Store Blog

Red Wing Heritage comes with some exciting news for the Spring/Summer season. Their best-selling Moc Toe style boot gets a fresh spin for with the release of the 8833 Hawthorne Abilene roughout leather version.

The Red Wing 8833 Hawthorne Abilene is an archival leather that was first introduced by the American footwear brand in 1959. In 1989, it debuted in the Japanese market as a limited edition 6-inch Moc, sold with the Irish Setter branding. The material in this style was hugely popular and has been iconic in Japan ever since. Now, for the very first time, Red Wing Shoes brings it in line and offers it globally.

The special roughout leather on Red Wing's 8833 style is often compared to suede, but there are important differences to note. Suede is made by splitting off the grain, which makes the leather thinner, weaker, and more susceptible to scuffs. In contrast, Red Wing roughout leathers are full-grain, meaning the grain structure remains intact and retains its strength. Roughout leather is often considered to be the most durable due to its naturally water-resistant qualities and easily cleanable surface texture.

"The neat thing about our roughout leather," Red Wing's Global Product Design and Development Manager, said in 2020, when the brand used Abilene leather to make a boot celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Amsterdam store, "is that we use the full grain... When you split out that top grain, you weaken the structure of the leather. [Full grain] gives you a lot of strength and integrity to the leather, and it also gives you a nice feel on your foot, because that top grain [makes it] feel like it is fully leather lined."

This leather type develops a beautiful, worn-in patina over time, making this a boot that can be worn during spring, but easily transition and complement darker fall styles too.

The 990’s original designers were tasked with creating the single best running shoe on the market. After four years of research and development, the finished product more than lived up to its billing. When it hit shelves for the first time in 1982 the 990 sported an elegantly understated grey colorway, and a then unheard of three-figure price tag.

 For avid runners and ahead of the curve tastemakers alike, the 990 was a mark of quality and superior taste. There have been updates to the design since ’82, and more colour options, but the 990’s aspirational status symbol aura has never changed. Simply put, the 990 is the shoe so good, that they've never stopped making it.

 This may not be the “on trend” 990 right now but it is without question the most important. First pig suede upper, first grey NB, first use of 3M reflective, first moulded C/R component, first dual density midsole... the list goes on. It also boasted a new Vibram compound and famously retailed at twice the price of any other competitor model (then unheard of three-figure price tag).

After personally purchasing 4 items from East Harbour Surplus last year, we just had to bring it in.

Launched in 2008, the Italian-Korean brand East Harbor Surplus takes much of its inspiration from historical, vintage references. It was founded by Han Taemin, who worked as a menswear designer in Florence, and by production manager Fabrizio Vanni. 

Having worked together four years prior, the combination of these two inspirations is the main driver of the brand which reinterprets vintage military and naval styles to be worn in every day life, according to seasons with tailoring that can be best done in Italy. 

The label name, East Harbour Surplus, is based on sea travel ("East Harbour") and on military clothing ("Surplus"), which was shipped by sea from the East Harbour. All garments are designed to give the impression of "previously worn" textures using "fabric dyed" and "garment dyed" techniques. 

The company is based in Florence, and most production takes place in Tuscany. We are proud to be the first North American stockist of the brand.