Back at Paris Fashion Week in January, no showroom excited me more than South Korean label Khakis’. The brand has a rare knack for reimagining prep, Ivy, and outdoor icons in a way that feels contemporary without stripping them of their character. It’s the closest I’ve personally seen a modern label come to capturing the feel and character of vintage clothing.
Amidst the beautifully patterned plaid shirting, textured canvas trousers, and perfectly faded denim, one item stopped me in my tracks: a pair of Merrell Moab 3s – a silhouette crowned the Honda Civic of hiking shoes. I’ve seen hundreds, if not thousands, of Moab 3s over the years, and all the best-looking pairs are usually on the feet of some seasoned hiker who’s worn them half to death. Yet somehow, this Khakis collaboration – sitting right in front of me – managed to capture that same perfectly broken-in magic.
A large part of what makes the Moab 3 what it is comes down to the people who wear it – typically ageing backpackers and lifelong hikers who rely on it for absolutely everything. Merrell’s near-perfect balance of breathability, durability, and accessibility turns the Moab 3 into something more than just a shoe; it becomes an extension of its wearer’s foot.
That relationship certain people have with the Moab 3 is the sole inspiration behind Khakis’ collaboration with Merrell, fittingly titled Old Faithful.
What initially drew me to the Moab 3 in the Khakis showroom (beyond the fact that it was, of course, a Moab 3) was the colourway. Sandy beiges punctuated by hits of bright navy, finished with tastefully flecked laces.
But as I moved closer, the subtle details began to emerge – small nods to the Moab 3’s most devoted wearers. The textured toe box is lightly dusted with sandy abrasion-like markings, echoed across the sole and heel counter. It’s an understated level of detailing, but one that convincingly gives Old Faithful the impression of being pre-worn, even before you’ve laced it up.
As soon as I left the showroom, I immediately flicked post notifications on for the Khakis’ Instagram account – so I could be among the first to know when the collab was set to launch.
And earlier this month, the notification finally came through. Khakis had announced the launch of the Old Faithful with campaign visuals directed by Kyle Kivijarvi & shot by Peter Sutherland, which perfectly embody the kind of life that most Moab 3 enthusiasts seem to strive for – one planted firmly in the outdoors, taking in and noticing the small things that others seldom do.
Now I’m not entirely sure whether it was my excitable-child energy in the Khakis showroom, or the possibility that the brand read Proper, but coinciding with the launch, they very kindly offered to send us a pair of Old Faithful. Naturally, I elbowed my way to the front of the email chain and made sure they were addressed directly to me, in my size.
It’s the most excited I’ve been to receive a pair of shoes in a long time – so much so that I came into the office on a Saturday just to collect them, before flying out to Amsterdam the following Monday. And true to the Moab 3’s intent, they barely left my feet the entire trip. Over four days, I clocked up well over 100,000 steps in them.
Which might just make me the unofficial record holder for most miles put into a pair of Old Faithful in existence – a title I’m proud to hold, and one I believe qualifies me to speak on what makes this collaboration just so great…
Obviously, you’ve got that signature Moab 3 tech we all know and love – EVA foam midsole, Vibram outsole, snug bellows tongue – but if you want to hear about that, there are already about 4,000 Moab 3 reviews waiting for you elsewhere on the internet.
What separates this from a standard Moab 3 comes down to two things:
First, aesthetics. Like everything Khakis produces, the Old Faithful looks absolutely sublime. The beige and navy colourway is a classic without being predictable, and that restraint means they’ll slot into just about anything you already own (which is largely why they didn’t leave my feet for the four days I spent in Amsterdam). This disciplined use of colour – opting for heritage tones rather than loud, attention-seeking palettes – is exactly why all Khakis products, including the Old Faithful, work so well
And the second thing is how deeply Khakis understand the silhouette they’re worked with — and what it means to the people who wear it. Even the name, Old Faithful, tells you everything: they get that the Moab 3 is the kind of shoe you come back to again and again. It’s built to be worn every day, and Khakis’ take leans fully into that idea.
The colourway is effortlessly wearable, and the sandy beige distressing gives it an immediate sense of familiarity – like it’s already lived a life before it’s even left the box. Which, in turn, means you’re not constantly hovering over them in fear of the first scuff. You’re just meant to wear them.
Which is what I’ve been doing ever since opening the box.
Find out more about Khakis at khakis2020.com
