Nepenthes New York Adds Vernacolo's Avventure and Pantano Boots

Nepenthes New York has put the spotlight on Vernacolo, a footwear label made in Tuscany, Italy. Each pair is handcrafted by a small family-run workshop that normally makes hunting shoes and work boots. The brand began with a simple question: what if makers of trekking and work footwear applied their skills to shoes for everyday wear?

The first model is the Avventure, a modern take on the moccasin boot. It uses an original last and Ideal Montagna stitchdown construction, a method associated with mountain footwear. The upper is vegetable-tanned Tuscan Vacchetta leather, which is meant to darken and develop a patina with wear. A Vibram Morflex Christy outsole adds light cushioning.

The second is the Pantano, based on the camp moccasin. It keeps the U-shaped moc-toe stitching, but the last is adjusted for a slightly lower instep. Instead of a light camp-moc build, it uses the sturdier Ideal Montagna stitchdown. It comes in Vacchetta leather or in several colors of slightly thicker suede, with a choice of Vibram Ripple or Cristy outsoles. No price is given in the post. The shoes are listed on the Nepenthes America online store, and the New York shop is at 307 West 38th Street.