CLAE takes their first step into technical materials with their new waterproof suiting collection. Featuring the sleek silhouettes of the Richards boot, Strayhorn mid-top, Powell wing-tip and Ellington low-top, the collection incorporates a specially developed water-repellent coating that offers a new range of versatility. Finely heathered water-resistant uppers, smooth full grain accents and slim cupsole in the season’s inspired shades of grey, bring style, innovation and comfort for the rainy days ahead.

In 1967 when Steve McQueen invited Peter Yates to direct the film Bullitt, he had only one thing in mind. He wanted to leave the fake roads of studio lots in the dust and shoot with real drivers on real streets. With a quest for authenticity, McQueen and a team of stunt drivers raced through the city streets of San Francisco at speeds up to 100 mph, creating the iconic scene that would forever change the cinematic car chase.

During the filming of Bullitt, McQueen wore a classic chukka boot that originally became popular during the 1940’s and 1950’s. Named for the resemblance to the boots worn by polo players during seven-minute matches called chukkers, they were were designed to be both comfortable and versatile.

Inspired by McQueen’s vision to modernize film, we updated the chukka adding a custom footbed, modern rubber sole and unique eyestay. With a wide array of textiles and unexpected details our McQueen pushes the limits of versatility being both lightweight and strong. The perfect fit for putting pedal to the metal, these mid-tops give you all the freedom of the open road ahead.

Warm neutral tones bring a fresh take on the traditional white summer shoe in our versatile SS12 Oatmeal Collection. Sit back and settle into the simplicity of our classic McQueen in textured denim and peanut nubuck, our sporty Gregory in perforated full grain leather and soft suede, our elegant Bailey in buttery nubuck and textured denim, our sleek Wilder in smooth and perforated full grain leather and our new tie up or slip on Bruce in textured denim and canvas piping that’s equally effortless with or without laces. Whether you prefer to walk, run or relax, our Oatmeal Collection lets you move easily through an endless summer.

Celebrating freedom of movement, the Payton offers a sophisticated play on the ever-evolving athletic shoe. Taking cues from modern running technology, we joined an open mesh design, neoprene heel and technical lace details with the style of our classic CLAE outsole. Whether you’re looking to hit the open road or just want to break from convention, the Payton gives you the liberty of choice.

Find out more at: http://www.clae.com/Product.aspx?l=00010000000000000000&p=CLA01259&shop=true

Spring is here and our 2012 Spring/Summer lineup is too. Get them here.

In honor of the new season, we’ve captured the warm promise of spring with our spirited SS12 Chestnut Collection.

The desert boot has been a classic in men’s footwear since it first started to hit the market in the early 1950s. These stylish boots originate from South Africa during the time British Army was fighting against Rommel in World War II. Originally the South Africans wanted their shoemakers to find a replacement to their own worn- out veldtschoens. The Egyptian craftsmen came up with a boot that had a supple suede upper and solid crepe soles that were not only stylish, but also much more comfortable, compared to the other shoes of the day, and were very easy to maintain.

The Strayhorn draws upon the same timeless aesthetic of the desert boot but with the added benefits of modern day refinements. By replacing the crepe sole, know to become extremely slippery in wet conditions, with a modern cupsole we’ve taken the next step in improving on the comfort and performance of the desert boot, while also allowing the injection of color.

Whether rain or shine, the Strayhorn updates a familiar silhouette with a quiet confidence in shape and function. These mid-tops lend an air of charm with a splash of sophistication, never missing a beat.

When planning for this spring we were looking to bring something new with the materials for the Jones. In the past we have outfitted the Jones, our boot inspired sneaker, in heavy oiled and waxed leathers. However for this spring we looked to lighten it up a bit. We brought in two textured canvases and a cotton ripstop textile to add a little new life into an old favorite.

The textured canvases, in chestnut and acorn, have a sturdy feel, somewhat reminiscent of a nice piece of luggage and for the ripstop we used a heavy weight cotton canvas. Premium leather details put the final touches on the shoes to maintain the durable heritage aficionados of the Jones have come to know and love.

All three colors keep the rugged feel of the Jones just with a little twist for spring.

We created the Chambers to be a modern gentlemen’s moccasin. The word moccasin comes from an early Native American translation that means, “shoe” and has been associated with the soft leather slippers worn by various tribes. Moccasins were essential to the Native Americans because they not only provided comfort for long journeys, but they were extremely versatile in design to be well suited for different geographical and climate conditions.

With the Chambers, we wanted to capture the same spirit of outdoor exploration that they originally were inspired by. Rich, natural colors echo the natural beauty of the wilderness while the leather accents pay homage to the original moccasins. With a non-traditional athletic upper on a low profile athletic cup sole with a neoprene heel, Chambers provides the comfort and utility suited for your next adventure.