The Ultimate Guide to Traditional Shoes vs Custom Made Shoes for Men

As men, we always have a unique relationship with our shoes and we always want the best for ourselves that matches our personality and style.

In this regard, nothing can be more reassuring, comfortable, and confidence-boosting than a handmade bespoke shoe because it is handcrafted just for you.

So, let’s say that you need a new shoe now. Of course, you will have millions of options and diversity in materials.

What will you choose? Where will you go? What suits you the best? And why will you leave all those choices and go to custom-made shoes?

We are here to give you the answers to all those questions. We are here to give a gentleman like you what he truly deserves.

 

1. Which Is Better: Stitched or Glued Soles?

Turn the shoe over and see if there's any stitching, if you found it go for immediate purchase. The sole is the soul of any shoe and it’s the most important part.

So when it's glued, it will last a short period of time till you find the sole falling apart — and no one wants a shoe to last a few weeks.

While stitching is the form of art in any shoe, it’s a sign of the effort made to make this pair of shoes last for a lifetime. Here at ADORSI, all our shoes are made using a Goodyear welt, which is known as one of the best stitching methods in the world.

In the prior ages, shoes were made by hand using a process called hand-welting, which uses a needle and waxed thread to stitch the upper part of the shoe together with the sole.

Although it gave the shoemaker the greatest control over the shoe's stitching, it was incredibly time-consuming and impacted the number of shoes produced. Interestingly, thanks to the process of the Goodyear Welt, this technique is still used in bespoke shoes and Made-to-Order (MTO) shoes. 1

Charles Goodyear Jr. invented his Goodyear Welt machine in 1871. This machine allowed bespoke shoemakers to quickly attach the sole to the upper part. Since then, Goodyear welts have been extremely known as one of the best shoe construction processes, especially when it comes down to bespoke and custom-molded shoes.

 

2. Does Sole Thickness Make a Difference?

Definitely yes. Here at ADORSI, we use Goodyear welts to make our shoes more durable, breathable, and water-resistant.

This is possible because Goodyear welts form a barrier between the sole and the upper, making it more enduring when exposed to harsh climate conditions and also easy to fix and resole when your sole wears out.

While wearing customized, handmade shoes, the soles tend to be thicker in order to be long-lasting and more resistant. With mass-produced ones, however, traditional shoemakers produce as many items at the lowest price possible.

Therefore, the thickness of the sole tends to be much thinner, so they're bound to wear out pretty quickly if they are exposed to different climatic conditions such as rain.

ADORSI also offers a wide range of soles, from calfskin leather Goodyear soles to Dainite rubber Goodyear soles. All these options and more are available for you so that you enjoy your own definition of the perfect shoe without sacrificing style or comfort. 

3. What About the Prices?

You can tell many things about the person in front of you through his pair of shoes as it's an indicator of his taste, style, and his authenticity. In addition, you shouldn't only look better, you should feel better and confident enough to wear what you want.

Everyone knows that mass-produced goods are usually cheaper than handmade ones. But we think that gentlemen like you deserve the best! That's why our craftsmen at ADORSI craft high-end, unique designs made by the best craftsmen, who use only the finest materials and workmanship just to be presented to you at affordable prices.


4. What About the Quality of the Upper?

The principal focal point in any shoe is its upper part, where the eye lays its first sight and when you leave your first impression.

Let’s take leather shoes as an example, where the leather upper matters the most. In stores like ADORSI, bespoke shoemakers use the highest quality full-grain leather for the uppers of the shoes and pay a lot of attention to the cutting to get the best cuts with no imperfections.

With standard shoes, it’s very hard for the machines to have high-quality leather cuts, so shoe factories often resort to low-quality synthetic leathers that tear easily and have a lot of imperfections.

So, it’s all about the manual work, the sense of the skilled shoemaker who will do his best to get you a pair of shoes that will get your back anytime you want.

 

5. What About the Art of the Construction Process?

If you've been looking for a perfect pair of shoes through the Internet for some time now, you probably read somewhere that traditional shoes use low-quality glue, which rapidly comes apart, and rough materials cause fractions, blisters, and chafing. In addition to that, the sense of discomfort that you will never get rid of.

With bespoke shoes, there are advanced construction techniques used to make 100% personalized shoes just for you, so you will never find two things exactly alike. Moreover, every detail is taken into consideration to eliminate any spot that would bother you.

Have you ever imagined wearing shoes made specially to fit your character, your lifestyle, and your soul?

What's more, ADORSI allows you to engrave your initials on the soles of your customized shoes so that you'll always remember that your pair of shoes is made just for you.


6. Don’t Forget that Quality is the Key!

Traditional shoes are usually mass-produced in factories. Despite the quality control, the attention to detail cannot be compared to the eyes of the skilled spoke shoemakers who put their dedication into every pair. You may find good-looking shoes, but there will always be something missing.

On the contrary, custom shoes are built based on your specific needs and modifications. However, due to the extra attention and care required to create a personalized pair, they may take a little bit longer to be made compared to ready-to-order options. But trust me, the wait is definitely worth it! When you finally receive your custom-made shoes, you'll have a truly satisfying result that perfectly fits your feet and meets your unique preferences. 

Meaning, the production is exclusively processed according to every order you make, focusing only on meeting your expectations so that you impress every eye looking for beauty. We don’t want you to get what is served on the shelf; we want you to get control!

 

7. You Will Never Lose Your Favorite Shoes!

One of the best pros of custom-made shoes is that they can be resoled at any time. Once your sole wears out, you can easily remove it and replace it with a new one. Unlike the traditional ones that you will use for a few months and can’t be resoled, so you will have to get a new one.

In ADORSI, we believe that you don’t have to lose your favorite shoes, you don’t have to sacrifice your comfort or waste your money on nonrenewable shoes, so we offer you a lifetime partner that will be there for you at any time.

 

The Guide in a Nutshell!

Considering all of the facts, custom-made shoes are undoubtedly the best choice if you’re looking for a classy, long-lasting choice in addition to premium quality.

You also have to make the right choice by doing your research to find the most suitable customized shoes and the best quality, as it’s not that easy.

If you want to save your research effort, we can tell you that ADORSI shoes can definitely be a magical touch to your wardrobe, super comfortable, appropriate for all seasons, and will give you a unique style statement.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Should I go for hand-stitched or machine-stitched shoes?

Undoubtedly, handmade work has no competitors, so you should go for hand-stitched shoes. Machine-stitched shoes are more used by shoemakers who want to produce massive amounts of shoes in less time and this method may fail in meeting your expectations and cause some imperfections.

We recommend stitching your own shoes by using an embroidery hoop and sewing thread like the ones used in stores like ADORSI. Leave no room for error!

2. Does it matter where the shoe is made?

Sure, the country, the shoemaker, and every detail will matter. As a result, you should go to a trusted store that's well-known for its production quality.

For example, ADORSI's handcrafted shoes are made in Spain, which is known for its quality handcrafted products and offers unique customization options beyond what's imagined!

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