Australian bootmaker RM Williams tends to stay in its own lane when it comes to its design philosophy, which has remained largely unchanged since its inception in 1932. Its functional leather riding boots and classic, utilitarian garments are worn by people from all walks of life – from farmers in the outback to school kids to office workers and young creatives.
But change is afoot. While it’s dabbled in collaborations in the past (supplying footwear for Australian designer Dion Lee’s runway shows; designing the uniform for the 2018 Australian Commonwealth team), the label today announced its biggest global designer collaboration to date. Sydney-born, London-based industrial designer Marc Newson – who has worked across aircraft design, furniture, jewellery and clothing, and was involved in the development of the Apple Watch – has been tasked with reimagining the label’s classic Gardener Boot. It’s the first instalment in the label’s Undeniable Character series – a new two-year initiative inviting various craftspeople and global brands to collaborate on designs.
Originally introduced in the late ’50s, the Gardener Boot has been reinterpreted as the unisex [Yard Boot 365] ($445). It will launch in six permanent colours, and different limited-edition colourways will be unveiled every six months.
“As an Australian, I was thrilled to have been asked to design a boot for RM Williams – a brand I’ve grown up with and have great appreciation for ever since I got my first pair of boots in my early teens,” said Newson in an official statement.
He’s been careful to respect the bootmaker’s rugged DNA in his updated creation. “[It’s a] product I hope is both modern yet communicates the values and craftsmanship of RM Williams,” he said. “It’s not about reinventing the wheel. There had to be a certain character, something about the new boot to make it different enough to appeal to a new audience as well as to the faithful.”
In a statement, RM Williams described the design as a “future icon” and a “modern-day work boot for the modern-day worker”. Designed to be worn year-round, each boot is made from a single piece of leather, with engineered elastic gussets on the sides to prevent dirt, water and sand from getting in. Poron padding has been added to the sole for additional comfort, plus a rubber outsole. The range launches with six colours (black, walnut, indigo, olive, quarts and off-white) made with three different types of supple leather.
“Marc’s design sensibility paired with [our] blend of rugged elegance has produced something incredible that we can’t wait to share with the world,” said RM Williams CMO Matthew Hayward in an official statement.
Luxury conglomerate LVMH acquired a 49.9 per cent stake in the bootmaker and clothing retailer (valued at $50 million) in 2013, before increasing its ownership to 82 per cent in 2014 for $110 million. It’s currently up for sale again.
Newsom’s work can be found at MoMA in New York; the Design Museum and the V&A in London; Centre Pompidou in Paris; and the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany.
The limited-edition Yard Boot 365 will be available to purchase online from October 28 and at various RM Williams stores and wholesalers from November 11.
