Fashion brand barkers has joined forces with footwear maker McKinlays, a fifth generation Kiwi business, to make a limited edition boot called Sahara.

The leather version uses materials sourced from Tasman Leather in Whanganui, while an Italian supplier provided materials for the suede version.

The boot combines contemporary design with traditional manufacturing techniques, says Barkers head of merchandise Paul Biddle.

“We wanted to create a really honest, genuine interpretation of a classic Kiwi boot style using premium New Zealand materials,” he says. “Two good Kiwi brands with plenty of heritage nutted out a contemporary design that brings traditional manufacturing techniques and materials together with modern, refined style.”

The boots are made in McKinlay’s factory in Dunedin. McKinlays began making footwear in 1879 after Scottish immigrant Robert McKinlay arrived in Dunedin in 1870. It’s now run by the fifth generation of McKinlays – brothers Graeme and David McKinlay.

Barkers was started in 1972 by Raymond Barker with a store called Raymond’s in Auckland’s High St. It now has 26 stores and an online store.