BMS Blake Stitched Mule in Leather

Presenting a limited series of Hand Crafted Shoes made exclusively for Blue Mountain School. Drawing on a long legacy of traditional and artisanal cordwaining techniques using the finest materials. The soft, suede-like texture of the Mule comes from its upper, a vegetable-tanned vachetta leather which has been treated and used on the reverse side. This material is lined with a second, breathable and durable vegetable-tanned leather. It has two insoles—one with an added shock-absorbing material with memory, for comfort and wearability. The wedge of the mule, or the zeppa, is made from oak bark-tanned leather, selected for strength and longevity. A thin rubber layer is added to increase resistance and durability during wear. 

The mule is stitched with a linen thread, hand-waxed with beeswax and natural tree resin. The upper leather remains undyed, but is treated with a water-repellent product for protection against the elements. It is designed to age well, developing character and patina as it wears.

Shoemaking begins with leather. All of the leathers used to create the Mule are vegetable-tanned by specialist local tanneries. Their production methods are more sustainable than contemporary methods, preserving traditional craftsmanship and regional know-how. The result is both aesthetic, and emotional; vegetable-tanned leather components age better and endure for longer.

The collection is created by an artisanal shoemaker in Perugia, in his home-workshop in the Italian countryside. Custom colours, sizing and other bespoke details are available. For more information on special orders, contact info@bluemountain.school