Journal /
Making
5 min read
Why we stitch the sole
Glued soles are cheaper. Stitched soles are the reason a pair of boots can outlast a decade.
Glue does not wear out. The rest of the shoe does.
A glued sole holds until the upper wears out, and then the pair goes in the bin. A stitched welt is threaded through the upper, the insole and the sole, so a cobbler can cut the thread and replace the bottom.
What that costs
About $35 more per pair to make, and a resole from a local cobbler is around $80. We think that is a fair swap for ten years.
