To celebrate the 40th anniversary of its Original Duck Boot, Sporto, a division of the Eastman Group, is partnering with Vibram to create the “most technically sound, gripping duck boots ever built.”
The special Fall ’16 collection combines Vibram IceTrek outsole technology built for traction on wet, dry and icy surfaces with handcrafted all-weather leather uppers, Thermolite and wool insulated footbeds and a herringbone design on the soles for extra grip. Subtle design details—like the duck-shaped pattern along the outsoles—are a quirky nod to the boots’ name and past.
The capsule collection marks Vibram’s first foray into the traditional duck boot category—an in-demand style that helped hoist winter boot sales from Nov-Dec 2015 up 31 percent, according to The NPD Group.
“The first challenge was actually designing a duck boot, a rare style in Vibram’s wheelhouse,” said Vibram Designer Robert Lee. “I looked at many different iterations in the market, past and present, and noticed they were essentially the same design repeated. I wanted to change that, and maintain Sporto’s traditional DNA but also infuse modern technological design influences.”
For women, Sporto offers five styles, including a tall shaft lace-up boot with a side zipper and a three D-ring lace-up shortie. Styles are popped with plaid lining, faux fur or shearling trim and seasonal colors like olive green, navy and gray/blue.
The anniversary also marks Sporto’s return to men’s footwear with four silhouettes: a lace-up duck shoe, a pull-on duck boot, a six-eye lace-up duck boot and a mid-height duck boot. All men’s boots are stamped with a celebratory Sporto logo on either side.