Introducing Ink

Lately, I’ve found myself quietly obsessed with fountain pens, writing not just as a function, but as a ritual. The slowness of it, the intention behind every word, the way the ink settles into the grain of the paper, it’s meditative in a way that typing never is. In that journey, I’ve been especially drawn to Pilot, a company steeped in Japanese heritage. Their Iroshizuku ink collection, with names that read like poetry, Shin-kai (deep sea), Take-sumi (bamboo charcoal), has become a quiet fascination. Each shade feels like it carries meaning beyond the surface, tone beyond colour. They don’t announce themselves. They wait.

That feeling, the pull of something understated, something you discover slowly, is what inspired our latest suede: Ink.

There are colours that shout, and then there are colours that whisper, quietly, confidently, and with surprising depth. Ink belongs firmly in the latter camp. It’s not quite blue, not quite black, but instead lives somewhere in the nuanced space between. Mysterious and refined, it reminds us of those same Iroshizuku tones. These are colours that don’t demand your attention, but reward it. Subtle on first glance, they deepen with time, revealing themselves only to those who choose to look again.

This quiet complexity is echoed in the material itself. Sourced from the legendary British tannery C.F. Stead, Ink is cut from their signature Repello suede, renowned for its density, richness, and tactile beauty. The nap, tightly structured yet soft to the touch, shifts delicately with movement, catching light in much the same way ink flows across fine textured paper. It’s never one-dimensional. There’s a shadow and sheen that dances, giving the shoe a sense of life and motion, even when still.

We’re introducing this exceptional shade in two classic styles: the Punchline loafer on our Zilo last, and the Wingtip Oxford on the Char last. Each silhouette was carefully selected to showcase different aspects of the suede’s character. The Punchline loafer, soft yet structured, embraces casual sophistication, ideal with washed denim, off-white trousers, or even linen during warmer months. The Wingtip Oxford leans into tradition and elegance, made for deep navy suiting, charcoal flannel, or crisp evening tailoring. With its brogue detailing and understated design, it adds quiet texture to formalwear without overpowering it.

What makes Ink truly versatile is its ambiguity. It’s neither seasonal nor trend-driven. It works across wardrobes, across dress codes. Formal or relaxed, urban or rustic, monochrome or colourful, it has a way of adapting, blending, and enhancing without ever becoming generic. It is a colour of intention, meant for a wardrobe that prizes refinement over flash.

This is not a colour for those who rush. It’s a colour for those who appreciate the value of restraint, of subtlety, of nuance. A colour that lingers, that stays with you, not because it shouts, but because it knows exactly when to speak.

written by - Zahan Anees