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Sperry teams up with YMC on suede chukkas

On Your Feet is all about that new shoe feeling- from the first time you open the box until they’re worn into the ground. Sometimes we’ll sift through the constant Air Jordan releases to bring you the gems other people will leave on the shelves, and sometimes we’ll slide on reclaimed leather loafers from Prague, but we’ll always focus on comfortable shoes with appealing and creative aesthetic. So lace up your new kicks and stand on the precipice of adventure, where will we go together?

When you think of Sperry, you probably think of the classic Top-Sider, but the brand’s footwear and clothing line extends far beyond the lightweight boat shoe. It may have been that versatility that’s attracted some fun collaborators to Sperry, and London-based You Must Create is the most recent. YMC brings a boldness to Sperry’s sneakers that are as functional as they are stylish. The Cloud CVO Suede Chukka is a sharp, minimalist sneaker with a bold, vulcanized outsole.

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Fraser Moss and Jimmy Collins started YMC in 1995 with the intent of creating clothing that’s as functional as it is stylish. The minimalist style is centered around a quote from industrial designer Raymond Loewy that “You must create your own style.” The power of that quote shows in their unique, but understated clothing.

Sperry, on the other hand, was born in 1935 in Connecticut when the Paul Sperry needed a shoe that could keep him from slipping on the wet deck of his ship. After seeing his dog run around on the ice with no issue, he created shoes with grooves in the bottom and a dog claw-like shape, and the rest is history.

SperryYMCChukka-2
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Cloud CVO starts with a classic chukka boot, a style that’s been coming into its own again lately. This particular model is adapted from Sperry’s long-running CVO – a lightweight pair of sneakers with a vulcanized outsole for better grip even when it gets wet out. This time around, the canvas upper is instead wrapped in smooth suede, a premium touch that pairs well with the black vulcanized midsole.

The Cloud CVO Suede Chukka is available now in brown, black, and white from Sperry, but the collaboration with YMC is a limited run, so if you want them don’t hesitate.

Brad Bourque
Brad Bourque is a native Portlander, devout nerd, and craft beer enthusiast. He studied creative writing at Willamette…
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