Because there’s no place quite like the Great British high street – from its niche independents, to seasonal Pop Ups and those expansive yet elegant department stores – Because Magazine is on a mission to champion the bricks-and-mortar of London in all its glory. Each week, we’ll beeline to the rails of our favourite retailers to scope out the must-have pieces and in-store exclusives that are more than worth making an effort for. This week we're on Chiltern Street.
If colour, craftsmanship and comfort rank high on your footwear checklist, you're in for a treat with Chiltern Street's newest addition, Sabah.
Founded by Mickey Ashmore in 2013 after creating an original shoe – for which he named Sabahs – based on a traditional shoemaking method in southeast Turkey, the brand's classic slippers look to Nubuck leather from one of Istanbul's most well-reputed tanneries and high-quality hair-on cow to craft their cult styles.
Durable and vibrant with monikers like Marrakech Orange ("because one of the things I remember most distinctly from my trip to Marrakech was the delicious, fresh squeezed orange juice," writes Mickey), they're designed for accompanying you on cobbled European streets. But there's more to the brand than their footwear they're best known for – here Mickey walks us through his three favourite pieces in the new store.
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What... Sabah Traveler bag.
Because... "I made these bags five and a half years ago, when I first started the business I just wanted a really well made bag that was simply designed. We actually sourced these in Connecticut. Like our shoes it's very well made and it's simple; it's pretty much one big piece of leather and it's been constructed with really minimal seams which allows it to be strong. Every piece has been considered, like the handles are big enough to hang on your shoulder but small enough to be held by hand, plus it also has a really beautiful strap which is designed ergonomically to fit on the shoulder. All components are solid brass, which is sourced locally from the US. Meanwhile, on the inside of the bag there is a totally waterproof zipper pouch so you can put a bathing suit or dirty clothes in it and keep it separate from your clothes. Each bag is numbered individually by the craftsman so every bag is unique."
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What... Sabah shoe in blue.
Because... "This shoe is particularly special because it's my favourite colour. It's also the key colour for our brand. It's a leather that has just been released and we worked with a tanner in Istanbul to develop it especially for Sabah. It uses really sustainable and high quality tanning and dying practices to get this blue. It wasn’t easy to make: We did a lot of trials and faced a lot of challenges and we finally released it this spring. All of our shoes are the same in construction style, and the leathers all naturally tanned, plus the soles are water buffalo and have a replaceable rubber sole."
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What... Felli red belt.
Because... "I started producing belts late last year... Unlike our shoes which we produce in Turkey, we produce our belts in El Paco, which is a town in the west part of Texas on the Mexican border. El Paco has a history of leather work and boot making. A lot of it is from Mexican immigrants from across the border, who are living in Texas now. This belt is made in a small factory in El Paco by a family that have been making them for 40 years. We imported the leather from Turkey so it's a bit of a collaboration in fine belt making with the craftsmanship in Texas. I love the red belt because I love things that are made simply. It's a very simple design using high quality materials and the red obviously pops."
Support bricks and mortar: visit Sabah at 50 Chiltern Street, Marylebone, W1U 7QT.
What... Sabah Traveler bag.
Because... "I made these bags five and a half years ago, when I first started the business I just wanted a really well made bag that was simply designed. We actually sourced these in Connecticut. Like our shoes it's very well made and it's simple; it's pretty much one big piece of leather and it's been constructed with really minimal seams which allows it to be strong. Every piece has been considered, like the handles are big enough to hang on your shoulder but small enough to be held by hand, plus it also has a really beautiful strap which is designed ergonomically to fit on the shoulder. All components are solid brass, which is sourced locally from the US. Meanwhile, on the inside of the bag there is a totally waterproof zipper pouch so you can put a bathing suit or dirty clothes in it and keep it separate from your clothes. Each bag is numbered individually by the craftsman so every bag is unique."
What... Sabah shoe in blue.
Because... "This shoe is particularly special because it's my favourite colour. It's also the key colour for our brand. It's a leather that has just been released and we worked with a tanner in Istanbul to develop it especially for Sabah. It uses really sustainable and high quality tanning and dying practices to get this blue. It wasn’t easy to make: We did a lot of trials and faced a lot of challenges and we finally released it this spring. All of our shoes are the same in construction style, and the leathers all naturally tanned, plus the soles are water buffalo and have a replaceable rubber sole."
What... Felli red belt.
Because... "I started producing belts late last year... Unlike our shoes which we produce in Turkey, we produce our belts in El Paco, which is a town in the west part of Texas on the Mexican border. El Paco has a history of leather work and boot making. A lot of it is from Mexican immigrants from across the border, who are living in Texas now. This belt is made in a small factory in El Paco by a family that have been making them for 40 years. We imported the leather from Turkey so it's a bit of a collaboration in fine belt making with the craftsmanship in Texas. I love the red belt because I love things that are made simply. It's a very simple design using high quality materials and the red obviously pops."
Support bricks and mortar: visit Sabah at 50 Chiltern Street, Marylebone, W1U 7QT.
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