JACOB WELSH - ASSISTANT STORE MANAGER LONDON

 

How long have you worked at RWSSL?

Ive worked for the Red Wing Shoe Store for 5 years this year.  The most enjoyable part of my job is being able to communicate the history of the company and selling the brand to new customers.

I look after the visual merchandising of the store and we have slowly been growing our personal archive of vintage boots and piecing together a small museum and storytelling area out the back of our store which is coming along nicely.

I’ve have been wearing Red Wing boots for 10 years now. The first time I remember seeing them a family friend was wearing a pair 8138’s (6-inch Moc-toe in briar oil slick)  and asked I him where he got them from. I’d never seen this style of shoe before, moccasin stitched front with the white traction sole. The craftsmanship you could just tell was impressive.

Why Red Wing Shoes?

- Timeless style and quality over simply a fashion statement. And not only durability but they are extremely versatile. Out of all the boots and models I own I find the Pecos style for me my go to model. I love this western style boot, with a pair of jeans it can never look bad.

- 8131 - custom repair, double leather midsole and nitrile cork sole - 6 years

- 8188 - 4 years

- 2015 - Huntsman - 4 years

- 877 - 5 years

- Black tooled vintage Pecos- 1 year

- Black vintage Pecos - 1 year 

- 4327 - RW X EAT DUST COLLAB - 2 years 

- 8159 - 2 years

- 2268 - 4 years

London based Jacob is first and foremost a drummer and music producer.   He is one of the original founding members of London based electronic soul band "The Hics".

I started playing drums at the age of 4 and at the age of 11 studying as a jazz drummer.  At the age of 13 I started producing my own music and playing in bands which led onto touring with various artists as well as my own projects.

Jacob is also a collector of Vintage Americana clothing (like everyone else who works in the store) and has been collecting for 6 years or so.

My favourite piece would be my 1940s Grais motorcycle jacket which was bought at INSPIRATION. Inspiration is a vintage trade show in LA where collectors, dealers and brands have booths to sell their garments.  Grais is an American leather jacket company form the early 20th century, founded by a Russian immigrant who provisionally started making shoes.  My Grais jacket is made from very thick Horseside, with a great fit.  I love that to the un-trianed eye it looks like your classic motorcycle jacket but it really isn’t.  It’s got so many cool details. 

My other favourite piece in my collection would be my mid 1950’s Levis 507XX jacket which I bought from a good friend of the store, Simon, a few years back.  He got it in America and it was kept in fantastic condition, probably never had a wash just a few soaks so has remained this lovely dark blue colour.  And lastly my mid-1960s 501XX jeans which I wear a lot and fit great with my Pecos style boots.

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