Wearing tailored suits with trainers may at first seem rather anachronistic but the more you learn about the history of footwear and Dashing’s evolution of tweed the more you realise they are an almost perfect marriage.

Menswear is all about a process of constant refinement; form and function are the driving forces and improvements have been on going for thousands of years. Looking at men’s foot coverings from ancient Egyptian times to todays fastest shoe, the Nike Vaporfly is a fascinating exercise in design technology. An almost constant evolution of design with just an occasional rest for formal occasions.

Sandals in biblical times enable people to walk a little faster along the stony path and for kings such as Tutankhamen the leather was exquisitely decorated with coloured beads, jewels and precious metals.

Roman legionary soldiers were supplied with hobnail caligae, an advanced sandal with metal studs for grip, although they caused quite a racket when worn on marble paths and were prone to slipping on smooth surfaces as fabled by Titus Flavius Josephus.

By the 15th century the Persian cavalry invented high heel shoes to keep their feet secure in stirrups. The style caught on in Europe where dandy aristocrats found them amusing for looking down on commoners.

By the 17th century leather lachet shoes were invented in Britain, these were a more enclosed design and constructed on wooden lasts in a very similar style to modern footwear. This design was constantly adapted depending on it’s use. For traversing the boggy moors of Scotland, Ghillie shoes included holes to allow bog water to drain out, overtime the construction became more rugged with the holes reduced to a decorative gimping as seen on brogues.

At the end of the 19th Century a process was invented whereby rubber could be made both mouldable and stable and this advancement lead to the use of rubber soled shoes or sneakers as they were called due to their silent footfall enabling you to sneak up on people. Over the last hundred years rubber based shoes have taken on the mantle for development whilst leather soled shoe construction has barely changed.

The Converse Rubber Corporation was one of the first to produce a vulcanised rubber shoe, inventing the All Stars basketball boot in 1917. We were delighted when they approached us in 2011 seeking a collaboration with our technically advanced reflective tweeds for use on their Jack Purcell’s; shoes invented by the eponymous Canadian badminton player to improve his game by providing flexibility and support.

The philosophy behind Dashing Tweeds is to modernise heritage sportswear and seek out innovative as well as embracing colour and joie de vivre. With this in mind it seems obvious that sneakers and Dashing Tweeds are an ideal match.

Although you may be stuck inside at the moment there’s no better way to lift your spirits than dancing around the house in springy shoes and hopefully something Dashing.

As John Travolta sang, they go together ‘Like rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong’. Interpret as you will, and like us embrace it with your all.

If you have any queries or want to get in contact, the team are still available and working from home, and Guy is arranging all the orders to be sent out daily from our studio.