UK bootmaker reaffirms it commitment to leather
A British footwear producer has reaffirmed its commitment to leather, despite the price increases and shortages of supply brought about by the current foot and mouth disease crisis.
In a statement to the outdoor industry press last week, Robert Perkins, managing director of The Brasher Boot Company – the country’s largest supplier of lightweight leather walking boots - said his company would keep on using leather, despite the recent price hikes.
"No other material offers all the qualities of high grade leather. It is breathable – keeping feet cool during strenuous walking – offers tremendous protection to the foot in tough and rough terrain, is durable and can be made waterproof. Waterproof walking boots are best made using large pieces of leather without many seams but these large pieces of leather have to be of the highest quality and are usually the most expensive.
"Whilst in the general footwear market there are shoe makers starting to work with a variety of different materials, including fabric, to try and mitigate the increased cost of leather, in the outdoor hiking boot business that’s much less of an option. We required the very highest standards of quality and performance from our materials and leather has proven itself, over many years, to be the best material."
