Palladium boots were used by the French Foreign Legion after a post-war excess of canvas and aircraft rubber. I first started wearing them in the 80’s when a friend brought a pair back from Europe and wore them until they literally fell apart…
For those of you seeing Palladium boots for the first time, you need to know there is a long pedigree behind the brand.
The company originally started in Lyon, France – manufacturing aircraft tyres for the war effort. After nearly 30 years of this at the end of World War II, they needed to turn their attentions to something else. They had an excess of two materials – canvas and rubber – and so they started to make rubber-soled boots made of canvas.
The Pampas High boot was made in 1947. They were first bought by the French Government to be used by the French Foreign Legion, and as they were made from canvas they were breathable in the terrible heat, and sturdy with their rubber soles.
I first started wearing them in the 80’s when a friend brought a pair back from Europe that didn’t fit. I wore them until they quite literally fell apart. From memory I think I got four years of constant wear out of them until they gave up the ghost.
They have that practical quality about them that those of us that love Doc Martens admire – but maybe they are a slightly softer version. They have that sneaker feel to them that means they are immediately more casual, and easy to throw on.
They came into their own in the 90s with stars like Winona Ryder wearing them but quietly fell out of grace. There came a point where to all intents and purposes you simply couldn’t find them any more as the parent company focused on other shoes.
But now, Palladium has been given new life and a fresh perspective with new ownership. Very little has changed about the boot itself – and they aren’t messing with it other than to add distressed, coloured canvas and produce some of the styles in leather.
The Pampas Baggie is the most popular at present – but for those of us that have some history with the company – it is the Pampas High (above) in the original black or camel that does the trick. Eminem has been spotted wearing a pair. There is also the Pampas Oxford (below) to keep the range tight.
They start at $139 for the Pampas Oxford, $159 for the Pampas High, up to $199 for the Pampas Baggies. They are available from the iconic Pat Menzies, Black Box (Grey Lynn), The Department Store, Browns and Deus Ex Machina in Auckland, Plume in Dunedin, Banks shoes in Wellington, and Trumps in Palmerston North.
By Anya Brighouse, 5 April 2011.
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