Fall Favorite: A.S.98!
Written by Cicely Galm

Come peel back the curtain on one of our most-loved brands of all time!

The air grows crisp, kids are back in school, and leaves start to fall. Autumn means different things to different people, but here at Two Sole Sisters it heralds the beginning of boot season! And we simply couldn't talk boots without talking about one of the coolest Italian brands on the block, A.S.98. 

With A.S.98, there's no mistaking their plush leather paired with deep, earthy dyes and hardware flare. However, their comfort across years of wear may be even more legendary. Their rubber outsoles absorb the shock of your everyday stride, minimizing the impact to your legs as they carry you on your daily adventures. 

The People

"We are artists, designers, creators, and craftsmen. Unique personalities creating unique fashion. Our inspiration comes to life in designs that are more than shoes; they are wearable works of art. The A.S.98 ethos is something that can't be taught in school, it comes from who we are and manifests itself in our designs. It's the lifeblood that flows through our work and is imbibed by those who wear our shoes: dynamic, daring, expressive, authentic, confident, creative, and bold. A.S.98 celebrates the rough edges and imperfections that make us all genuine originals, and recognizes there is only one true arbiter of cool...you."

A brand as dedicated to art as A.S.98 deserves at least a novel on the artists behind the footwear, but we've assembled the basics here as a start. Piero Oliosi created the brand A.S.98 in the 1980s and now carries it on with the help of his sons. Father and sons, collective owners of the brand, manage their business out of Verona and Bosnia, employing over 1,200 people. Their ethic is as cool as their style, claiming that true fashion and art comes not from design school, but rather from those individuals who have lived at the outskirts of society.  

The Process

"A.S.98 shoes are constructed by hand with unparalleled skill, by passionate and dedicated craftsmen in a family run factory. Employing elaborate needle work, leather weaving, and hand burnishing, these artisans leave their own impressions on each pair of shoes, ensuring exceptional quality, character and uniqueness. These elements make A.S.98 easily distinguishable from mass produced products, and loved by those who demand quality, craft, and uncompromised style"

Sister Chat

Here at the store, anyone who comes in will have heard of our staff fervor for this ruggedly chic design. In fact, we often have customers who beat us to raving about their own pair (or few!) of A.S.98. How is a girl meant to have just one?

Lindsey loves A.S.98 because "they're so durable! I tend to be really hard on my boots and shoes, as a business owner, dog mom, motorcyclist, and all-around adventurer. They last so many seasons and, though their edgy look is distinctive and eye-catching, they still manage to be so timeless. AND they're comfortable!" 

Sound too good to be true? It’s really not! Stop on by Two Sole Sisters and ask one of our gals for a tour and a try on. You won't regret it!