Take Comfort

One fine day, Homo sapiens got fed up with lugging their feet over fragments of flint and have been wearing shoes ever since.

Since then, we’ve come a long way in terms of inventiveness and when you think it took tens of thousands of years to invent the wheel, you realise we didn't come all this way for nothing.

Nowadays every conceivable combination is available for us good old bipeds. High or low, open or closed, leather or fabric, to bowl or not to bowl, there are simply thousands of options out there. Our challenge here was simply to come up with the most versatile of them all.

When you think about it, it's not easy to get through modern life with just one pair of shoes.

Sneakers may be comfortable, but they fall short in most formal contexts. Loafers are great, but not for long walks. Canvas trainers are up there with sandals in the summer but impractical in cold weather. The same goes for the Oxford shoes, which quickly become too formal, the brogue, which doesn't always work well with casual outfits, workwear lace-up shoes which suffocate in the city heat, and boots, which hibernate for 8 months of the year.

So our aim was to co-create a pair of shoes that could do it all. If you only had one pair in your cupboard, it would have to be this one.

In the footwear world, the Derby is widely recognised as the most versatile shoe. With its low cut upper and harmonious proportions, it adapts easily to all styles and outfits, making it an essential ally.

What gives it its charm is its "closed" lacing, with eyelets cut into two leather inserts on either side of the vamp.

These inserts add structure to the shoe and a clean, crisp look.

Shoemakers, boot makers, cobblers, everyone will tell you that this is THE most versatile.

With a Derby, you're opting for versatility. But it doesn't stop there. Our ambition was not just to create a pair that would be comfortable everywhere; we also wanted them to stay with you for a long time and feel as comfortable as any pair of shoes in your cupboard.

To achieve this, we added a few of our own ingredients:

• Thick yet supple suede leather, sourced from trusted partners Boaventura in Portugal

• A crepe sole, ideal for thermal insulation, cushioning, and comfort

• Extra-thick laces that won't end up in bits

As you can see from the understated look of these Comfort Derby Shoes, they're not showboating in any way. On the contrary, they embody an aesthetic balance. And above all, they’re about reliability.

Investing in these Comfort Derby Shoes means giving yourself a pair of simple, effective shoes that will keep you comfortable 12 months a year, in all weathers and situations. At the beach with shorts and a T-shirt, at the office with a Fresco suit, at the farmer’s market with linen trousers and a polo shirt, out and about with jeans and a jumper, for a short stroll or a long trip, for pounding the pavement or the countryside, they'll be there keeping your feet happy.

This humble elegance can also be found in the colour palette:

• A very luminous sand that will easily brighten up your outfits

• A brown that doesn't care much for "no brown in town"

• A navy for our friends who swear by dark shoes

These Comfort Derby Shoes are available for preorder from Tuesday 10 am at 149€ and for 6 days only. Leather shoes with crepe soles assembled by a renowned Portuguese shoe expert, you can't beat that!

And as usual, to avoid missing out, sign up for the alert just below. The first to place their preorder will be the first to receive delivery.

If you miss out on preordering them, you may be lucky enough to come across them again at a Stock Sale, but the price will then rise to 199€ to reflect the added inventory costs.

Need to know anything else? Drop it in the comments below or check our international Instagram page for the answer. Possibly.

Thanks,

The Asphalte Team