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stitchdown patina thunderome winners 2024 2025

2026-27 Stitchdown Patina Thunderdome Rules, Timing, and Signup

The 2026-27 Stitchdown Patina Thunderdome begins on Oct 1, 2026. Here's everything you need to know about the 6th edition of the world's greatest judged footwear and leather goods aging and patina contest. FOUR Categories to Enter Thunderd... Read More...

Shoes ‘n’ Boots of the Week: Badalassi at Viberg, Division Road x Goral, Addict Engineers

The boot world is defined by a perpetual turning of the wheel: people find something cool, hone in it for a while, and then—out of boredom or good old curiosity—try to find something new, no matter how strange. Finally, the wheel comes to rest in its... Read More...

Grant Stone’s New Store, and a Potential Trajectory for Quality Footwear Retail

St. Joseph is a Michigan beach town with a historic downtown, a couple of even-more-historic lighthouses, and a very nice view of the lake. While I was in town, it happened to choked with smoke because of wildfires burning across the border in Ca... Read More...

Edgy Albert on Which Shoes are Good and Not Good—and a Tribute to Denim Legend Roy Slaper

If you know Albert Muzquiz, it’s almost definitely as Edgy Albert, his highly accurate internet alter-ego. Albert’s not just another menswearfluencer come-lately—he was also the first writer for Stitchdown.com, worked at LA’s iconic Self Edge, and... Read More...

Shoes ‘n’ Boots of the Week: Viberg Kudu, Willie’s Boondockers Stateside, White’s New Roper, more

It might be the full moon, it might be the heat trapping everyone indoors, or maybe there's just something in the water this week, but we've got a ton of great releases for you, including some gloriously textured Kudu from Viberg, a collab boot that'... Read More...

Standard & Strange x Wesco Quick Striker Engineer in Olive Waxed Flesh Hero

Shoes ‘n’ Boots of the Week: S&S x Wesco, Sagara x Maryam, Yuketen, and more

July is starting to look suspiciously like August, but the boots are still coming in strong. We've got two new Wesco engineers (alongside a ton of other releases) at Standard & Strange, a new Maryam horsebutt variant developed for Sagara, a pile ... Read More...

Keeping Maine Shoemaking Alive: The Rancourt & Co. Story

At one point, it was tough to find someone in Lewiston-Auburn, Maine that wasn't personally connected to the handsewn moccasin shoe industry. Today, few Maine shoemaking operations remain—but those twin cities on the Androscoggin River continue to ho... Read More...

Division Road x Goral Mellor High and Mellor II

Shoes ‘n’ Boots of the Week: Division Road x Goral, Tons of Viberg, Iron Boots GMTO

After a very short interlude, we are back with all of the last two weeks' most notable releases including: resolable sneakers in Badalassi veg-tan from Goral and Division Road, three different Viberg releases (and oh-so-many different models) includi... Read More...

Wolverine 1000 Mile—Justin Cupps Interview

How Can Wolverine Revive its Iconic 1000 Mile Brand? Work Group President Justin Cupps Has Ideas.

Wolverine Worldwide is a footwear empire much bigger than just Wolverine 1000 Mile. Justin Cupps is six months into his role as President of the Work Group, which includes Merrell Work, Bates, HYTEST, CAT Footwear, Harley-Davidson Boots, Wolverine, A... Read More...

Shoes ‘n’ Boots of the Week: Viberg Jungle Boots, Flat Head Ropers, Goods & Services Killshot

Heat wave or not, we're still back with this week's new shoe and boot releases including: two new Viberg Jungle Boots in Waxed Flesh, The Flat Head Ropers at Self Edge, Goods & Services' latest sneaker conversion, and lots more... Check out ou... Read More...