Jan 25

Jan 25 SOREL: The Footwear Brand Where Snow, Streetwear, Survival & Style Collide.

This Paris Fashion Week Presentation (on 21st January 2026) Review was drafted by Norman Busigu.

Pushing Past The Limits of Conventional Footwear

Presenting a platinum standard of craftsmanship to keep feet both warm and stylish across all climates and conditions (from sub-zero ski resorts to streetwear settings) SOREL is a shoe line with a heritage and history deeper than most. SOREL possesses a high-end and diverse roster of shapes, silhouettes and styles that leaves purchasers not only spoilt for choice, but equipped for all environments.

From Kim Kardashian to Victoria Beckham, the who’s who of the fashion world have been spotted sporting SOREL, proudly. They have even made appearances at fashion weeks. But at the core of this shoe’s purpose, is its ability to withstand snowy conditions.

During my carefully curated tour of the showroom to indulge in the PFW Presentation of SOREL’s collections, Hannah and Zoya began by taking me on a trip through time to trace the genesis of this brand that boasts a proud lineage of excellence.

The iconic Caribou™ was the first SOREL winter boot introduced to the world. SOREL was founded by Kaufman Rubber Company - a Canadian manufacturer known for producing premium rubber boots, industrial gear, and military equipment. The Caribou™ combines a rugged leather upper with a handcrafted rubber shell. Notably, it set a new standard for durable, high-quality footwear— a standard still upheld to this day.

Beyond being just boots and footwear, this brand has helped to propel humanity into new frontiers of exploration. Ralph Plaisted and his crew, while wearing SOREL Caribou™, became the first confirmed expedition to reach the North Pole 90° overland - famously crossing 500 miles of Arctic silence for 43 days. Decades later, Ann Daniels, also wearing SOREL boots, became a world record holder as the first woman in history to reach the North Pole from land. Zoya highlighted how this reflects that diversity and inclusivity lies in the DNA of this brand.

Futuristic Technology In-Between Your Toes!

Deeply woven within the fabrics of its 3 layer stitching, are the threads of legacy, spirit and sophistication which have been embroidered together to create a series of unique boots and shoes geared to those who dress with intent and walk with edge. Each design contains the attention to detail given by that of a master architect. With SOREL, style and function work in harmony.

Indeed, SOREL has long stood at the intersection of form and function - defined by timeless features like waterproof duck boot silhouettes, distinctive thick outsoles and triple-stitch sophistication. Hannah with excitement explained to me that SOREL shoes are engineered to keep us warm and dry in the harshest conditions… every pair blends rugged performance with bold, unmistakable style. A fun fact Hannah couldn’t wait to tell me is that SOREL shoes are actually designed to release snow from their sole (!)

Visuals Matching Vision

The polar bear logo isn’t just for show. For SOREL, the spirit of the polar bear is deeply symbolic - it being the icon of elegant beauty and that of a powerful beast.

The SOREL team have invested heavily into aligning the philosophy of its brand with its optics. The evolution of this brand has been creatively curated by Photographer/Filmmaker Florian Ledoux and prolific Writer/Documentarian Hugh Francis Anderson, to effectively translate the message of the brand to audiences worldwide.

Always endeavouring to remain connected to the snowboarding and skiing communities, the brand will never lose is reverence and connection for the raw and the real of where it started. In the early days of snowboarding, SOREL Caribou™ boots were the go-to choice for pioneers like Jake Burton and Tom Sims. Early riders utilised whatever worked, using tape, screws or straps - by any means necessary - to secure their boots. SOREL's warm, flexible boots were perfect for transporting surf and skate manoeuvres to snow.

SOREL is a brand where style meets survival. Where craft meets courage. And where every step is a statement. What began as a rubber factory's solution for its workers during harsh Canadian winters, progressed into decades of ground-breaking exploration in footwear performance and style. From taking the first bold steps on the North Pole to the first downhill run on a snowboard, SOREL boots have an undeniable legacy in winterwear.