Camp Moc

The Camp Moc represents Oak Street Bootmakers' interpretation of traditional Native American moccasin construction that evolved through the New England Fur Trade into modern camp moccasins and boat shoes. Built on the 555 Last, known as "the classic New England moccasin last," the shoe combines heritage construction methods with contemporary materials and manufacturing standards.

Oak Street Bootmakers was founded in 2010 by George Vlagos, the son of a cobbler who apprenticed at his father's shop. George's father, John Vlagos, immigrated to the United States from Greece in the 1960s and opened a suburban shoe repair shop on the day George was born in 1982. The company was created to help preserve the tradition of American shoemaking, with George drawing from his family's cobbling heritage and expertise.

The Camp Moc draws from the historical evolution of moccasin construction, where the Fur Trade introduced New England settlers to handsewn moccasins created by Native Americans. These traditional designs evolved into camp mocs, boat shoes, and eventually the leisurely loafers of the Ivy League. Oak Street Bootmakers' interpretation maintains the authentic handsewn construction while incorporating modern materials and refined manufacturing techniques.

The Camp Moc features genuine handsewn construction with hand-stitched toe and counter, representing traditional moccasin-making techniques. The upper uses an unlined form-fitting inner design with waxed handsewn thread for durability. Construction details include tone-on-tone stitching, antique brass eyelets, and rawhide laces that complement the heritage aesthetic.

The shoe is built on Oak Street Bootmakers' 555 Last, specifically designed for New England moccasin construction. This last provides a comfortable medium width while George Vlagos uses his cobbler expertise to create a slightly slimmer-looking silhouette compared to traditional camp moccasins, maintaining casual appeal with sophisticated refinement.

Most genuine handsewn outdoor moccasins, including the Camp Moc, will fit best when sized one-half size smaller than a customer's size as measured on the Brannock Device. The shoes should fit snugly when new but will stretch and conform to the foot with wear over time.

The Camp Moc is generally true to size in length, or even slightly long, but has a fairly narrow toebox compared to other handsewn shoes. The shoe has proven to be extremely stretchy over time, with users reporting that proper initial sizing around three-quarters size down from Brannock measurement results in an excellent fit after the break-in period. The stretching characteristics allow the shoe to mold to individual foot shapes while maintaining structural integrity.

The Camp Moc is described as "an extremely well made shoe" that "beats out the segment" in terms of stitches per inch and the evenness of those stitches. All Oak Street Bootmakers footwear is 100 percent recraftable, meaning the shoes can be re-soled again and again, extending their useful life significantly beyond typical footwear.

Long-term durability observations from user reviews indicate potential moc-toe leather separation and rear hand-sewing unraveling at corners after years of regular wear. However, the overall construction quality and materials used provide good longevity when properly maintained. All Oak Street Bootmakers footwear is backed by the company's Factory Guarantee, ensuring quality assurance and customer support.

The shoes are handcrafted by shoemakers with over 20 years of experience, reflecting the company's commitment to preserving traditional American shoemaking techniques while maintaining contemporary quality standards. MSRP pricing typically ranges from approximately $262 to $282, positioning the Camp Moc as a premium heritage footwear option in the market.