Namacheko Quietly Created the Shoe of the Season. What's Next?
Namacheko is by no means a new brand — it showed its first collection at Paris Fashion Week back in 2017. Neither is it undiscovered, as Namacheko has been profiled in practically every major fashion publication and was even a finalist for the prestigious Walmark Prize in 2020. Yet, over the years, Namacheko has remained fairly niche.
It’s a brand loved and celebrated by fashion’s inner circles but has never really broken through into the wider consciousness. But could that be about to change?
For Autumn/Winter 2024, the brand released Italian-made, outdoorsy derbies with three pairs of laces all stacked on top of each other. And I’ve been seeing them everywhere. Well, by everywhere, I mean they keep popping up on my Instagram feed.
It’s certainly not the first time Namacheko’s created a weird derby shoe — its Holm Derby from last season is a personal favorite — however, it’s the first time I’ve seen one of its designs spread so far.
A simple picture of the shoe posted to Namacheko's Instagram has become its most popular this year (and probably beyond), with an engagement tally far eclipsing its other posts and plenty of comments begging for sizes to be restocked.
I’ve always appreciated Namacheko but have never been able to point to its signature, most well-known item. Now, if someone asked me what Namacheko is, I could assume that they'd at least seen these shoes, or could at least instantly recognize their inherent appeal.
The widespread appreciation of the Mountain Derby goes far beyond just my Instagram feed, as evidenced by its availability (or lack thereof).
The nearly $900 Mountain Derby swiftly sold out on the brand’s website and basically every other retailer I’ve found (if anyone has the plug for these shoes, please reach out!). In fact, the shoes are so in demand that they've inspired counterfeiters to create dupes.
Imitation is the highest form of flattery and the fact that illegitimate footwear manufacturers have moved to copying Namacheko speaks for itself.
As you’ve probably already gathered, I wish everyone had jumped on the Namacheko bandwagon years ago. However, the extra attention the underrated label is getting from these shoes couldn’t come at a better time.
The brand is expanding, with a dedicated womenswear line in the pipeline (“coming soon,” according to Namacheko's website). A menswear label by trade, Namacheko's recent dabblings in womenswear have grown into its own line, naturally expanding the size and range of its collections.
Plus, I've heard industry whispers that a debut fragrance is on the way.
The hope is that the momentum from Namacheko’s modestly viral shoe (alongside a new focus on womenswear and a potential fragrance line) will further reveal one of fashion’s best-kept secrets.
