Aurora Shoe Co. for Nepenthes Los Angeles – Middle English: Marine Field Roughout Suede

Developed by Chicago’s Horween Leather during the 1940s for military field footwear, Marine Field is a roughout leather made to be worn with the suede side facing outward. The rough exterior was suited to hard use, while the smooth reverse provided a comfortable surface against the foot in an unlined shoe.

More than 80 years later, Horween continues to produce the leather in its distinctive khaki color. Its combination of durability, comfort, and simple construction makes it a natural fit for Aurora’s Middle English.

For this edition, Nepenthes Los Angeles has paired the Marine Field upper with a gunmetal buckle, natural stitching, a Vibram sole, and a hot-stamped Nepenthes Los Angeles insole.

Each pair is cut and stitched in Aurora, New York, where Aurora Shoe Co. continues to produce its footwear in a small workshop near Cayuga Lake. The simple construction allows the shoes to be resoled and repaired, extending their life considerably with proper care.

With wear, the roughout leather will soften, darken, and develop variations in texture and tone unique to each pair.