What does it mean to be an Outlander?
“Outlander sits at the intersections of story and style, of outdoor and fashion, of creativity and community, and of accessibility and aspiration. As such, Outlander perfectly represents what this product is all about.”
– Michael Minter [Vice President of Brand]
Since 1962, SOREL has been everywhere. Its faux fur-lined Caribou boots are on the mountains operating ski lifts, models don its weather-proof Callsign sneakers during their off-duty strolls, commuters file into subways in its waterproof Daystorm boots. From the brand’s inception, it's remained focused on standing at the intersection of fashion and function. “What truly differentiates us is our permission, even obligation, to bridge beauty with beast,” Michael Minter, VP of Brand, tells Outlander Magazine. “At any given winter resort, for example, the hardworking mountain crews clearing roads and keeping people safe are wearing SORELs just like the people flying in on private jets.”
However, SOREL isn’t just resting on reputation. The footwear purveyor is constantly innovating, pushing the limits to deliver new offerings that maximize utility without sacrificing style. At the heart of its forward-thinking approach, a defining characteristic the brand always returns to is its relationship with the elements: “In sunny weather we pursue solutions to embrace warmth, wind, and water, while in winter we’re trusted to keep feet dry through snow and rain.”
Cue the Ambler, a mule-like iteration of SOREL’s most iconic Caribou style. Or, as Minter puts it, “A so-much-better, year-round, doesn’t-get–soggy, born-from-Caribou, travel-friendly, dress-up-or-down, go-anywhere mule that you didn’t know you couldn’t live without.”
While the mule might not be a new silhouette in the label’s roster, the Ambler brings a fresh, everyday perspective to the style. It’s equal parts outdoor and indoor, emphasising the ability to handle any condition leaving the house throws at its wearer. “Same animal, different tracks,” is how Minter describes the model. “The Ambler is essentially a Caribou that is more comfortable walking your Husky around the block than trekking with him to the North Pole. But even when you’re heading out to the dog park, you want your fit on point, your comfort uncomplicated, and your toes to stay dry.”
Ranging from utilitarian buff leather to luxe shearling-lined fabrications—all imperatively waterproof—the extensive line of Amblers channels SOREL’s commitment to technical excellence into a low-fi silhouette. Genderless by design, it’s sleek and streamlined, conveying a minimalist aesthetic finished with maximalist detailing. A molded EVA midsole delivers extra anatomical comfort, a removable footbed enhances the flexibility, and draws from “a heavyweight vulcanized rubber boot originally designed for harsh Canadian winters” that is translated into the sole for durability.
But despite how easy the shoe might be to wear, the process behind constructing it is anything but. The aforementioned winter boot that constitutes the Caribou had to undergo a full design transformation to become a lightweight, plush mule, while still retaining the brand's signature premium waterproof protection. The inspiration, however, was piqued much closer to home for Minter, “I witnessed my daughter fastening plastic bags over her suede shearling mules from another brand to get out of her car on a rainy day.” He adds, “Waterproofing the Ambler for Fall/Winter was critical.”
“The world may not have asked for another mule, but it needed one,” he expresses. [The Ambler] is timeless, genderless, and practical. In our case, it’s not simply a generic entry into a category, but rather an extension of our most iconic style into a year-round proposition.” That climate versatility sits at its core, and the Ambler marks only one pursuit of its journey to achieving the innovative pinnacle element-durability this year. SOREL is gearing up to launch a high-tech arctic boot “developed and tested in partnership with polar photographers Florian Ledoux and Hugh Franchis Anderson.” The extensive research and groundbreaking learnings that have gone into that project are already being incorporated into the lifestyle and footwear offering in seasons to come–from sneakers to sandals–and it’s that innate ability to be repurposed back into everyday utility which SOREL prides itself on.
It’s clear to us both that the Ambler is only the beginning. The brand might have been around for over half a century, but this latest release ushers in a new era of modish livability within outdoor pursuits.
