I have been told that I have a shoe fetish, but I continue to refute this. I have, simply, a healthy appreciation for footwear. That said, when I saw the new range of boots from D.A.T.E, I almost allowed myself to succumb to the status of fetishist. Put simply, these shoes are hot.
The initials stand for the first names of those involved in creating the shoe company. Four individuals from differing backgrounds (business admin, fashion design, graphic design, etc.) formed D.A.T.E in Britain, but quickly established that the sneakers needed to be made elsewhere. Yet don't get your backs up about another shoe company that outsources production to sweatshop-infested countries like Vietnam (Nike), Indonesia (Adidas), and China (everyone else). D.A.T.E shoes are made in Italy, where most good shoes are made (unless they're made in Spain).
Italian-made shoes carry a quality standard that should cover both design and build. In fact, the phrase "Made in Italy" is almost a brand in itself. The outer comprises tweed, suede, and dyed leather, while the inner is all leather. Furthermore, the soles are durable and cheap to replace. The only downfall I've found so far is the glue between the primary and secondary sole doesn't stick too well, especially around the toe.
The best part of all, though, is that they go as well with a suit as they do with jeans and t-shirts. Call me metrosexual; I don't care. These shoes are rad, and it's great to be able to sport good looking footwear without being a walking advertisement.
For their full range, check out their site: www.date-sneakers.it. Note: It's built in Flash, so you'll need the player.
PS: if you're in New Zealand, you can find their shoes at Satori (both Wellington and Auckland)
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