We’re thrilled to launch The Helm’s exclusive FW20 Magnanni footwear collection. We’ve worked with their team out of Spain to hand-pick a unique selection for the upcoming fall and winter.
This season, a conscious effort was made to ensure that comfort and durability were top of mind, in addition of course to contemporary style and quality.
Why we partner with Magnanni
Magnanni has been producing top-notch footwear for nearly 70 years. The family-run business is just as dedicated to the process as were generations before them, which results in a level of care that is often a rarity.
They select only the best Grade-A leathers sourced from Italy, Spain, and France, and they have in-house experts who painstakingly examine each piece before their master shoemakers cut it.
Despite being a heritage brand, they know when to innovate and when to stick with tradition. Their shoes are handcrafted and inspected by specially trained artisans using many traditional methods, but they use modern technology like 3D modelling to ensure the best possible result.
Here are a few highlights of the FW20 collection
Textured leather
Pebbled leather, brogue details, and intricate hand-painted patinas are a major theme throughout this collection. The texture creates a warmer look that is ideal as the cooler months creep in. Textured leather is also great for hiding signs of wear longer, like creasing and minor nicks and scuffs.
Rubber soles
Each pair of shoes in this season’s collection features rubber soles, which was both a style choice and a comfort and durability choice. Magnanni developed their rubber soles to be ultra-lightweight and sleek.
Rubber soles will stand up against rocks and salt on the sidewalks much better than leather soles do. They also are more flexible, have better shock absorption, and have better traction on slippery surfaces.
Many of the dress shoes feature a mini-lug sole, which adds traction and cushioning without adding much bulk. The dressiest pairs feature a smooth-bottomed rubber sole for the sleekest appearance, and the boots have a full-lug bottom (shown above) for the highest traction in inclement weather while still being extremely lightweight.
Colour blocking and mixed textures
For our more casual shoes in the collection, we chose colour and texture combinations that set them apart from the basics. Again, you’ll find textured leather, chunky rubber soles, suede paired with smooth calfskin leather, and colour blocking to create different levels of interest.
Hand-painted patinas
Magnanni was one of the first shoe companies to hand-dye leather to create patinas, which is still a core feature of their footwear. The family behind the brand is always developing and testing new formulas and techniques to ensure a unique and beautiful finish every time.
Bologna construction
All the shoes in this collection are made using Magnanni’s Bologna construction, which is one of the most comfortable footwear constructions around. The leather wraps all the way around the footbed to create extra cushioning. It also creates a sleeker look and is more flexible than a Goodyear welted sole.
