One Designer, Two Collabs, Three Perfect Leather Shoes
It’s a great time to bet big on Sage Toda-Nation. The London-based designer has quietly been building a reputation for his work at both his namesake Sage Nation imprint and the utilitarian workwear label YMC (or You Must Create). But this past week, he’s really popped off in the realm he's long since mastered: footwear.
Not one, not two, but three great leather shoes designed by Toda-Nation have dropped through two big collaborations in one single week, each a near-perfect twist on a classic shape. It’s impressive enough to make one great shoe — especially a leather one, whose silhouettes lean far more classic than a sneaker — but releasing three in two days feels downright saucy.
First came the almost illegally clean Sage Nation x Dr. Martens 1461 oxford on September 30, with its double-welt seam running down the upper; a nod to Sage Nation’s signature Box Pleat trouser. A day later and a brand away, YMC and Grenson’s ongoing collab dropped a twisty little biker boot with a zigzag stitch detail and a svelte slip-on that looks like a British cousin of Lemaire’s piped loafer.
The partnership has already delivered some of the freshest spins on the legacy footwear brand’s signature shoes, but this latest release proves Toda-Nation is only getting better with every drop. There’s no flaw to be found in that slip-on, and the small details on the moto silhouette make it stand out just enough without going the “weird hybrid” route.
Speaking from sore-footed experience, finding a good leather shoe that doesn’t feel like walking on rocks can feel (ironically) Sisyphean. There’s an art to balancing a great silhouette, solid build, and comfort. And mercifully, Toda-Nation is out here making masterpieces.
TK
Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit our SHOPPER page and subscribe to the newsletter for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.
