Materials and Construction

An unyielding desire for growth and profits in the footwear industry has resulted in mass produced, low quality footwear becoming the norm. An entire generation has grown up wearing poorly built shoes made from low quality materials.

FEIT DIRECT has been built to change the status quo. To deliver hand crafted shoes from finest materials and components in the world and build via traditional construction techniques.

A great shoe starts with a great last. The cornerstone of Feits collection is an initial set of lasts which founder Tull Price collaborated on with one of Italy's most famous last makers - now 92 year old Verdichio Padrone.

We use all natural leathers including Kudu, Llama, Elk and Camel, often combined with a French Calf skin lining. Natural leathers are breathable and, as such, Feit shoes are designed to be worn barefoot. All lined FEIT shoes are entirely water proof.

Natural components such as cork foot beds, buffalo leather insoles and bamboo shanks are chosen for their durability, strength and quality.

These materials and components ensure the best results when employing traditional footwear constructions. At FEIT we use 3 major construction techniques - Hand Sewn Goodyear, Hand Sewn Stitchdown and Traditional Moccasin.

Handsewn Goodyear Welt

A welt refers to a piece of leather which is hand stitched to the upper of a shoe as an attach point for the sole. This process was pioneered by the Goodyear family and is the traditional method for manufacturing men’s dress shoes. The upper of the shoe is stretched over the last and stitched to a leather strip known as a welt. The Vibram sole is then stitched to this welt. This is a labour intensive process performed by expert craftspeople and allows for constant air flow through the shoe aiding ventilation, durability and strength.

Handsewn 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.

Traditional Moccasin

Moccasin construction is one of the oldest forms of shoe construction still in use today. A true moccasin construction wraps the upper around the last, which is then hand sewn at a seam under the last. Machine made moccasins do not wrap the last, and are simply attached to flaps of the upper.

If you'd like to know more email info@feitdirect.com