THE CRAFTSMANSHIP ADVANTAGE

UNVEILING THE BENEFITS OF HANDMADE SNEAKERS FOR MEN: WHY THE PROCESS DETERMINES THE PRODUCT

THE ADVANTAGE OF A HANDMADE SNEAKER OVER A PRODUCED ONE IS NOT VISIBLE AT THE POINT OF PURCHASE. IT IS FELT OVER TIME. IN THE WAY THE SNEAKER SETTLES AROUND THE FOOT. IN THE WAY THE LEATHER DEVELOPS RATHER THAN DETERIORATES. IN THE SPECIFIC CONFIDENCE OF STANDING ON SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT FAIL.

WHAT HANDMADE CHANGES

THE CRITICAL DIFFERENCE IS NOT IN THE MATERIALS, THOUGH HANDMADE SNEAKERS TYPICALLY USE BETTER ONES. IT IS IN THE APPLICATION OF JUDGEMENT AT EVERY STAGE OF PRODUCTION. THE GRADER WHO ASSESSES THE HIDE BEFORE CUTTING. THE CLICKER WHO READS THE GRAIN DIRECTION BEFORE PLACING THE KNIFE. THE CLOSER WHO CONTROLS STITCH TENSION BY FEEL. THE LASTER WHO ADJUSTS TENSION POINT BY POINT ACROSS THE SNEAKER. NONE OF THESE ARE AUTOMATED FUNCTIONS. NONE CAN BE.

WHEN THESE JUDGEMENTS ARE APPLIED CORRECTLY, THE RESULT IS A SNEAKER THAT FITS FROM THE FIRST WEARING AND IMPROVES OVER TIME. WHEN THEY ARE ABSENT, WHEN MACHINES APPLY UNIFORM PROCESSES TO VARIABLE MATERIALS, THE RESULT IS A SNEAKER THAT IS NEVER QUITE WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

THE ECONOMIC ARGUMENT

A HANDMADE SNEAKER FROM A SERIOUS MAKER COSTS MORE THAN A PRODUCED ONE. THE COST DIFFERENCE IS REAL. THE ECONOMIC CASE FOR PAYING IT IS ALSO REAL. A CORRECTLY MADE SNEAKER, MAINTAINED CORRECTLY AND RESOLED WHEN NECESSARY, LASTS DECADES. THE COST PER YEAR OF WEAR IS LOWER THAN THE COST PER YEAR OF REPLACING CHEAPER SNEAKERS. THE CALCULUS IS STRAIGHTFORWARD.

THE CRAFTSMANSHIP ADVANTAGE IS NOT AN AESTHETIC PREFERENCE. IT IS A RATIONAL POSITION ON QUALITY, LONGEVITY AND VALUE.