Buy less, buy better. It’s a good mantra to live by, and it’s one that French footwear brand KLEMAN is built on. When you invest in footwear these days, the question isn’t simply ‘how does it look?’ but ‘how long will it last?’ The heritage label has answered that question for men’s shoes and boots by leaning into what matters: French craft, genuine materials and build quality that outlives fleeting trends.
KLEMAN’s story begins in the heart of France’s Anjou region, at the workshop of the Cléon Manufacture. With more than 75 years of expertise in shoemaking, the brand remains committed to production in France. It wasn’t built overnight. Initially supplying work shoes to French administrations, railway workers and fire services, KLEMAN refined the standards of durability and safety before evolving into the modern label it is today.
That sense of purpose still defines its output. Every shoe is made locally, under one roof, by craftspeople who understand the value of precision. The brand’s focus on domestic production keeps quality high and transport miles low, resulting in footwear that feels substantial, considered and responsible.
Here’s the truth: countless fashion boots will look fresh this season and ready for the bin by next. Why? Because they’re built to capitalise on trends at the expense of build and durability. KLEMAN takes the opposite approach. Because the brand makes its shoes in France using premium leathers and traditional construction methods, you’re not buying for twelve months, you’re buying for years. It’s the quiet but potent definition of sustainability. A pair of KLEMAN boots, if cared for, becomes less a disposable purchase and more a long-term companion.
Where to buy: Kleman
The brand’s signature moc-toe derby, first introduced in the 1980s, was originally built for France’s public service sector. Its industrial roots are clear in the chunky tread, double stitching and robust construction. Today it’s become a modern classic – a bridge between utility and style that looks just as at home in the city as it does in the countryside.
A boot that channels Kleman’s heritage of practical design, the Oxal KP offers a cleaner, more contemporary silhouette without losing its workwear DNA. Made from premium European leather and finished with a solid rubber sole, it’s the kind of boot that can take years of daily wear and still look better for it.
Constructed from premium European suede, the Granite 2 VM3 draws on Kleman’s legacy of functional durability and precise craftsmanship. Its dense grain and reinforced stitching ensure resilience in daily wear, while the caramel hue evokes the heritage of authentic work footwear. Engineered to be resoled and maintained, it stands as a true expression of sustainable manufacturing – not by trend, but by enduring design.
