Ring Boots w/ 2021
Opera’s Full Grain Flesh-Out Leather tanned in Toscana, Italy
Leather Insole + Leather Tuck + Shank + Memory Foam + Arch Support
Outsole-Grade Leather Midsole + Rubber Midsole + Vibram Oil-Resist Outsole
8 Layers of Leather, Rubber & PU Compound Bottoming Unit
Hand-Cut, Hand-Lasted, and Hand-Stitched
Solid Brass Rings
Genuine Moccasin Construction
1950’s Most Beloved Moccasin Last
Handmade in USA
The Ring Boots’ liminal character, offering a mid-cut profile and slender silhouette between a shoe and a boot, made it an icon of 70's cool. The Yuketen Ring Boots is a modern interpretation of the classic Ring Boots that is rendered from an organic composition of leather, rubber and traditional moccasin construction. The double ring cinch strap provides this mid-cut moccasin with the convenience of no lacing and stylish comfort for everyday use. The rings are made out of nickel coated solid brass and they are also used for genuine horse gears. The snake head designed strap is Yuketen’s original design.
Each pair of Yuketen’s genuine moccasin-construction footwear is handcrafted in our factory in Maine, USA. The shoes benefit from their construction using only the best components and materials such as the soft and silky full-grain flesh-out leather from Opera Leather from Tuscany, Italy who have been specialized in making flesh-out leather and suede since the 70s. The leather is described as ‘flesh-out’ as it is full-grain leather that is flipped so that the flesh side of the leather faces outwards. The advantages of using full grain, flesh-out leather rather than split suede leathers are two fold; full grain leathers retain their structure, thickness and durability for long-lasting strength and the smooth grain side of the leather wears pleasantly against the skin, negating the need for additional liners. This way, the wearer enjoys the benefits of full grain leather and the pleasant aesthetic of the nappy, suede-like flesh side of the leather.
To closely mirror the incongruence of the human foot and deliver a molded fit, multiple pieces of leather are hand-sewn and hand-lasted on Yuketen’s proprietary last, which was developed in the 1950s and was known as the best shoe last for an American-made moccasin. In addition, the base of the vamp has been cinched to further ensure an integumentary fit.
A Vibram’s oil-resisting morflex sole complements the dense eight layers of rubber and leather underfoot. Full vegetable-tanned leather insoles and midsoles, and tucks with steel shank reinforcements increase fitting in the arch and heel as well as lessen foot fatigue by forming a stable bridge between the heel and ball of the owner's foot which causes weight to be distributed more evenly across the foot. This results in reduced foot fatigue and improved comfort. Yuketen’s signature tucks are made from 100% vegetable-tanned leather and will naturally accommodate the distinct shape of the wearer’s foot over time.