Barbanera shoes are made in the middle of the beautiful Tuscan country-side, a place known for its shoe-making tradition. The most of the models are made using the Goodyear welting process, patented by Charles Goodyear (considered the inventor of the “English shoe”) in 1839 and still considered today synonymous of luxury shoes for men. The benefit of a shoe which is made using the Goodyear welt construction is that the system allows for a constant flow of air through the shoe, which keeps the shoes ventilated, durable and strong. The upper part of the shoe is shaped over the last and fastened on by sewing a leather strip (also known as the “welt”) to the inner and upper sole. The Goodyear process takes time and great manual ability by the artisan, so experience, concentration and calm are fundamental.
Each pair of shoes is cut and finished by hand, to obtain highest quality, extremely durable, very soft and comfortable shoes.
To get a more tapered and sleek shape, some models are made with Blake construction. The final result is an extremely comfortable and light shoe with a cleaner and stronger look.