Monkey Boots - Black Horsebutt

These are John Lofgren's take on the Eastern European (primarily Czech) surplus boots that saw popularity among civilian markets in the 80s. The actual origin of the name "Monkey Boot" is lost to history, but the prevalent opinion is that the tractor-tire-tread soles of the Czech boots offered enough grip to climb like a monkey. These are sewn up in an all black tea-core horsebutt from the Shinki Tannery in Japan, one of the premier horsehide tanneries in the world. Being a tea core leather, the black dye at applied to the hides does not fully penetrate the surface of the hides, leaving the flesh underneath undyed - over time, the black dye will wear and scuff off, revealing the brown core beneath. This remarkable leather also features a glossy finish and a gorgeous grain texture that ranges from subtle to incredibly prominent. Unlike cowhide, horsebutt tends to roll rather than crease over time, giving them a more subtle and graceful aging process. The grain texture of Shinki Horsebut