Red Wing Just Resurrected a Boot That Hasn't Been Seen In 30 Years

Double Tap to ZoomStyleRed Wing Just Resurrected a Boot That Hasn't Been Seen In 30 YearsFor anyone who’s traveled to Japan — Tokyo, sure, but any major or minor metropole really— you know that there is a particular penchant for Americana dress. This is an interest that comes out culturally as everything from selvedge denim, slow made on machines only Japanese factories thought to preserve, to brands like BEAMS, a label whose entire thesis is reinterpreting American style through that Japanese perspective. And so it’s quite appropriate that for its 50th anniversary, BEAMS would rejoin heritage workwear brand Red Wing with a callback to a fan-favorite boot from the ’90s, complete with suitably retro wearables. I have to say, this is a footwear dogwhistle to the niche-r workboot stans, and it’s beautiful.This legend-status shoe in question is the 9872 boot from Red Wing’s Irish Setter series, which we literally haven’t seen since the 90s. The 9872 is an out-of-production six-inch round-toe workboot whose details serve as clear nostalgia bait for Red Wing heads paying close enough attention, mainly the oro-Russet leather, a color that hasn’t been in production since its debut 30 years ago, as well as the original semicircular dog tag and logo. Fans on r/RedWingShoes refer to the 9872 as a perfect collector boot for these exact reasons, with the specific color and logo callbacks in the BEAMS 50th anniversary shoe really going into the nerdy specifics these collectors crave.Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.Red Wing and BEAMS share a so straightforward stuff-that-looks-good appeal that it borders on romantic, and it’s in the details of the 9872 specifically — the leather only gets better with age, the round-toe silhouette looks as good fresh-out-the-box as it does well-loved. But the collector’s appeal runs deeper than the shoe’s utilitarian credentials; it’s in the nerdy lip service — or rather, footservice — of resurrecting a 30-year-old shoe just for BEAMS’s semicentennial. And, most importantly, it looks as cool now as it did in the ‘90s.Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit our SHOPPER page and subscribe to the newsletter for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.We RecommendBEAMS Knew Arc'teryx Was Cool 25 Years AgoFashion's New Favorite Accessory? Literal RocksCan the Brand Behind the Perfect Arc'teryx Jacket Outdo Itself?How Did One Japanese Retailer Become the Best Collaborator on the Planet?Levi's Look Better Large & Lived-InWhat To Read NextRed Wing Just Resurrected a Boot That Hasn't Been Seen In 30 YearsUGG's Toughest Boot Has a Soft SideOur Legacy on What's Coming With Nike: "It's Gonna Look Slow but Feel Fast."Only 50 Pairs of Feet Will Ever Wear These Perfect AsicsFor the Love of Lo: Ralph Lauren’s PoloFest Lands in TokyoGen Z Is Still Drinking…They're Just Raising the Bar