Rachel Comey

Hartford has long been a titan of industry, from its time in the 50s as "the insurance capital of the world" to its time in the 2000s as the "Dollar Store per sq mile capital of north central Connecticut." Giving Hartford yet another thing to be known for, Rachel Comey

Having just now launched an online store, this shoe designing CT capital native is slinging fifteen styles of upscale oxfords, mocs, loafers, and boots, all carefully crafted and renowned for their vintage-meets-rock-n-roll vibe, which, according to a sick Rolling Stone cover story, The Prodigy has permanently rendered exactly the same thing! On the casual work tip, there's the classically constructed nutria brown Derringer oxford w/ stacked leather heel; the Spiller, a grey, mesh-lined lace-up oxford w/ white rubber sole; and a black two-tasseled moc w/ an unlined nubuck upper that molds to your foot with a leather sole, called the Schilling (bloody sock lining not included). To get your hiking on, RC rocks a healthy collection of urban/outdoor boots like the burly bark-colored Burnside double–laced hiker with tie down laces, brass hardware, and a stained durable treaded sole; the Ruger urban work boot that sports cut leather laces and a back pull tab; and the Spencer featuring a refined padded ankle boot, calfskin upper, contrasting brandy padding, and a really funny beard when Heidi goes to Vegas and he doesn't shave for a while

Other classics to upgrade your steez include a top-laced flat moccasin, the Evans derby with cocoa suede upper, the Rigby Nomad Hiker that dons a soft two-toned sole and ankle pleasure padding, and the blue rubber soled oxford dubbed Uncle Dan, who was also a titan of industry, assuming "oversharing about your mother's high school boyfriends" is an industry.