C.F. Stead Polo Brown Unicorn Elk

Polo Brown presents as a warm, rich brown shade that emphasizes the natural character of the elk leather. The aniline dyeing process allows the leather's inherent grain patterns and natural markings to remain visible through the color, creating transparency that showcases the distinctive characteristics of wild elk. The color works in combination with the nubuck finish to produce a matte surface with subtle depth, while the wax treatment adds dimension through the pull-up effect that creates lighter tones when the leather is bent or stretched.

The leather originates from the same batch of Scandinavian elk hides tanned to a crusted state in a Finnish tannery during the 1970s that forms the basis for all Unicorn Elk variations. Following the rediscovery of these crusted skins in storage, C.F. Stead dyed and oiled them to create a limited range of colors including Polo Brown. The hand-selected elk hides receive aniline dyeing that preserves transparency, allowing the natural grain to show through the color application.

The leather undergoes chrome tannage and is subtly sanded to achieve the nubuck finish characteristic of Unicorn Elk. The polo brown dye is applied during this finishing process, followed by the application of oils and a subtle wax coating that yields the matte appearance with pull-up characteristics. The limited availability of the original crusted skins means Polo Brown production is constrained by the finite material supply.

The subtle wax coating produces pronounced pull-up qualities where the leather temporarily lightens when bent or stretched, with the polo brown color shifting to reveal lighter brown tones beneath the surface. The oils and waxes incorporated during finishing enhance this effect while providing added protection to the material. Over time and with wear, the polo brown color develops varied tones as the wax redistributes and natural patina forms, with high-wear areas showing different color depths than less-stressed sections of the leather.

The natural defects and grain patterns become more pronounced through aging, and the polo brown shade deepens in areas of consistent contact while potentially lightening in flex points. The aniline dye allows the leather to age transparently, showing the evolution of both color and surface characteristics over the material's lifespan.

Polo Brown Unicorn Elk is used in heritage boot construction where the combination of the warm brown color and natural elk characteristics creates distinctive aesthetic appeal. Boot manufacturers including Caswell Boot Company and GORAL Shoes have utilized the leather in various boot styles. Caswell Boot Company's Wilson II boot features Polo Brown Unicorn Elk with Goodyear welt construction built on the Morris last, incorporating gusseted tongue construction, speed hooks, and Vibram Londra outsoles.

The leather's combination of comfort, suppleness, and durability makes it appropriate for unlined boot applications where the dense yet soft texture can be appreciated directly. The polo brown color provides versatility in styling while maintaining the individual character created by the natural markings present in each hide, ensuring no two pairs of boots appear identical.

Polo Brown is one of six colors in the Unicorn Elk range, which also includes Bronze, Gaucho, Leaf, Shingle, and Black. All variations share the same material origin from rediscovered 1970s Finnish-tanned crusted elk skins and receive the same nubuck finishing and wax treatment, differing only in their aniline dye coloration. The limited color palette reflects the specialized nature of the material and its finite availability based on the original tanned stock.