Snail Mail #7

Greetings everyone, it’s a me, Michael. There is a survey on the bottom of this post that I'd like you to fill out if you don't mind.

Monday! ‘Nother day, ‘nother dollar! You know how it goes. I really want to start showing you things but as of right now, there is little to show (until next week). 

Anyway, here are some things I’ve been getting emailed about lately. Then we'll get into boots.

The Special Edition Mammoth

For those of you who do not know, there was an event, for lack of a better term, that happened during the SE Mammoth release. In short, the website exploded, and 90 people were able to place an order instead of 10. Oopsie poopsie, I could have died on the spot. A solution was later found.

To keep it brief, the Special Edition is coming back in a MUCH larger stock (Sam and I are partnering with a mill, she’s overseeing production, far more information to come). She and I will still do her foot-woven cloth in very, very limited batches every year…but we decided to do a little sartorial offshoot.

The Mammoth's return and its new friend

Pictures coming soon! Just of some factory fun for now. There is a new wool jacket coming this year too. Technically, the Mammoth and it are bitter enemies…according to lore. 

Denim

We are finally…so close to being ready. I’ll have some factory photos next week and I’ll get everything on the site ready for pre-orders ASAP.

The Collaboration Extravaganza

If you watch the YouTube channel, you know that there is one boot brand I gush over (actually, maybe I gush over all of them, I love boots). Time and time again, I babble on about leather layers, overlap seams, hand-sewn construction, triple vamps, blah blah blah. Well, one day, I was babbling on with Luke, the CEO of the boot brand I quite like (as does my dad), and right before we were about to end our call, I spoke thus:

“Goodbye, Luke, nice chatting. Wait, Luke, uh, do you have any collaborations planned this year? And are you open to the possibility of one?”

Luke said yes, birthing the Russell Moccasin x Iron Snail Collaboration Boot.

Now comes the hard part: designing/bringing back a boot from the Russell Moccasin archives. If you’re unaware, RM has been making boots in the US for 126 years. Their boots use true moccasin construction (built from the bottom up) and are worn by a laundry list of celebrities, kings, presidents, and regular people. They were the first boots to ever thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, the first boots in the stratosphere, the first to use the overlap seam, etc. They have their accomplishments and then some. Also, quite a few very famous boot brands were started by former employees of Russell, though I don’t think I’m allowed to say who. Either way, RM is firmly planted in the history of American boots. To me, they are the perfect compromise between modern hiking boots and good ol’ classic leather ones. Far more information to come.

Now, let me tell you my three categories of ideas and then get your vote.

Category I: A Simple Iron Snail Flair

Simply: I pick some leathers, a sole color, laces, etc. on an existing RM model and make an aesthetic configuration that Russell doesn’t currently offer. There are also a few little fun materials I can put in certain places. The boot pictured above was Filson’s version of that. I think they did an AMAZING job. I’d also design a few little things that come with the boots.

Category II: A One-to-One Historic Replica

Russell has an incredible history, so I asked Luke, "Why don’t we bring back an old boot and present it the exact way it would have been presented 100 years ago?" Same labels, care guide, box, replica leather that would have been made at that time, etc. I’d probably bring back a boot similar to what’s pictured above: a lighter, shorter boot.

Category III: A Low(er)-Top!

I recently did a video on the Oneidas which I love nearly and dearly. However, I thought it might be fun to slap a rubber sole on them (this has been done before) and make them a bit more fit for asphalt. That or we could bring back a chukka boot. Either way, a low-top shoe/boot.

In Conclusion

Those are the three major categories I’m thinking of working within. I’m excited to see which area you like. As of right now, I’m picturing something I’d wear while in Weld, Maine (one of the greatest places in the world, along with Concord, MA, and Glashutte, Germany). That being said, I’d like to make a boot that we’d all love and be excited to wear for many, many, many years.

If you don’t mind filling out this survey, I’d very much appreciate it! It’ll directly influence which option we end up rolling with.

Click here for the survey!

All the best and talk soon! 

- Michael