This boot gets its name from its association with British Commonwealth officers fighting in the Western Desert campaigns across North Africa during the Second World War. The rough suede boots with crepe soles were bought in Cairo Bazaars by soldiers because they were far more comfortable to wear on hot rocky desert terrain and allowed their wearer to steal silently upon the enemy. They were first mass-produced by footwear giant Clarks in 1949 and by the 1960s had become synonymous with the subcultural style of ‘Mods’, who paired them with sharply tailored suits.
Reviewed 15 November 2023