THE EVOLUTION OF A CLASSIC
2010—2021

 

A RETROSPECTIVE ONLINE EXHIBITION
MAR 2021

 

1 – HISTORY
2 – ANATOMY
3 – EVOLUTION

 

Prototypes dates back as far as the 18th century – crudely designed “plimsoll” shoes with flat, rubber soles. The industrial revolution is in full swing, and in 1844 Charles Goodyear files a patient for vulcanization – the process by which natural rubber is made into durable products like tires. Half a century later, the Goodyear Company begins to market a tennis shoe made from vulcanized rubber.

The first true archetype arrives in 1916. The United States Rubber Company announces Keds, the first mass-produced shoe marketed to the pubic as a “sneaker.” That same year, Marquis Converse produces the first-ever Basket ball shoe, His sneakers are endorsed by Indiana hoops star Chuck Taylor, and the “Chuck Taylor” All-Stars quickly become the best selling basketball shoes of all time.

Keds, Converse, Jack Purcell, Stan Smith… Each name is an icon, recalling silhouettes that have paved the way for modern footwear. But these brands are also a byproduct of the industrial revolution and a mentality of mass-production.

 

SHOP CURRENT CLASSICS

2010—2013

FEIT begins with the new decade and the intention to recreate the classic court shoe without the use of synthetic materials. It is a process of minimization: a plimsoll-style shoe cut from a single piece of thick, vegetable tanned leather. Unlike their predecessors, each shoe is cut, stitched, and sewn entirely by hand, allowing materials and craftsmanship to speak for themselves. The Hand Sewn Low evolves over time, becoming softener and more comfortable  with each new iteration until, at last, the New Classics are born, luxury handmade versions of the classic court sneaker featuring hand-sewn construction, all natural materials, and raw, unlined edges for barefoot comfort.

 

SHOP CURRENT CLASSICS

HANDSEWN LOW
First Handsewn Low — 2011

HANDSEWN HIGH
First Handsewn High — 2011

HANDSEWN COLLECTION
First Iteration of Handsewn Collection in Vegetable Tanned Leathers — 2011

2013—2014

ANATOMY

All FEIT shoes begin with a single piece off vegetable dyed leather, hand-stitched at the heel. The seamless, one-piece leather upper shapes itself to the wearer’s foot and patinas with time.

 

SHOP CURRENT CLASSICS

CROSS SECTION
Exposed Natural Materials of Handsewn Low — 2012

HAND SEWN CONSTRUCTION
A Master Craftsmen Shapes and Stitches the
Upper around an Iron Last — 2014

VISCERA
A Cross-Section of a Handsewn Low — 2020
Natural Leather Sole - Natural Cork Footbed - Bamboo Shank - Leather Insole - Semi-Cordovan Upper.

PATINA — 7 YEAR MARK
Natural Aging and Patina of Handsewn High in Vegetable Tan Leather

HAND SEWN CONSTRUCTION
A Master Craftsmen at work

2010—2021

EVOLUTION

Archive of past and present iterations of the Handsewn Classics.

VEGETABLE TANNED LEATHER

SEMI-CORDOVAN

SELECTION OF SUEDES

CRACKED

2014

BICOLOR

An original style endlessly copied.

2016

SUPERHIGH

Tallest one seam upper ever made.

2017

TRIPLE WRAP

Chunky version of the Handsewn Low

2020

"FEIT" HANDSEWN LOW

Handsewn Low with exterior branding.

2020

COLLAPSABLE BICOLOR

2020 Evolution of the Original style

2021—UNISEX EVOLVED CLASSIC