Norwegian Rain x Grenson
With a continued desire to produce waterproof clothing, Norwegian Rain has embarked on their latest project to make The Waterproof Shoe. To realise this ambitious vision they joined forces with British shoe brand Grenson and embarked on a year long creative process designing prototypes and going back-and-forth on the drawing board. T-Michael of Norwegian Rain challenged Tim Little of Grenson to create a waterproof shoe and together found a way to break certain manufacturing boundaries and create a collaboration with real substance.
Teaming up with Grenson’s more than 150 years of experience and know-how in the shoemaking business, the shoes have been produced in Grenson’s Northampton factory, with notable visible features including Grenson’s brogue perforation trim made on a wider last giving premium comfort.
Maintaining Norwegian Rain’s eco and sustainable premises at its core, the shoe resorts to an exclusive titanium tanning process- an innovation that allows the water that comes into contact with the leather to be repelled easily. Traditional chrome tanning removes oxygen from water it comes in touch with. Additionally, the challenge to avoid water from permeating between the sole and upper was ingeniously achieved by fusing this junction with the inner tube of a bicycle tire.
The ultimate test was carried out by leaving the shoes in a pool of water over the weekend… ‘As the phone rang and a voice on the other side simply stated “13 hours and still dry” we knew we had accomplished what we set out to do.’
Low Tide Shoes- £485 | High Tide Boots- £510
The collaboration will be available for purchase at Norwegian Rain flagship stores; 193 Piccadilly, London W1J 9EU | Skostredet 9A, Bergen | Kirkegarten 20 / Gamle Posthallen, Oslo and at Grenson’s Soho Store; 13 Meard Street, London W1F 0ES.
