Kangaroo leather boots designed for summer heat

These kangaroo leather boots from Kia Waese’s boutique R.A.D. are meant for hot summer days—the material is so thin, it’s translucent when held up to the light. The shoes also come with a shocking price tag of $1,895. “They’re timeless, and the quality is incomparable,” says Waese. Sure, we’ve heard it before: an economic slump is the time to invest in high-end, and presumably classic, fashions. But no one means it quite like Waese. Open since May, R.A.D. deals in handmade, artisanal pieces meant to last a lifetime. These unisex boots, designed by Maurizio Amadei, were handcrafted by a cobbler in Florence. “Especially with this designer, you’re paying for the quality and intensity of the labour,” says Waese. Slow food is all the rage, why not slow fashion?

R.A.D., 899 Dundas St. W., 416-231-0266.