There are often two types of fashion people in the world: those who are bag people and those who are shoe people. Regardless of what camp you fall into, there are pros and cons for each category: are bags that good of an investment? What do you do if the shoes you buy pinch your feet? Is that truly worth this much money?
Wherever you fall, though, we can agree: in a world of automation, declining luxury quality control, and ultra-cheap, questionable labor practices, artistry reigns supreme when you’re on the hunt for leather goods. So, when I visited Portugal, one of the largest leather goods and shoe manufacturing countries in the world, I knew I had to tap deep into the country’s rich history of generations-long craftsmanship.
Aided by APICCAPS, the country’s leading footwear and leather goods manufacturing organization, I spent nearly a week visiting factories, spending hours at technological centers, and sitting down with leaders and designers in the Portugese footwear space. If you haven’t been paying attention to them yet, now is the time to do so: these three shoe brands need to be on your radar.