Flame Panda Engineer Boot

I’d been wanting a pair of engineer boots for a long time, but I didn’t want anything too sleek or overly bulky. I was after a balanced silhouette with a sense of depth and character. I discussed this with Peng, and he initially recommended the 181 last. At that time, the 181 last didn’t feel quite right to me, but he mentioned he would refine it further—so I decided to wait. After he completed the adjustments, the shape finally clicked, and I went ahead and ordered my engineer boots on the updated 181 last. For the build, I chose a moss green midsole paired with teacore black leather. However, I wasn’t a fan of how quickly standard teacore tends to show through, so I asked him to apply additional layers of black dye. In the end, it turned out exactly the way I envisioned.

I previously got a pair of 131 monkey boots from Peng, so I’m already familiar with working with him and he knows my sizing well. Based on the measurements I provided, he was able to recommend the right size for me.

I added him on WeChat (ID: flamepanda11), where he’s much more responsive compared to Instagram. All our communication and idea exchanges were done there. We spent time discussing different patina possibilities—how they might develop over time, the kind of effect they would create, and what would make the overall look feel harmonious. After about two to three weeks of back-and-forth, I finalized the specifications exactly how I wanted them.