Good Evening Sabah People,​ 

It’s been almost 12 years since I sold my first pair of Sabahs. I never imagined owning a shoe business, but here we are and what a ride it's been! 

Our Alto Boot is available in two colors: Prato Green and Ancona Brown, both made from water-resistant Italian suede with 100% veg tan lining, insole & midsole leather and a replaceable genuine rubber sole. All components are sourced from the finest suppliers in Italy. 

Our Alto Boots are made in Monte San Giusto, a small town nestled into the hills of Italy's Marche Region. There you'll find a workshop owned by a man named Peppe, who's been making shoes for nearly 60 years, and that specializes in an artisanal stitchdown construction method of making shoes. 

I had the pleasure of spending a week with Peppe and his team in early February. This is where our story begins...

Every aspect of our Alto Boot comes from the finest suppliers in Italy. Our last, which is semi-anatomic, unique in its shape, and extremely comfortable, was developed in partnership with one of Italy's finest lastmakers, Romagnolo. 

Our suedes were sourced from a renowned tannery in Tuscany. We're using a special article that's tanned with a touch of wax rendering the suede water resistant, which is a real bonus for me. Our Alto Boots are adventure ready. 

Pictured above is Said. He prepares the bottoms of every pair: sand, skive, trim & glue. He has a big smile and wonderful energy. Originally from Agadir, Morroco, he moved to Monte San Giusto 24 years ago. Having never been inside a shoe factory prior to moving to Italy, he was hired by Peppe and has been making shoes ever since. On my next trip to the Marche, he invited me to his home for dinner. Yum! 

And that's Enrico! He runs the lasting machine, which is quite complicated -- ensuring lining & upper leather are pulled over the last, precisely. Every single time. He's got a steady hand and incredible focus.

Below, Peppe runs the stitching machine -- this is the lock stitch that holds the entire Alto Boot together, providing a unique blend of durability & flexibility. With over 60 years of shoemaking under his belt, Peppe is a true master of his craft. 

My favorite design element of the Alto Boot is the butt seam along the back. A raised edge held together by a hand-stitched thread, done in a similar way to how we stitch Sabahs, it adds a distinctive look to the Alto Boot along with extra structure. It's a beautiful detail.

And let's not forget about all the good meals... I've learned from Texas to Turkey, and now Italy -- great shoes aren't made without delicious meals had along the way.

 In the Marche region, local wines like Rosso Piceno washed down some incredible pastas like Vincisgrassi, a dish emblematic of the Marche region which is much like lasagna, and different varieties of Bolognese Macerata.

Tiny family-run trattorias can be found in every small town of the region, each as delicious as the next. What a pleasure it'll be to visit again... 

From Monte San Giusto, we're traveling about 130 kilometers north along the Adriatic Coast to a town called Tavullia... that's where our next project will be born. Coming this Summer!