Men's Paraboot Michael

First introduced in 1945, the Paraboot Michael is the shoe that shaped the brand as we know it today. Designed in post‑war France by the second generation of the Richard‑Pontvert family, it was built during a time when practicality mattered more than excess. The brief was simple but exacting: durable leather, strong stitching, a comfortable insole and a robust rubber sole. Named after Michel Richard — now Paraboot’s chairman — the anglicised “Michael” quickly became a cornerstone of the label.

Construction is central to its appeal. The Michael is made using Paraboot’s signature Norwegian welt, a technique borrowed from alpine hiking footwear that delivers strength, flexibility and natural water resistance. Over time, the shoe found an unlikely cultural home in Italy, where it became the finishing touch to a relaxed, casual‑tailored look that rejected sharp formality.

More than 75 years on, the Michael remains Paraboot’s defining icon — endlessly reworked, widely imitated, but still totally in a league of its own. 

Shop the collection of men’s Paraboot Michael shoes, available at END.