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These shoes are handmade by Spanish artisans with over 156 years of shoemaking experience. Other premium companies sell their inferior shoes for hundreds of dollars more, but we have partnered with the actual small business artisanal shoemakers to make sure we cut out the middleman, the store markup, the importer, and the advertising budget so you get ultra-premium shoes for a fraction of the price. We have spent over 10 years creating the process and testing to make sure we bring you what might possibly be the best quality shoes you can buy. Our artisans also create shoes for some of the biggest fashion houses, and premium shoe companies in Europe, so you know that the product you are getting is beyond premium.
The Hiking Boots are as good for climbing debris-strewn mountains as they are for pounding the pavements of your local city. Robust and fulsomely soled, they represent the sartorial sweet point where form and function impeccably collide. With an adjustable buckle strap, padded collar and metal D-ring lace system, they perfectly mould themselves around your feet. The tough Goodyear-welted soles available, on the other hand, are thoroughly modern and won’t fail you in even the most dismal conditions.
Artisan-Hand Made Patina: The technique used to achieve this artwork is known as ‘Anticatura’, which is the Italian word for antique finishing. It is a speciality of Italian and French maestro shoemakers. Entrusted to the hands of the antique finisher, the upper part of the shoe becomes a work of art. The Anticatura method is a hand dyeing procedure of leather. It takes about 8-10 hours of work per pair to create a completely unique patina with an aged effect.
Like all of our shoes from Mr Bearfoot, these shoes are Goodyear welted. What does this mean? The technique means that the soles can be replaced time and time again and the shoes will last a lifetime. Don't pay for expensive footwear that you will throw away in a year, buy a heritage item that will last a lifetime. Here we have, below, a bit of information on the Goodyear Welt.
Manufacturing process of a Goodyear Welted shoe
For more than 300 years, the Original Goodyear Welting process has been associated with excellence and superior workmanship. More than60 craftsmen are involved in the process of manufacturing one of our Goodyear shoes, and they use between25 and 50 different elements and pieces. All this involves a process with more than120 handcrafted phases, from beginning to end.
In 1872 Charles Goodyear invented a machine capable of stitching the welt to the insole, thus revolutionizing the quality of footwear worldwide. Due to its longstanding heritage, little needed maintenance, waterproof durability and clean aesthetic, Goodyear method is highly valued in the high-end shoe market.
The welt refers to a strip of leather that is sewn around the perimeter of the upper of the shoe, onto the insole. The outer sole is then sewn to the welt, as opposed to being attached directly to the upper like the Blake stitch method.
The cavity created by the welt between the insole and the outer sole is filled with cork, another natural product which provides insulation, protection, and comfort: as you wear the shoe, the cork filler takes an impression of your foot, like memory foam. This provides unparalleled comfort and support when compared to cheaper forms of manufacturing.
Goodyear welting is the oldest, most labour-intensive, and most durable of the three methods of construction. It can be done by machine or by hand and involves multiple steps.
The first part of the process is preparing the insole for stitching.
This is done by creating a perpendicular “rib” that runs across the insole. Some shoemakers create the rib by cutting and sculpting the insole, while others will do so by using a supplementary material like linen tape.
The second step is to last the shoe.
This is done by stretching the outsole over the last and attaching it, along with the insole, to the last.
Part three is the actual welting.
At this point, shoe-specific thread is sewn through the welt, the upper, and the insole rib. Through a separate stitch, the welt is attached to the outsole. For both of these stitching points, a lock stitch is used – meaning the chain won’t unravel if it breaks down at any particular point in the shoe.
The Pros– The two-level stitching makes it incredibly easy to resole a Goodyear welted shoe. Because the welt acts as a buffer between the insole and the outsole, removing the old sole and attaching a new one can be done by machine or by hand and without a specific machine. The extra layers make the shoe more water-resistant and supportive.
The Cons– Because of the additional materials and labour required, a Goodyear welted shoe is more expensive. The extra layers that provide more structure come at the cost of flexibility, so the shoes will require a longer “breaking-in” period to mould to the shape of your foot. Give it time, it will be worth it.
Collections: Footwear, Men, Premium Shoes By Bear Naked, Women
