Feit Stitchdown

Like all Feit shoes the STITCHDOWN is handmade using traditional shoe making techniques rarely found in the footwear industry today. These traditional methods have been lost as we moved from local cobblers and small boot factories to assembly lines and mass production. We estimate there may be no more than 100 factories producing truly hand sewn, hand made shoes today. Brands that do so tend to be English or Italian high end men’s dress shoe companies such as John Lobb and Churches.
Making shoes by hand allows us to produce small volumes of very high quality. It ensures the shoe making process remains adaptable and flexible. Our shoe makers can adjust to the inevitable variances that arise during the stitching and lasting processes.

We make Feit shoes out of the fewest possible pieces. Some styles are mainly one piece of leather. This allows for more comfort, flexibility and a consistent grain. It also maintains a very clean aesthetic.

Material: KUDU

The material we have chosen to build this shoe in is called KUDU.

The Kudu is a very large graceful antelope that grazes in the bushveld areas of Southern Africa. The Kudu is hunted in limited numbers to maintain ecological balance in national parks. Living wild ensures a lean fat to muscle ratio resulting in a strong tight skin.

Kudu is both breathable and reversible – both sides of the skin may be used. The skin side is nubuck like and has visible scratches and scars resulting from life in the wild. The reverse side of the skin is softer than the softest suede , with a lush and velvety texture.

Although Kudu does not need to be lined, this shoe is lined using French calf skin in order to maintain a sleek well formerd toe, rather than the draping that would otherwise occur.

Laces: Leather

This shoe is laced using a round natural suede laces.

Outsole: Vibram

Super light weight Vibram more flex outsole.

Vibram is the world’s leading outdoor sole manufacturer. It’s a company with a history of innovation and quality from 1936. Check out vibram.com

Construction: STITCHDOWN

In the Stitchdown process, the upper is stretched over the last, flanged out and sewn by hand to the sole. this hand sewn lock stitch is made up of a top and a bottom stitch which are then interstitched. Therefore the stitching will not unravel, even if a stitch is removed. Shoes with stitchdown construction can use leathers of a higher oil and fat content. This leads to a very supple feel, which cheaper imitations of this process can not achieve.

From Project4000 Blog