The Paraboot x Universal Works collaboration was born at the crossroads of two worlds.
Paraboot meets Universal Works
For over 100 years, one brand has embodied the excellence of French sewn footwear; the other, founded in Nottingham by David Keyte, celebrates an authentic wardrobe inspired by British workwear, military clothing and sportswear. Together, the two brands have signed a limited edition that pays tribute to the beauty of craftsmanship and raw materials.
The idea for this collaboration took root at the Paraboot factory in Saint-Jean-de-Moirans. During a visit to the workshops, the Universal Works teams discovered the rigor and sensitivity that guide the selection of leathers, what Paraboot calls “perfect leathers”. The question quickly arose: can leather really be perfect?
For us, it’s the marks, natural variations, nuances and irregularities that make a leather perfect. These subtle differences are almost invisible to the naked eye, but they reflect the honesty of the material.
The common thread running through the project is “Beauty in imperfection”.
Beauty in imperfection
At the heart of this collaboration, the Michael shoe, Paraboot’s iconic model created in 1945, is reinvented without betraying its original spirit. Three exclusive versions have been created: black, coffee and sand.
Each pair combines smooth leather with velvet-effect tumbled leather. A removable fringed placket underlines the model’s customizability, while a ” La Beauté Dans L’Imperfection ” embossing affixes the project’s seal to each pair.
As always, production remains true to Paraboot tradition: hand-made and hand-finished, assembly techniques and know-how inherited and passed down for generations. Each pair expresses the craftsmanship that makes the Michael a shoe designed to last, repaired rather than replaced, and appreciated for the traces of time it bears.
The collaboration doesn’t stop there. A clothing capsule completes the ensemble, designed by Universal Works and inspired by the work wardrobe. It includes an embroidered Warmus jacket, a French blue chino and twill jacket, long- and short-sleeved T-shirts in navy and ecru, and a printed bandana. The capsule is available exclusively on the Universal Works website.
For the graphics, the two companies chose to revisit a Paraboot advertisement from the 1960s, stamped ” Manufacture de Chaussures Extra “.
“Extra” is not a French word, but has been used here to mean “special”. The perfect blend of French and English, reflecting the spirit of Future Friendship that this collaboration represents.
Symbolizing a sincere dialogue between two independent brands driven by a respect for craftsmanship, Paraboot x Universal Works celebrates the beauty of the real thing. In an age that values the instantaneous and standardized perfection, this collaboration chooses instead to highlight craftsmanship and reveal the beauty in imperfection.
It’s an obvious collaboration, where every detail, every material and every gesture pays tribute to the most human aspect of craftsmanship: the hand that shapes, adjusts and transmits.
Collaboration to be found exclusively on our website and in selected Paraboot shops (Paris Rivoli, Paris Grenelle, Paris St Honoré and Rennes.
