Bliskavka Zip Up Boot

Production takes place in León, Mexico, where Arno Shoes works with artisan partners using traditional methods.[1]

The Bliskavka name reflects Mikhail Bliskavka's Ukrainian heritage. According to family legend, one of his ancestors was a Zaporozhian Cossack who earned the family name "Bliskavka" for being as fast as lightning on horseback and with a saber.[1] Mikhail, who is Ukrainian-American and grew up in the United States, served as a reservist and was sent to Germany for six months to translate during the 2022 Ukraine crisis.[1]

The design features a side zipper closure, allowing easy entry while maintaining the sleek appearance of a dress boot. The seamless upper pattern sits on a blocky leather midsole and studded rubber outsole, with a wide 360-degree flat welt and dense, consistent stitching.[1]

The Bliskavka features Hybrid Goodyear Welt construction, in which the welt is stitched directly to the insole without the use of canvas gemming.[1] This construction method allows the boots to be resoled when needed, extending their wearable life.[1]

The boot includes a 6.5mm thick vegetable tanned insole, vegetable tanned calf lining with a colorful heel stripe, and a vegetable tanned midsole.[1] The rubber outsole is attached using either YKK or Gold Rubi zippers.[1]

The Bliskavka is available in multiple leather variants, primarily featuring kudu leather sourced from wild animals hunted for meat and hide.[1] Each kudu hide carries distinct scrapes and striations from the animal's life in the wild.[1]

The kudu leathers are tanned at Charles F Stead Tannery in the UK and measure 2.5mm thickness, offering softness and flexibility while maintaining durability.[1] Available kudu options include Russet Kudu and Tobacco Kudu roughout/suede variants.[1]

Additional leather offerings include Buffalo Black Cherry, which starts with an intense dark red color that lightens on flex points and scuffs, developing character with wear.[1] A Loden Suede variant is also available, tanned at Charles F Stead, measuring 2.4mm thickness—thicker than most full grain leathers.[1] The boot has also been produced in Red Calf and Green Calf variations.[1]

The Bliskavka runs true to size on the Italian dress shoe last used for construction. Customers who measure 11 D on the Brannock device should select 11 D in this model.[1]

The founders established Arno Shoes in 2021 and began production in León, Mexico.[1] Both founders studied at the Stefano Bemer shoemaking school in Florence, Italy, and apply traditional European bootmaking methods in their American company.[1]