On the long, hard, smart way.
My latest Camper acquisition, the Peu Nara. Made of partially recycled materials.
You should listen to this Do Things the Long, Hard, Stupid Way Lecture by Frank Chimero. No, really. You should. Then, I want you to go out and buy yourself a pair of Camper shoes for Christmas. Then you’ll know what it’s like to wear the long, hard, stupid way on your feet.
I have a shoe problem. I buy a lot of shoes. I mean a lot (at last count, I have…well, I’m ashamed to admit the number of shoes I have). Most of the time, my purchases are based on seeing something I like. I don’t generally exhibit much brand loyalty when it comes to shoes. Except when it comes to Camper. I will go significantly out of my way to buy Camper shoes. I have three pairs of Camper boots and two pairs of sandals. Love love love them. Why? Because Camper approaches things the long, hard, stupid (which, ironically, can actually be the smart) way:
Camper is not a specific shoe, but rather a style, a philosophy of life, a way of thinking and a way of making shoes. Camper is a of way walking!
Camper shoes cannot be truly understood without understanding our origins and traditions. Camper was born in the Mediterranean. A unique part of the world known for the integration of cultures and therefore diversity. It is also famous for the established tradition of shoemaking. Started back in1877, a tradition that has always combined both design and function at its core.
So Camper is twofold and contradictory – diversity/coherence (the origins) and design/function (the traditions), existing side by side in the spirit of the brand, transmitted through the products. The shoes are, as a consequence, the link between the origins and traditions, and the urban reality of the market place. They – the shoes – evoke the solid values of the Mediterranean rural world – comfort, durability and simplicity. Incorporated into the urban world they illustrate this through informal sophistication, careful design, irony and above all imagination. The shoes blend comfort with imagination, tradition with modernity, technology with aesthetics.
and
Last but by no means least, the other outstanding innate characteristic of Camper shoes is their quality. Only the world’s best, natural, water resistant and sturdy leathers can make quality and lightness compatible. Moulds that adapt to the bone structure and natural movements of the foot, together with soles created with exclusive innovative designs that embody our unique way of contact with the earth. Products that make the best craftsmanship compatible with modern methods of manufacture, products made with technology that is respectful and appropriate to the environment. Comfort for our feet and for our conscience. Shoes that care for the physical health of their wearer, as well as stimulating their imagination.
The Camper philosophy and product line also illustrate Dieter Rams’ 10 Principles for Good Design, specifically bringing to mind No. 8: Good design is thorough, down to the last detail. Look at that cheery red tag and the quality stitching!