Stitchdown - Wear Better Shoes

The Stitchdown Shoecast Episode 5: The Best Alden Model of All Time…Decided!

Last episode Ticho and I took 16 of Alden's best shoes and boots, debated fiercely, and narrowed them down to 8, tournament-style. This time, those eight (the Indy, tassel loafer, plain toe boot, leisure handsewn loafer, longwing, tanker, Dover, and ... Read More...

grant stone chelsea boot black annonay calf

Grant Stone’s New $300-ish Chelsea Boots Look Predictably Fantastic

Grant Stone has established itself in fairly short order as one of the best values in quality footwear, period. And over the past half-decade its range has expanded bit by bit—and never in a rush—to encompass everything from handsomely muscled boots,... Read More...

Veg-Tanner Wickett & Craig’s History, Process, and Push Into Footwear: The Stitchdown Conversation

Wickett & Craig has been making leather for a long time, at least if you consider 153 years to be a long time. The Curwensville, PA-based operation exclusively creates vegetable-tan leathers, a more natural, environmentally friendly product that ... Read More...

The Stitchdown Shoecast Episode 4: What’s the Greatest Alden Model of All Time?

Alden is the last great American dress shoe maker—and their boots might just be even better. This week on the Shoecast, Ticho and I take on an impossible task: debating the best Alden model of them all. Indy? Leisure Handsewn? Longwing? 16 enter, but... Read More...

The Stitchdown Shoecast Episode 3: Underrated Shoe and Bootmakers

Certain great shoe and boot brands are discussed endlessly here on Stitchdown. And others, well, not nearly enough. This week on the Shoecast, Ticho and I get deep into four brands we think deserve a ton more play out there in the conversation—ZEB Sh... Read More...

Shoes ‘n’ Boots of the Week: Fantastic New Aldens, Grant Stone Shell, a New Viberg x DR Shelby, and More

After months of halted production, many of our favorite makers are back in action recently, and this week's roundup is as full of the good stuff as I can remember in a while—which is obviously great to see. It's definitely loafer season, but there... Read More...

Whites Boots 350 Cruiser Distress Roughout8

The Stitchdown Shoecast Episode 2: Navigating the World of Made-to-Order Boots and Shoes

Getting involved in made-to-order—the process by which makers allow you to customize often every single detail of a boot or shoe—is incredibly fun, and creative, and also sometimes scary (in the best way possible). How do you figure out what to ma... Read More...

John Lofgren Goes Full Class With Two Wingtip Boots—and Drops a New Desert Boot For the Ages

John Lofgren's boots—all made in Sendai, Japan in a small workshop—have long been renowned for their military-inspired patterns, leathers, and construction. And while his new wingtip boots that just opened up for pre-order at Standard & Strange h... Read More...

All Episodes of The Stitchdown Shoecast (It’s a Podcast)

Since 2020, the Stitchdown Shoecast has been committed to creating a mass perspective shift in how people think about and understand their footwear, accomplished through interviews with the most important players in all corners of the quality footwea... Read More...

When Should You Get Your Boots and Shoes Resoled? A Third-Generation Cobbler Weighs In.

A major benefit to most quality leather footwear is the ability to have it resoled, extending the life of something you love. But when SHOULD you get them resoled? When the time comes, what do you need—and not need—to get taken care of? And when is a... Read More...