Crockett & Jones takes its AW26 collection to Yosemite

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Crockett & Jones takes its AW26 collection to Yosemite

From a winter-ready loafer to a striking new jodhpur boot, the British shoemaker steps its latest range stateside…

Words by: Jonathan Wells

Yosemite isn’t exactly known for its dress code. There are no Savile Row tailors tucked amongst the sequoias, no Jermyn Street shirtmakers setting up shop beneath the granite peaks. And yet, for Crockett & Jones, stepping out into this vast American wilderness makes complete sense.

Because, while the Northampton-based shoemaker has spent more than a century crafting elegant shoes for a British market, it has also long made them for the US — a country that enjoys a little ruggedness with its refinement.

In the decades that followed the Second World War — under the stewardship of managing director Jonathan Jones — the brand became the shoemaker of choice for several of North America’s most hallowed style institutions, from Ralph Lauren to Brooks Brothers. In 2010, Crockett & Jones even opened a flagship store across the country from Yosemite, in Midtown Manhattan.

Now, for AW26, that transatlantic relationship comes full circle — with a collection built for cities, the countryside and everywhere in between. And where better to showcase such a range, one that seamlessly blends refined craftsmanship with American-inspired design, than Yosemite National Park?

For generations, this sweep of Californian wilderness has captured the imagination of the brand, and by trekking its new styles in the shadow of Half Dome and El Capitan, Crockett & Jones is proving just how tough, rough and ready they are.

That’s not to say they don’t retain some of that trim, business-classic character. The Boston is a handsome loafer, but one prepared for winter, standing on Vibram soles that take it well beyond city limits. The Aspen and Hickstead 4 boots take inspiration from archival styles and English equestrian heritage, respectively.

The Boston Loafer

The Hickstead 4 Boot

The Aspen Boot

And then there’s the Vail — named for a Rocky Mountain town in Colorado — is the collection’s statement piece. Modelled on a classic, all-American work boot silhouette, it taps neatly into the contemporary appetite for apron Derby styles, filling a notable gap in the brand’s boot offering.

The textures, too, are as varied as the rough-hewn barks and smooth, weathered quartz found across Yosemite. Whether heritage Scotch Grain leather or matte, supple rough-out suede, these uppers are anchored by hardwearing soles, from cleated treads to Commando rubber. And it’s those firm foundations that ensure you’ll always be standing steady, whether you’re walking a high-altitude alpine trail, crossing a granite wilderness — or just waiting for the bus.