The Minnetonka moccasin and moccasin-style fringed boot are about to become the latest hip fashion trend to zoom in from America. In addition to the womens’ moccasin style boots and shoes Minnetonka have created the new City moccasin for men.

Using tan and brown vegetable dyes and hand stitching, the Minnetonka range now forms part of the exciting and diverse contemporary Americana fashion culture merging with new European and global trends.

Originally developed by the Native Americans, the moccasin shoe and moccasin style boot (with fringed leather and crossed tie laces) were quickly adopted by the early European settlers and traders. The flexible quality of the sole and the suppleness of the upper made the moccasin a highly desirable form of footwear. Many old sepia photographs of the Wild West show moccasin boots as familiar everyday wear.

For comfort, the moccasin developed as a continuous piece of leather, forming the sole and sides of the shoe, which was then stitched to the upper. This basic design has survived through many decades and now makes up part of the popular ‘loafer shoe’ styling.

For more than sixty years, Minnetonka have been one of America’s leading manufacturers of the moccasin shoe and moccasin boot. At the same time as keeping true to ancient tradition (of practicality, durability and comfort), Minnetonka constantly update their lines with creative styling and innovation. Their contemporary range provides easy to wear, stylish footwear – highly adaptable and surprisingly easy to co-ordinate with both casual and dress modes.

One of the most recent developments in the Minnetonka manufacturing process is the introduction of the sports style indented rubber sole (similar to their Kilty mocc sole) replacing the previously smooth sole on many of the fringed boots. New colours include the womens’ Woodstock boot range of four colours and latest models include Trampers, Knee Hi Front Lace Boots and the new moccasin Pump.