9901 Plain Toe Blucher - Black Shell Cordovan

The Alden Shoe Company was founded in Middleborough, Massachusetts in 1884, one of hundreds of shoemakers in New England in the 19th century and now the only one left. Alden's refusal to lower its standards is what kept it in business for close to 150 years.

How it is made

• Barrie last
• Goodyear welt with a tempered steel shank under the arch
• Double oak leather outsoles
• Handcrafted in New England

Shell cordovan does not come from a cow. It is taken from the shell, the connective tissue on a horse's rump, and Horween's process for it runs over months and has not changed in more than a century. Crystallised tree bark extract is what lets the finished leather hold its sheen without wax. It ripples rather than creases, so it is far less likely to crack, and it has fewer pores than calfskin, which gives it both its mirror finish and a natural resistance to water.

Please note

Sizes are US.