Chatham has long been synonymous with the deck shoe, a cult classic that has underpinned British summer dressing for generations. This season, the 30-year-old brand has gone back to its roots, releasing an anniversary-edition pair inspired by Charles Darwin’s famous journey of 1831 to Chatham Island.
The limited-edition shoe and chukka boot showcase an evolved deck aesthetic. The upper is crafted from waxed cotton that becomes more characterful with age, taking inspiration from the wind-torn sails that were oiled and re-worked into weatherproof clothing by Victorian seafarers – just as they would have done on HMS Beagle.
The pair – named Darwin and Beagle – both feature non-marking, cream rubber soles which were originally designed to keep boat decks pristine (however foul-mouthed their sailors were).
As an additional anniversary detail, the soles have been laser-cut with HMS Beagle’s celebrated route, which helped shape Darwin’s famous theory of evolution.
Launching in June the Discovery Edit will be available from www.chatham.co.uk
