Stitchdown - Wear Better Shoes

Ron Rider On: Serving Customers and Punching Managers

And we're back with more of the barnburner "Ron Rider On" series! This time, the owner of Rider Boot Company (be sure to check out the rollicking Ron Rider On: How Ron Rider Started Rider Boot Company) gets into the story that defines, maybe more ... Read More...

A Deep Look at Heinrich Dinkelacker, Germany’s Premier Shoemaker, and its Signature Buda Brogue

When faced with a decision of which pair of shoes to choose from Heinrich Dinkelacker—the 140-years-young German brand which creates some of the more unboundedly distinctive and specific footwear in the entire world—the mind can lock a bit. Heinrich ... Read More...

A Quick Tour of the CHUP Socks Factory

On a good day, each machine in the CHUP socks factory in Nagano, Japan makes 30 pair of socks. On a less-good day—and there are less-good days, as the machines CHUP deploys to create their uniquely kaleidoscopic socks are somewhere between "somewhat ... Read More...

Red Wing Moc Toe Boot Model 8138 In Briar Oil Slick Leather

8.9

Red Wing 8138 Moc Toe Review: an Absolutely Classic Boot in an Underrated Leather

If you conducted a widespread poll to determine the top five most iconic boots in all of bootdom, it's very probable that Red Wing would lock down two spots—one for their toe-capped beauty of a beast known as the Iron Ranger, and another for their Cl... Read More...

Stitchdown x Mark Albert Roadmaster Derby

Introducing: the Stitchdown x Mark Albert Boots “Roadmaster” Derby Shoe

I've been a big believer in Mark Albert Boots, and its founder Mark Barbera, since I first covered the Somerset, PA bootmaker earlier this year. Starting a shoe brand from scratch isn't easy work. Doing it the right way, in the US, is even harder in ... Read More...

Grant Stone’s Founder on Quality, China, and the Whole Alden Thing: The Stitchdown Conversation

Grant Stone founder Wyatt Gilmore makes great shoes in China, and he's damn proud of it. Named after a legendary Alden salesman whose Manhattan accounts Wyatt's grandfather took over when he retired—a "perfect gentleman who never swore in his life... Read More...

Tricker's Bourton Brogue Shoe—Snuff Kudu Reverse Leather—Division Road

8.9

Tricker’s x Division Road Bourton Review: Five Months Deep into Some Wonderful Kudu

About nine months ago, I decided I finally needed to get myself a pair of Tricker's. The English shoemaker's work had been calling to me, incessantly, for some time, and after spending a few days with fashion legend Grahame Fowler—who did work with T... Read More...

Ron Rider on: How Ron Rider Started Rider Boot Company

Ron Rider is a character. A few months ago, I called him up to talk for an interview. I was unreasonably excited to speak with him—we'd been chasing each other around for a while, and everyone I'd talked to about Ron made very, very clear that the... Read More...

Stitchdown Premium Discounts, Giveaways, and More

Stitchdown's deep journalistic coverage of the quality men's shoe world is far from free to produce, and takes a tremendous amount of time—which is why your support is essential to keeping it alive and thriving. Which is why we launched Stitchdown... Read More...

A Deep Look at Tokyo’s CLINCH: a Very Rare Bootmaker Indeed

When a bootmaker constructs a boot, they drive nails through the upper leather, lining, heel counter, and insole. Each nail hits a steel plate mounted on the bottom of the shoe last, making the nails curl, forming a hook that locks them in place—the ... Read More...