Our collaboration with G.H. Bass returns this season with a restock of the black Larson alongside a new brown version, both cut from Horween Chromexcel.
Chromexcel traces its origins to the early 20th century and takes shape at Horween’s original tannery in Bucktown, Chicago, where hides are still hot-stuffed with a dense blend of oils, greases, and natural waxes in the final stages of tanning — saturating the leather through its full depth rather than finishing its surface.
The result is a hide that stays unusually supple for its weight, creasing deeply without drying or cracking, while slowly redistributing those oils through areas of stress and friction over time.
Which is why a Chromexcel loafer won’t stay in its original condition for long. The vamp darkens and softens at the flex points. The collar molds subtly around the ankle. The toe picks up polish from contact and movement rather than deliberate maintenance. Even the color shifts microscopically with pressure, light, and wear.
