Suede often gets a bad rap; it’s seen as fragile, high maintenance and not up to the adventures that its polished leather counterparts can take on. We’re here to challenge this. Textural, understated and deceptively durable, suede is not only up to the task of life’s great expeditions – it's built for them. 

Suede is taken from the underside of leather and is characterised by its fibrous surface and velvet-like finish. Its natural breathability makes it inherently suitable for Australia’s warm climate, and its nap offers a unique depth and texture to the R.M.Williams collection, appearing across tailored jackets, elegant bags and an expansive range of seasonal boots. It’s been a constant feature of our product assortment for decades and shows no signs of going anywhere anytime soon.  

If there's one person who can attest to suede’s natural durability, it’s Mark Muller, Editor-in-Chief of OUTBACK Magazine and longtime R.M.Williams collaborator. His enviable collection of suede RMs is the stuff of dreams for any boot collector, comprising Comfort Turnouts, Rickabys, Bronc Tops, Gardeners and an ever-growing number of classic Craftsmans, all made from the rugged hide. His loyal suede boots have accompanied him on adventures to the furthest corners of our island nation, often being subjected to a healthy dose of mud, blood and even some errant soaking in petrol along the way. 

“I like the look and feel of the suede; it doesn’t scratch, it doesn’t need polishing or conditioning, and you can just run over them with a wire brush to bring back the nap,” Mark says of his affinity with the material.

“I just give my boots a spray with suede protector every now and again. They have lots of marks and stains on them now, but I also like the look of beaten-up suede - you’ll never scratch and gouge it like you will a polished leather.”

His faith in suede is evident in his relaxed attitude towards the welfare of his boots: “I’m not very precious with them, and certainly with the boots that I regularly wear on the job in the bush, I’ve treated them with no regard for the sanctity of the leather,” he says. “I’ve been genuinely rough with the suede Gardeners and Craftsmans, and the Broncs have spent days on end in stirrups in rough country. They’ve all been really filthy in hot, dry, muddy, wet, burnt country, in flooded creeks and sodden cattle yards, and in rough, rocky terrain with no trouble. The right boot of my Tobacco suede Comfort Craftsmans was completely covered in petrol when I was filling a tank with a faulty jerry can and didn’t see the spillage, and it did them no real harm. Ironically the one stain on those boots that I haven’t been able to properly get out is from a dollop of oil from a damned dolmade I was eating at my kitchen bench at home!” 

A particularly memorable journey saw Mark driving a dinghy down the flooding Warburton River, headed for Lake Eyre. Heavy rains caused the group to make an emergency stop on the riverbanks and wait out the wet weather for a few days. “I dug drains and paths and trenches all through the makeshift campsite and the boots were totally soaked and muddy for days, but still kept my feet dry and then the mud just scrubbed out in the sink.” 

In addition to suede’s propensity to endure challenging terrain, Mark also reckons its magic is in its ease of wear. He’s donned the boots for nights on the town as often as he has for rough expeditions, pairing it back with his timeless wardrobe of R.M.Williams staples. “I reckon Bone suede and faded denim go together like Vegemite and toast: made for each other,” he explains. “I also like Tobacco suede and denim, and anything olive green – the colours are a natural extension of the environment and work well.” 

And for more formal occasions? “The Black suede Craftsmans are great for dressing down a bit of dressed-up gear – I’ve worn them with a dinner suit when you want to dial it back a bit. They almost soak in the light rather than reflecting it like a polished leather does, softening the more rigid formality of the suit.” 

It’s a compelling case for suede’s power to prevail in any environment, under any conditions. One question remains: where will your suede RMs accompany you?