A boot (1) or other item of footwear is made up of a rubber sole unit (2) mounted to an upper comprising both leather and rubber components, for example a foot piece (3) of rubber and a shaft piece (4) of leather having a napped outer surface, such as suede, particularly pigskin suede. The boot (1) is assembled with an edge of the rubber foot piece (3) overlapping the outer surface of the leather shaft piece (4), and a rubber tape (11) binding the edges (13) of the shaft piece (4) together. The whole boot (1) is then vulcanised, bonding the leather and rubber components sealingly together. The boot (1) or other item of footwear is attractive, durable and waterproof.