Stitchdown - Wear Better Shoes

The New Thing in Footwear Leather? 145-Year-Old Veg-Tanner Hermann Oak.

Hermann Oak has been tanning leather in St. Louis since 1881, and they pretty much still do it the same way—one way, which of course is veg-tanning. Traditionally a major player in the equestrian leather world, Hermann Oak is edging into the quality ... Read More...

Shoes ‘n’ Boots of the Week: Division Road Tricker’s, White’s James Dean Boots, Østmo x Iron Boots

In case anyone thought approaching this year's halfway point meant we'd be slowing down, we've got a dense, dense roundup for you, complete with the first Østmo x Iron Boots ready-to-wear drop, some new collab brogues from Division Road and Tricker's... Read More...

Nathan Florsheim is Proudly Working Slower Than Ever

Back in 2021, I got a great email from a young bootmaker named Nathan Florsheim who wanted to chat. Boy am I glad I took that call. About a year later I had Nathan—great great great grandson of Milton Florsheim, yes, THAT Florsheim—on the Shoecast... Read More...

Shoes ‘n’ Boots of the Week: Orée Engineers, Brooklyn Clothing x Wesco, and More

We've got two brand new names in the roundup this week. Plenty of familiar ones too, including many shades of Mr. Lou at Brooklyn clothing and four new Viberg boots in Horween's Washed Wax Flesh, and of course, plenty more below... Trawl through t... Read More...

Division Road x White's Chromexcel Kickers

Shoes ‘n’ Boots of the Week: Lots of White’s Collabs, Memorial Day Sales, and More

We're opening with a White's quadruple-header this week—evidently Spokane has been extremely busy on collabs. But we've also got a handful of Memorial Day sales, a new roper from Rolling Dub Trio, and lots more below. All past roundups are gathere... Read More...

Inside the Shoemaker’s Toolbox—and How to Start Building One

You can't make a shoe without tools. And if you understand the tools—and by extension what they're for—you'll start to understand the steps required to turn a two-dimensional piece of leather into a three-dimensional piece of footwear. To help ... Read More...

Nicks Anniversary Shell Collection in Black Marbled Shell

Shoes ‘n’ Boots of the Week: Nicks Shell Cordovan, Brogue x Attractions, Crown Unlined Collection

Big big big roundup this week. We've got shell cordovan at Nicks, a three-way engineer boot collaboration from Brogue, Motor, and Attractions, a new unlined collection from Crown Northampton, and lots more. Read our previous roundups here. ... Read More...

Grant Stone Field Boot in English Tan Bison

Shoes ‘n’ Boots of the Week: Franklin & Poe x Everyone, Scotch Grain Crockett, Endless Vibergs

Below are some very good shoes and boots. This November 6th and 7th in Chicago, the fourth annual Stitchdown Expo 2026 will too, in a very big way. Just thought you should know that. In the meantime, check out a trio of new Frankin & Poe colla... Read More...

Every Single Winner from the 2025-26 Stitchdown Patina Thunderdome

The fifth annual Stitchdown Patina Thunderdome presented by Grant Stone, Nicks Boots, and Standard & Strange is officially over, so if you're still harboring any doubt over whether boots (and leather goods!) that are worn hard and taken care of d... Read More...

Stitchdown Patina Thunderdome—Flame Panda Service Boot—Natural roughout horsebutt

Hop on The Patina Thunderdome Newsletter to Enter the 2026-27 Dome

Get ready to lace up for the most rewarding six months in footwear. The 2026-27 Stitchdown Patina Thunderdome will officially begin on Oct 1, 2026 and run through April 2027 continuing the tradition of the premier global boot-aging contest. Whethe... Read More...