As I have said many times (likely too many times by now) I am headed to China for the summer. What I’ve learned from travel is that international travel will destroy a pair shoes, regardless of if they are old beaters or brand new. So I’ve decided to just go ahead and get a new pair of shoes. The question that remains then is what- mocassins, Vans, or some bluchers. The gamut I’ve set on is Vans Classics, LL Bean or Eastland bluchers, or Arrow mocassins. In my book, all fit the need for something comfortable to walk in and that will look good after being put through the ringer of travel and tourism. I have no dress code to keep up beyond my personal preference for slightly WASP-y attire (Vans aside), so this is mostly about comfort and lasting through 10 weeks of daily wear.
More importantly though is a notion that I sort of developed in Japan. Although in Athens I tend to keep a fair collection of shoes, including sneakers, loafers, wingtips, etc, my time in Japan encourage a wear-it-till-its-dead mentality. Of course, that isn’t to say that Japanese people own a single pair of shoes at a time, but rather they get all they can out of a product. We see this reflected in the quality of Japanese goods. I think that to embark on an extended travel is a great opportunity for many to really decide on a few garments and shoes and wear the hell out of them. If they survive, great; if not, well you got a few years worth of wear when you factor out the rotation they would get back home.
Input is appreciated of course:
Sperry distressed leather boat shoe
-N. T. Edwards
