exterior for increased breathability. The Max is available in Polar White and black.

The leather which composes each Inkerman shoes is sourced from the United States. SATRA, a UK based technology organization, found its start developing the climbing boots worn by Tenzing Norway and Sir Edmond Hillary in the 1954 first ever summit of Mount Everest.

Today SATRA develops leather grading rubrics and systems for shoemakers to acquire the desired quality leather for their product. Inkerman uses Grade-A leather in all of its leather shoes. Inkerman only works with tanneries and manufacturers accredited to SATRA’s rigorous protocols.

Visit Inkerman to see how we have employed SATRA leather in our new Max and Charlie sneakers!

 

Two summers ago, Inkerman sent a photographer to investigate the handmade process that makes our product the quality it is. What follows is a preview of the Inkerman Boyton shoemaking process, which will also be released in video form later this month!

Inkerman sources U.S. grade-A cowhide. The supple leather is placed against aluminum templates designed by the master shoe designer. Every other cut the hooked-blade cutting implement is sharpened.

All Inkerman shoes feature our supple inner leather linings; the linings are cut using the same process, shown above, which forms the “upper” of the shoe.

In this image, the foxing of the brogues that compose the upper of the Boyton shoe are individually cut using a dye-press. The press, a modified sewing machine with a counterweight and a hand-wheel, precisely shapes the leather.

In order to achieve the flared foxed eyelets characteristic of a brogues shoe, the punched leather is folded against itself, creating a raised border of dimpled leather.

Here the finished brogues fabric is sewn to the vamps and quarters of shoe, producing the “upper” of the shoe.

With the upper complete, the fabric is placed around a last, or foot template, to have the leather shaped to the dimensions of the sole it will be matched to.

The completed upper of the shoe is joined with its natural rubber sole; the two are bonded with a contact-binding adhesive.

The finished product!