The Goodyear Welt construction was developed more than 150 years ago, in 1869, in the United States, and remains unmatched to this day. The creator of this technology was Charles Goodyear Jr., son of Charles Goodyear, the inventor of vulcanized rubber. This shoe construction is still used today by manufacturers with long-standing shoemaking traditions, such as Berwick and Red Wing, represented only by our stores in Lithuania.
A welt is a strip of leather that is sewn around the edge of a shoe. It is attached with stitches to the insole, the upper part of the shoe, and the outer sole, so it does not touch the foot. In the Goodyear Welt construction, the stitches are made on the outer part of the sole to maximize the shoe's water resistance.
Goodyear Welt shoe construction involves creating a small gap between the insole and the outer sole, which is filled with cork material. This natural material is lightweight, insulates well, adapts to the shape of the foot, and allows the foot to breathe. Shoes with this construction are suitable for wetter climates in spring, autumn, and winter, making them ideal for the Lithuanian climate.
The seam of Blake shoe construction directly connects the outer sole to the insole. This construction is most commonly used by Italian shoemakers. The shoes are elegant, lightweight, made of soft leather, and comfortably adapt to the foot.
