Ask the artisans behind Markhor, the Pakistani shoe company changing the men’s shoe game in a big way, about the care and attention to detail that goes into the brand’s shoes. In fact, how about 1,800 years worth of care?
Made in the Pakistani cities of Lahore and Okara, the Markhor line of sleek, meticulously crafted footwear uses techniques that are, in some cases, nearly 2,000 years old. Talk about serious craftsmanship, resulting in seriously stylish men’s dress shoes. The brand’s start stems from a meeting had by co-founders Sidra Qasim and Waqas Ali with Okara’s local village council — and thus, the start of a premium footwear brand grounded in centuries-old construction techniques.
Starting with high-quality Pakistani leather and ending with finishing touches like an imported Italian leather sole, a simple yet subtly stylish pair of footwear like the Cynosure Wingtip exemplifies the refined design and intensive process put forth by Markhor.
And that attention to detail is even exemplified by the brand’s name, which comes from Pakistan’s national animal, a large species of northern Pakistani wild goat that’s now endangered. Your average footwear brand, Markhor is not. The company’s dedication to animals shines through in its animal welfare policies, a novelty among some fashion companies.
Markhor avoids using leather from countries that treat animals poorly, and it doesn’t trade in animal skins. Ultimately, you can be sure you’re buying a beautiful pair of shoes made with every little detail considered. And that definitely makes Markhor a brand for all kinds of menswear aficionados — even if you normally wear a rugged pair of leather boots.
The Solemn Derby in particular uses extremely fine lines of stitching and no added fussy details — it’s part of the brand’s clean design philosophy, down to the hidden brass eyelets for an even simpler look. And if it’s modern, crisp footwear you seek for both dressy and business casual style situations, look to something like the sleek Lagom Loafer to accent everything from classic dark denim to slim chinos.
And for those who crave a bit more sprezzatura in their style, the Mark Loafer, with its tan leather and subtle green accents, is unique enough to pass the spring and summer eye test. That it too, is made with responsible attention to detail is enough to make you want to buy a pair — and then perhaps a few more to round out your dress shoe rotation.
