The Story of Vegan Goodyear Welt Shoes
The Story of Vegan Goodyear Welt Shoes
Vegan Goodyear welt shoes are built differently. You feel it in the weight, see it in the lines, and—most importantly—you live it in the years they last.
It’s one of the oldest and most respected methods of shoemaking, trusted for well over a century. Not because it’s quick or cheap, but because it’s made to endure.
Why They’re Worth It
A vegan Goodyear welt is more than just stitching. It’s a whole construction method designed to make your vegan shoes last for decades.
The welt—a strip of material running around the shoe—connects the upper, insole, and outsole. That means when the sole wears out, any good cobbler can replace it without touching the rest of the shoe. No tearing apart the uppers, no structural damage. Just a fresh sole and more years of wear.
Over time, that makes them incredible value for money—pay once for real craft, then keep them going with affordable resoles.
Better for the Planet
Longevity is sustainability. Every time you re-sole vegan Goodyear welt footwear, you’re saving the resources, energy, and emissions it would take to make an entirely new pair.
In our vegan dress shoes, the insole cavity is filled with natural Portuguese cork, which molds to your feet over time. Cork is renewable, biodegradable, and harvested without harming the tree—making it one of the most sustainable materials on earth.
Easy to Repair
Because the sole is stitched (not glued) to the welt, swapping it out is straightforward.
Most cobblers can do it, anywhere in the world. That means no special tools, no sending them back to the factory—just take them to your local repair shop, and they’ll know exactly what to do.
How They’re Made
Compared to mounted (cemented) shoes, vegan Goodyear welt construction is far more involved.
Mounted shoes are made by gluing the sole directly to the upper—a fast, lower-cost process, but once the sole fails, the shoe is often done for.
Vegan Goodyear welt shoes go through many extra steps: stitching the welt to the upper and insole, filling the base with cork for comfort and insulation, then stitching on the outsole. Each step adds time, skill, and durability.
Our Vegan Goodyear Welt Oxfords
Our Women’s Vegan Goodyear Welt Oxfords are handmade in Portugal using Italian bio-based vegan leather. The cork insole filler is locally sourced, and the solid rubber outsoles are designed for years of wear. When the time comes, they’re easy to re-sole—keeping them in your wardrobe for the long run.
We also make them for men, along with a full range of vegan Goodyear welt boots and shoes:
