Italian shoes are renowned for their handcrafted leather, longevity, excellent stitching, and dedication to shoe craftsmanship. The quality of Italian footwear is widely recognized as the best in the industry.
As the 19th century comes to the end, shoemaking has become an internationally accepted craft, during the same period, the history of Italian shoemaking also began to develop.
Italy ranks top as Europe’s best shoe manufacturer and international markets, but you may wonder why Italian shoes are so expensive. If you want to know the reasons read the rest of the article.
Top 4 Reasons Why are Italian Shoes so Expensive:
With a view to the high pricing of Italian shoes, various things need to be considered:
1) World Famous Italian Leather:
Italian leather is one-of-a-kind because of its durability, longevity, and smooth texture, as well as the generations of tanners who have spent ages developing the skill.
Due to these features, it is utilized in a broad variety of high-end shoes, and other accessories.
Italian leather is sourced from cows that are used to produce healthy meat, limiting wastage and animal cruelty. Also maintaining that the leather is from cows that have been specifically bred and raised to produce leather.
The leather’s durability and versatility come from the fact that it is tanned naturally using vegetable tannins, this method has been adopted in many countries, but real Italian leather is still made by hand only in Italy.
Italian leather can also be distinguished by its grain, as their tanners typically employ only two distinct grains.
Full-grain leather is thick and the most robust type of leather used in boots, sneakers, and others. It is neither sanded nor buffed, so it retains a distinct skin texture, giving the leather a unique feel.
The top grain is composed of the thinnest layer of the hide and is more flexible than the full grain, it has a sanded surface and is occasionally coated with a topcoat.
Shoes made from Italian leather are more expensive than others because you are paying a higher price for labor-intensive processes, tradition, and a global reputation. Italian leather products are costly, but they are an investment that will pay off in the long term.
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2) Highest Quality Construction:
In addition to the historical significance of Italy’s culture and economy, shoemaking is still a highly desirable skill.
The Italians have always been aware of the fashion curve and have realized that classic looks still have a place in today’s fashionable world.
With its signature leather, the shoe is constructed with multiple stitching techniques to assure its longevity and comfort.
Italian footwear is constructed using one of three distinct stitching: Goodyear, Blake, or Blake Rapid. All of these are appropriate for shoes that are designed to be durable and ready to wear.
Typically, the construction of Italian bespoke shoes is a hand-sewn Goodyear welt. Goodyear welted shoes are sturdier, endure longer, and are more comfortable than other types of shoes.
Blake rapid is preferable to Blake and quite comparable to Goodyear in that it is more sophisticated.
Goodyear Welt Construction is commonly regarded as the benchmark for superior footwear. It’s hard to find any issue in a pair of shoes that have this kind of construction that makes them unique, high-quality, and nearly waterproof.
All of these construction techniques tend to be pricey due to the high level of expertise, time, and effort required to create them.
In general, I’d conclude that the construction of Italian shoes is always a step ahead of the fashion trend, are highly elegant, and is well worth the hefty cost.
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3) Production Costs:
Prices may vary based on the type of material used to make the product. Some of the best materials for Italian shoes are more difficult to obtain than those used by most other companies in the same field.
The raw materials that Italian shoemakers use aren’t always cut in the same way. This, in turn, makes the cost of labor go up, also Italy has strict labor laws and ethical standards. That could mean that Italian employers would agree to higher wages and shorter work hours than in other countries.
When we talk about high-quality construction materials, we need a lot of custom capital, tools, and machinery to get there, this makes the shoes even more expensive.
Renting land or a factory building in Italy would also be much more expensive than just getting a factory in China to make the product.
Brands are proud that their products are made in Italy, and they use this fact as both a marketing technique and a reason for their high price tags.
These factors add up to a significantly higher cost of Italian shoes, so prices have to go up to cover the production costs.
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4) Expert Craftsmanship:
There have been many innovations in the manufacturing of shoes, but the Italian shoemaking process is usually unchanged. Italian shoes are made with great care, starting with the design phase.
After measuring and sketching the foot, the artisan carves a last, which is a wooden form in the shape of the foot.
To create the shoe’s final form, leather is first cut into a pattern using the sketch’s measurements before being shaped by hand around a shoe last.
One of the stitching techniques is used to join the leather elements, and the sole is evaluated and fixed by hand to ensure a smooth, clean finish.
If the shoe needs laces, they will be added after the eyelets for the laces have been drilled. The next step is to inspect the shoes for any flaws and give them a good brushing.
The finished footwear, after being meticulously packaged, is distributed to retailers or sold online to target consumers.
This method, employed by Italian shoemakers for centuries, is still in use today, whether the shoes are hand-crafted or manufactured in a facility where the sewing is done by machine.
Every pair of shoes, even those made in a factory, receives an artistic touch from a skilled worker. With this level of hard work and attention to detail, you can expect a premium price for Italian shoes.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Are Italian Shoes good?
Italian shoes are widely recognized as the top position in style and craft in the international market for high-end shoes. Italy has local access to the finest raw materials so they developed innovative designs using these premium materials. Italian shoes have something better suited to your tastes if you’re searching for a sleek and sophisticated high-quality pair of footwear.
Are Italian shoes worth the money?
Italian shoes are well worth the money due to masterpieces of design, elite materials, and exclusivity. Italian footwear has gained its reputation as being both stylish and of the highest quality. If you want to buy a genuine Italian shoe, be prepared to shell out some more cash that will be worth it in long run.
Where to buy Italian shoes?
The World-famous shoe brands where you can get Italian shoes include Gucci, Ace Marks, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Dolce & Gabbana, Tod’s, Fendi, and many others. The Italian shoe industry has approximately four thousand companies in total. Typically, these brands produce both footwear and clothes but are mostly recognized for their footwear.
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Conclusion:
Shoes in Italy are as unique as their culture; Italians have placed more importance on expressing their passionate identities, strong emotions, and innovation. This, combined with their skill with high-end materials, and appreciation for old traditions, allows them to consistently produce fashionable and expensive footwear.
Italians worked hard for many decades to get the design of shoes and the leather just right which is costly while other countries took the easy way out by making things cheaper and more quickly.
Italy produces a lot of shoes, but not all of them are created equal, however, there is a logic behind the success of the brands that stand out in the crowd. A pair of high-quality Italian shoes is an investment that will serve you well for many years.
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