Palladium Boots may be my favorite shoe of all time. I discovered them at OAK years ago, and have been wearing them ever since. The love child of a sneaker and a boot, they are the perfect shoe for city goers, nature lovers, and adventurers of all kinds.

They’ve gotten me through hikes, bike rides, boating, strolls in Manhattan, concerts, fashion week, one crazy trip to Montreal in a snowstorm, and the majority of college. My beloved pair of slate gray canvas Baggy boots is suffering from two giant holes in the heel, but I love them too much to stop wearing them. (Also, I can’t find the slate gray canvas anywhere!)

Since I love my Palladiums so much (I’m wearing them right now!), I decided to find out more about the brand that plays such an integral role in my style. So I interviewed Barney Waters, the company’s VP of Marketing, and found out all I ever wanted to know about Palladium.

Fashionista: Can you tell us a little about Palladium’s brand history? How did the company start and how has it changed?
Barney Waters: Palladium was founded in 1920 in Lyon, France and made aircraft tires. Tires were made by layering canvas bands underneath rubber. After World War II, the demand for tires dried up, and so Palladium decided to put its canvas and rubber expertise to use by making boots. The first contract was in 1947 from the French government to supply the legendary French Foreign Legion. The Foreign Legion at the time was mostly stationed in the North African desert, so they needed a durable and comfortable boot that worked in those hot conditions. As Palladium’s boot was canvas, it was breathable in hot weather.

What were some goals with the relaunch of the brand?
The company that previously owned the brand had focused on other shoes and left the classic Pampa boot gathering dust. Our goal was to dust the cobwebs off this iconic boot and breathe new life into it. We felt good that it would be a hit, but you really don’t know until it goes up on the shelf. Luckily, the first signs are that people are really responding to the boots.

Palladium has a great history, but what modernizations were made (if any) to keep the brand from simply being another heritage brand banking on its history to sell to new consumers?
In terms of the product, we kept the design the same. It’s a timeless classic design that is just as relevant now as is has been over the past 60 years. We re-engineered the rubber sole to make it lighter and more comfortable. Plus, we’ve updated the materials we use, preferring premium leathers and stonewashed canvas. We’ve also got some great material combinations coming for Fall ’10. From a brand communication standpoint, having an authentic heritage is a major asset, yet I didn’t want the brand to look and feel like a museum. Once people know the boot is real, then you have to answer the question, ‘So what does it mean to me today?’