The ‘Goodyear Welt’ process is the traditional method for the manufacture of men’s shoes and it takes its name from the inventor who came up with the original hand sewn method. The benefit of a shoe which is made using the Goodyear welt construction is that the system allows for a constant flow of air to flow through the shoe, which keeps the shoes ventilated, durable and strong.

So how are these shoes constructed? Essentially, the upper part of the shoe is shaped over the last and fastened on by sewing a leather strip (also known as the ‘welt’) to the inner and upper sole. As well as using a ‘welt’, a thread 12 strands thick is used to hold the material firmly together.

The welt forms a cavity which is then filled with a cork material that gives the shoe flexibility and resilience (leading ultimately to a more comfortable pair of shoes).

The final part of the shoe is the sole which is then attached to the welt of the dress shoe with a high power adhesive.

The very nature of this shoe construction means that Goodyear welted shoes take much longer to manufacture than cheaper alternatives. Our factory in Portugal hires scores of highly skilled and trained operators to create these shoes of comfort, strength and durability.

Goodyear welted construction is the chosen method for some highly reputable brands in the UK dress shoe industry, for example Loake Shoes, Grenson Shoes, Barker Shoes and Churches.