5 Reasons To Buy Heirloom Quality Shoes Locally Over Mass Produced Off-The-Shelf Shoes 

When it comes to footwear, many of us are tempted to opt for cheaper, mass-produced options that flood the market; when you can click the order button and receive your shoe within 24 hours why would you want to wait about 2 months for a pair of handcrafted shoes?  Here's 5 reasons...

1. Superior Craftsmanship and Materials

One of the top reasons to consider purchasing handmade shoes is the superior craftsmanship and quality of material used to make your footwear. The Goodyear welt construction of our boots and shoes coupled with the use of Horween leather results in heirloom quality footwear that can be passed down for generations. 

David has over 35 years’ experience honing his skills as a shoemaker/cordwainer; we take great pride in our work and in the quality of materials we use.  What a waste of time it would be for us to spend hours making a shoe with subpar quality of materials!

2. Longer Lifespan and Cost-Effectiveness

Mass-produced, off-the-shelf shoes are often made using cheaper materials with lesser quality construction, will likely wear down faster and probably isn’t repairable.  While the initial cost of purchasing a handcrafted shoe may be more expensive, a handmade shoe is going to last longer and when the soles eventually wear out, they can be replaced over and over.  

To give you an idea of when a re-sole may be required; we use mostly Vibram outsoles on our footwear which lasts about 2-3 years if you are walking a few kilometres every day.  

3. The Value of Broken-In Leather Shoes

One of the best reasons for quality leather footwear is it actually gets better with use; can you think of any other item you use daily that gets better every time you use it?   

The comfort of a broken-in pair of boots or shoes that has conformed to the shape and movement of your feet provides a level of comfort and support that simply can’t be matched.  Broken-in shoes can only happen when you wear your shoes or boots – the more you wear them, the better they get. 

Did we mention the patina effect of aged leather?  This is a highly desirable effect of full grain leather developing its own character through use and exposure to the elements that make your leather boots uniquely yours.   

4. Unique Style and Personal Touch

Each pair of shoe we make is "made-to-order" for you and nobody else.  This means you get to personalize your shoe or boot to match your unique fashion style and preference. 

You are essentially creating and designing your own footwear and we help you bring it to life –

Choose your

• leather (bison, calf or shell cordovan)
• the leather color
• height of the boot
• shape of the toe
• speed hooks for lace up boots
• the color of eyelets
• etc, etc, etc.

We’ll help you with every step to help you create the perfect shoe for you.  We don’t even need to say, this level of attention can never happen with a mass-produced shoe.  

5. Sustainability and Ethical Considerations

Mass-produced shoes are often made in factories with minimal labour and safety regulations and we don’t even want to think about the carbon emissions it takes to transport those shoes from distant countries to us here in Canada. 

We are a small team at HD Russell, we value diversity and inclusivity – we care for members of our team like we would our own family; we have a lot of fun and laughter in our workshop. 

We make classic leather shoes with pride and integrity in Vancouver.  We hope that we bring positivity and inspire creativity in every shoe or boot we make and hope you feel the love that we put into each pair we make. 

Take a look at our bestsellers and begin customizing yours today!