Paraboot x Universal Works launch a summer shoe built on friendship, craft and beautiful imperfection

It's no surprise Paraboot and Universal Works have teamed up once again. Its first collaboration last year was so popular that the limited-edition shoes sold out almost immediately. And that was after no hype drops or annoying countdown clocks, either. Just two brands that share similar values and a deep respect for how things are made.

Their second partnership, Paraboot x Universal Works: Part Two, arrives under the same tagline as its predecessor, 'La Beauté Dans L'Imperfection', or "the beauty in the imperfection". It's a phrase that could easily tip into cliché, but Universal Works founder David Keyte means it literally. "Anything handmade in natural materials will have the specialness of that process," he says. "The tiny differences that hand working and leather have each time. This, for me, highlights the beauty in the imperfection."

This time around, the focus is the Thiers, a Paraboot style first introduced back in the 1960s. Named after the French city, it was originally designed to bridge what Paraboot called "sport" and "city", and it still carries that easy, preppy energy. Think boat shoe good looks with the type of comfort where you forget you've got something on your feet. As the Paraboot team put it on a recent visit to London: "A comfortable shoe gives a comfortable mind".

For summer 2026, the Thiers has been reworked with a lighter construction. It's unlined for a softer, more breathable feel, and uses both the smooth side of the leather and the textured, suede-like reverse. A removable kiltie fringe adds a playful touch without overcomplicating the design. And each shoe carries a debossed 'La Beauté Dans L'Imperfection' on the sole. It comes in two colourways: coffee and sand. Which presents quite the problem: which one to go for?

"The construction is very different, so there are new things to understand and new things to learn," Keyte continues. "But again, due to our connection, we found this simple to work with."

That connection matters because Keyte describes the Paraboot team as friends, not just colleagues. "I know the team very well now, which makes the second iteration of our collaboration easier to execute," he explains. "We enjoy the process of creating great products."

Alongside the shoes sits a small clothing capsule. Now we're talking. There's an embroidered brown jacket, a jacket and chino in brown cotton poplin, T-shirts in navy and white, and a printed bandana. The graphics are particularly nice, repurposing a vintage Paraboot advertising campaign bearing the phrase 'Il n'y a plus de kilomètres', meaning "there are no kilometres". The message is simple: no matter how far you walk in your Paraboot shoes, they'll be with you. It's all about longevity and durability, said without fuss.

Reflecting on the first collaboration, Keyte adds: "I'm so proud of it. It was never really about selling. It was about working together, learning things, and making something to be proud of."

That feels like the right note to end on. The market is pretty damn saturated these days with collaborations all over the place. This one stand outs, as it's built on patience, friendship and an honest love of making things well – the perfect marketing angle for yet another great collab.