Leather Scottish Ghillie Shoes

Black Leather Scottish Ghillie Shoes With Open Lacing

Traditional Footwear Of The Scottish Highlanders

From a historical perspective, these shoes are based on the traditional footwear of the Scottish countryside and highlands, known as Ghillies. Their most important distinguishing feature is the absence of a tongue and an open instep. The reason for this design was purely practical: in the wet and boggy terrain of the Scottish Highlands, a shoe inevitably filled with water. The open cut ensured that the water drained out immediately and the shoe dried faster on the foot, while the long laces wrapped around the ankle prevented the shoe from getting stuck and pulled off in deep mud. Today, Ghillies are an integral part of formal and informal Scottish Highland dress and are the preferred footwear for traditional Scottish dancing.

Craftsmanship And Technical Parameters

The upper of this footwear is made from very thick, yet remarkably soft and supple cowhide leather, which adapts beautifully to the shape of your foot. The long, thin laces are threaded through a system of leather loops along the edge of the instep and are designed to be crossed and tied above the ankle. For a safe step and practical modern wear, both the sole and the low heel are made of durable, slightly textured shoemaker's rubber.

Available EU Sizes And Custom Tailoring

These black Scottish shoes are available in standard EU sizes. If the custom-made to measure option is selected, the footwear is manufactured exactly according to the provided measurement chart, which please fill out after completing your order. Important note for custom tailoring: If you wear orthopaedic insoles, it is absolutely essential that you send these insoles to us in advance. The shoemaker will fit them precisely into the boots so you can be sure the footwear fits like a glove.

Maintenance, Care, And Safety Guidelines

The footwear is carefully pre-treated with a beeswax leather balsam straight from the workshop. To ensure the leather retains its suppleness and moisture resistance, we strongly recommend regularly treating the shoes with suitable leather care products. The balsam impregnates the leather; alternatively, you can use a high-quality leather oil. Please remember that applying grease will always slightly darken the leather. Minor imperfections, such as scuffed toes from dancing or fencing, can easily be hidden with a black shoe polish.

Absolutely avoid drying the shoes near an open fire, on a hot stove, or on a radiator! Intense heat destroys the structure of the leather, causing it to harden and crack. Dry them solely and slowly at room temperature, ideally stuffed with crumpled newspaper. Although the rubber sole provides good traction, always be careful when moving on wet grass or slippery stones.

Recommended Accessories

To create a perfectly authentic Scottish appearance, we highly recommend pairing these shoes with traditional woollen kilt hose, a tartan kilt, and a decorative leather pouch (sporran) suspended from a wide belt.