Bourne
Monk Strap Tan

Tan hand finished patina

Bourne is a double buckle monk shoe in a hand finished blue patina.They can add a splash of colour to a neutral outfit and look great with a navy or grey suit. We also have them in other colours such as oxblood, tan and black. They are hand crafted in Italy, using the finest, full grain calf leather. These are cap toe monks, and have an elegant rounded toe. The 2 metal buckles provide adjustability, say if you have a slightly higher instep, and undoing the top buckle helps when you put them on. A small detail – but even in hidden areas, like under the strap, the leather is nicely finished. The straps and buckles make it a visually interesting and good looking shoe, ideal for work and special occasions. The top line is neat, with no raw edges, as we taper or ‘skyve’ the edge, then fold the leather and stitch it.

Craftsmanship/attention to detail

Looking inside, we see the Thomas Bird branding, embossed into a piece of calf leather, foam backed for added comfort. The shoe has a full calf leather lining. This helps absorb moisture and prolong the life of the shoe. And we use a genuine full leather insole. Inside the heel, the reverse counter, we use suede to stop your heel slipping. What you can’t see are the stiffeners between the calf upper and lining. There is one in the toe and another at the back. These are important to keep the shoe looking good as it ages, and we use longer, high quality stiffeners to achieve this.

Stitched leather sole

The sole is stitched onto the upper with a traditional Italian method called blake stitching. Th is an in-channel, lock stitching technique, so even if one stitch was worn the others will still be locked securely in place. And being stitched the sole can be replaced when it eventually wears. But to extend the sole’s life, we use a rubber insert for added wear and better grip.

Stacked leather heel

There is a 25mm genuine leather stacked, heel, with 4 brass pins, and a rubber piece, again for better wear and grip, that can be easily replaced. There is a ‘gentleman’s corner’, a small bevel that reduces snagging of the heel on your trousers. Bourne blue monk strap is a beautifully Italian made high quality shoe, that with care should give you many years of enjoyment.