About Us
The County of Bourke was proclaimed in 1853. It is the oldest and most populous county in the state of Victoria. It also contains the city of Melbourne and its first suburb Fitzroy where we founded our business in 2003.
Our County of Bourke is home to four separate labels: ATKM, Baabuk, Duckfeet and Nature Footwear. The labels cover footwear and accessories for life: bags, wallets, belts and the like.
Our ethos is to make and sell goods that embody quality and simplicity. With quality comes longevity (and less consumption) and with longevity comes a story. People tend to value things that have been with them for a long time because those things are imbued with the narrative of their lives.
At the County of Bourke we make and sell items to cherish for a long time, if not a lifetime.
Our Brands
ATKM
ATKM is a Melbourne owned and made carry goods and accessories label.
With a rich & evolving 20 year history in the leather goods industry, ATKM is dedicated to honouring the heritage of old world craftsmanship and practices through timeless designs made from high quality materials.
History
Emerging in 2003 during a period of societal turbulence and guided by the vision of our founder, Simon King. The brand began with the idea of repurposing discarded airplane seatbelts into functional bag straps, arming people with bags of purpose and personality, and leading to the launch of our iconic Runway Model Messenger bag.
This attitude towards re-imagination and a shifting of perspective has stayed true to this
day. With ATKM – ‘All the King’s Men’, drawing upon the adage from the classic nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty, to affirm that we can learn from our mistakes and find a better way forward. We are driven by the desire create products that help you move through the world with ease.
Design
We understand that in life, to grow we need to shed excess baggage, embracing a paired back design ethos with products that fit seamlessly into your everyday pursuits.
All our goods are meticulously handcrafted in our Melbourne workshops. We proudly support the work of skilled artisans and are committed to making high quality leather and canvas goods and accessories that are built to withstand the test of time.
Baabuk
Baabuk slippers feel good, look good and are good for the world. They are cut from a single piece of 100 per cent pure, natural felted wool. There are no seams, and there is no scratchy feeling. Wearing them is like wearing a cocoon of comfort and warmth.
Baabuk slippers are hand-made in Nepal, using New Zealand merino. The environmentally friendly process uses three main elements: wool, water and soap. They have an anti-slip natural-latex sole, which also makes these house shoes OK for light outdoor use. (It’s fine to go out and pull the washing off the line, or to grab another load of firewood.)
As a B-Corp certified company, they are hitting all of their ethical and sustainability goals and have been for 10 years. They wanted to make slippers that weren’t just comfortable for people to wear, but that they were also comfortable putting out into the world. That meant trying their hardest to make them in the most responsible way possible.
Duckfeet
Duckfeet are quality, handmade leather shoes from Denmark.
Their wider unisex designs allow space for your feet to breathe, meaning a comfortable fit that cares for your feet. Made from vegetable tanned leather and natural crepe rubber soles most Duckfeet styles can be resoled making them a sustainable, durable option.
True to Danish design, the Duckfeet range of classic footwear offers functionality and beauty.
Nature Footwear
Nature Footwear is a small family business with over 100 years of collective experience in the footwear industry. Over the years they’ve learnt a lot about the importance of design for the health of our feet, and materials for the health of our planet.
With designs that prioritize the natural shape of the foot and made from natural materials such as chrome free leather, suede, natural rubber and cork; their skilled artisans in Portugal use their years of experience to bring those designs to life.
We are proud of our products and the thought and care that goes into making them. We bring the same quality to our sales and service.