What makes the perfect winter shoes? Well, they can’t be suede, that’s for sure, and they’ll ideally have a pretty chunky midsole with rope laces for added outdoorsy-ness. Oh, and they’ll be dark in color, so the slushy shite weather doesn’t mess them up.
Well, as it happens, Manchester’s finest Oi Polloi has designed exactly that alongside shy French footwear makers Mephisto, in an attempt to battle the gloomy winters experienced in England’s north west.
Marking the third time the two brands have teamed up in as many years, OP has chosen to revisit Mephisto's hallowed Rainbow silhouette again this season, this time opting for an all-over smooth brown leather – which is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Previously, OP has taken a riskier approach by sticking with the Rainbow’s classic suede, but with deepest, darkest winter edging ever closer, leather seemed like a wiser choice.
Dropping at Oi Polloi on September 29 (8am BST), OP’s Mephistos are just the latest in a string of collaborations from the Manchester retailer this year.
From its second Mephisto link-up and Universal Works, to Lavenham and, most recently, the release of the “Salford Sage” sneaker alongside adidas Originals, OP has been busy, to say the least.
But with winter fast-approaching and elongated periods of darkness bedding themselves in, there’s only one shoe you’re going to need for those mulchy rambles, and that’s OP’s leather Mephisto Rainbows, sir.
