Goodyear Welt: Why It's Worth The Investment

Here at Florsheim, we believe in the finest craftsmanship and quality. For years, we have produced our shoes using a Genuine Goodyear Welt Construction, a durable process that allows pairs of shoes to be resoled repeatedly. It’s the oldest, most labor intensive, and long-lasting method of construction and we’re proud to still have shoes made this way.

The featured image shows three Kenmoor II Wingtip Oxford shoes in different colors. The featured product is the Kenmoor II Wingtip Oxford in Cognac, Black, and Burgundy.

So, what exactly does Goodyear Welt Construction mean?

A Goodyear Welt shoe or Goodyear Welt boot is made using a strip of leather, rubber, or plastic that runs along the perimeter of the outsole. The machinery used to produce it was invented in 1869 by Charles Goodyear Jr., the son of Charles Goodyear.

How is it constructed? First, a welt is stitched to the upper. Then, a strip of canvas is cemented to the insole of the shoe as a point of attachment for the sole. After that, the space that is enclosed by the welt is filled with cork or another material that is porous or perforated to allow for breathability. Finally, the outsole is cemented and stitched to the welt to complete the process.

Not only do the extra layers make the shoe more supportive and water resistant, but because the sole is not directly stitched to the upper it can easily be separated and resoled. Some of our favorite Goodyear shoes include the Kenmoor and Annuity.

If you want a pair of classic, timeless dress shoes that will last for years, the Goodyear Welt is the way to go!

Kenmoor Wingtip Oxford

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