Why Are Cole Haan Shoes So Expensive? (Top 4 Reasons)

Cole Haan is a brand of footwear that is mostly recognized for its comfortable formal and casual shoes. However, they also sell accessories, such as belts, handbags, sunglasses, gloves, and more.

Cole Haan was formed by Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan in 1928. The brand began as a label for men’s footwear but has since extended to include footwear for both men and women. The company was sold to George Denney’s partners in 1975. Over the course of a decade, Cole Haan grew into a leading American footwear brand and entered the retail market.

You landed on this article looking for reasons why Cole Haan shoes are so Expensive, so let’s explore the valid reason without deviating from the topic. 

Top 04 Reasons Why Cole Haan Shoes Are Expensive:

All four reasons given below directly and indirectly contribute to the high costs of Cole Haan shoes.

1) Innovative Craftsmanship:

Over the past five years, Cole Haan has transformed from a producer of traditional New England dress shoes to a footwear brand known for innovation.  Each year, it launches new “Grand” collections that meet a set of standards, including superior cushioning, breathability, durability, and lightweight.

In addition, the company has maintained its more than 89-year legacy by emphasizing craftsmanship and premium materials. The main step in their manufacturing procedure is to outline the lifestyle of the average customer. This could involve focusing on shoe people wear in the gym to work to dinner, the workplace to weekend hiking, or summer sandals to winter boots. 

Throughout this experience, the team considers the existing pain point, such as the need to switch from dress shoes to sneakers during a walk or to the office, and the exact parts of a woman’s foot that hurt after 12 hours in four-inch heels, or the discomfort of wearing bulky winter boots to combat the cold.

The team imagines the types of shoes they might design if they were not restricted by science or tradition. This is how the brand thought of a range of shoes that are essentially Oxfords on top and sneakers on the bottom.

The idea sounds like a dream come true for women and men who have experienced the discomfort of blisters and raw heels from wearing standard high heels and ordinary men’s dress shoes.

On the surface, this may appear to be a concept that “defies the rules of fashion”. Shoes affect the entirety of a person’s day, so people deliberately pay extra dollars for the innovation in their shoes and their comfort.  The work their team performs in the labs is motivated by the belief that it can enhance the lives of others, for this fact brand charges more than others in the market.

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2) American Heritage:

Cole Haan is highlighting its American roots with a line of shoes entirely crafted in Maine. The shoes were produced in a factory in Lewiston, which is also the location of Bates College. The company’s origins may be traced to Chicago in 1928 when it was formed by Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan to “make only fine goods.”

Most people agree that shoes made in the US are of a high standard, but products made there will always be more expensive than those made in countries where labor is cheaper.

Cole Haan’s headquarters are currently located in both New York City and Greenland, New Hampshire, United States. While not all of their shoes are made in the USA, some of their signature products are manufactured and assembled in America, including the sourcing of materials.

While some brands prefer to manufacture their shoes in Asia, where labor is cheaper, Cole Haan produces high-quality shoes with professional craftsmanship using American labor, and as a result, customers will pay more.

3) Collaborations:

Cole Haan has to pay more and more each year to get and keep sponsorships for famous faces around the world. Collaboration is a very important part of the retail business. When a brand works with famous people and other well-known platforms, you can expect it will charge a lot more for its products.

Cole Haan has worked with a lot of designers, athletes, and tastemakers, for example, working with everyone’s favorite workplace work messaging platform “Slack” for a long time. It was high time they did something special that only their brands could do to honor the spirit of collaboration. 

The company collaborated with the innovative Cleveland boutique to design a limited-edition, high-quality GrandPro Rally Loafer that modernizes the shoe’s traditional style with fresh, cutting-edge details.

Their limited edition line, which includes the OriginalGrand and GrandPro Rally models, is inspired by Keith Haring’s iconic work and the idea that anyone, anywhere can look and feel great with a little bit of effort, some people might call this collaboration a perfect fit.

The legendary designer of streetwear Jeff Staple flaunts their shoes, also Jeanne Grey, the founder of GREYLAYERS and an international businesswoman, adds her style to the Generation Zergrand collection.

Cole Haan and Rodarte, two brands united by a desire for innovation, have created a limited-edition collection for outstanding women called Grand Ambition. To Summarize, Cole Haan’s marketing team does an amazing job of working with exceptional, entrepreneurial partners to make limited-edition products and promote them.

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4) Handcrafted:

The fact that every Cole Haan shoe is handcrafted is one of the major reasons for its high price. Each shoe is produced by at least five different craftsmen, each of whom plays an important role in its creation. These artisans are responsible for rubbing dyes directly into the grain of the leather and keeping the classic stitching of Cole Haan.

Making items by hand is also a slower process which affects the pricing in multiple ways. First, it implies that the workers must put in long hours to make a shoe. As a result, the cost of producing a shoe is increased because the worker must be paid for their time. Also, stitching and making a shoe by hand requires more skill and attention, this also means that each shoe costs extra to manufacture.

Cole Haan chooses to manufacture shoes by hand to provide its clients with high quality and comfort. The effort and attention to detail required to handcraft these shoes raise their price. Moreover, handmade things are always limited, and as a result of the increasing demand for shoes, the current market price increases.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

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Conclusion:

Cole Haan focuses on the three defining characteristics of a luxury brand: quality, price points, and exclusivity. It is the brand of choice for countless fashion lovers and consumers throughout the globe.

The products of Cole Haan are carefully created, of the highest quality, and a true luxury. Ultimately, you get what you pay for with Cole Haan shoes. Therefore, if you now consider the price is worth it, Cole Haan footwear can be versatile and complement a variety of your outfits.