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Shell Cordovan - Durability at its finest

Although the products made of this material have always been popular thanks to its durability and mesmerising patine, Shell Cordovan footwear has literally been selling like hot cakes since several years. Not only because the rounded lasts and heavy welts reflect the trend of current time, but especially because of the unique nature of the material, the extensive tanning process and the reward of a beautifully aging upper overtime. Click to read more about Shell Cordovan and its characteristics!

Since the opening of our brick-and-mortar store in 1988, products made from Shell Cordovan have made their appearance at Shoes & Shirts.  Nowadays, we still perform resoling services on some of the Shell Cordovan shoes purchased in those older days, and we have grown to carry an ample collection of leather goods made of this exceptional material as well. But what makes this material unique, and distinguishes it from something such as calf skin? 


Shell Cordovan is a combination of two words that define the product we are dealing with. The 'shell' refers to the somewhat glassy, inside layer of the skin that is used. This layer only appears on the butt part of an older working horse, given the fact that the muscle fibres have gotten to be very dense, improving the durability of the material. Furthermore, the vegetable tanning process is entirely natural, eliminating the use of chrome salts, and treating your feet better on the long term. So despite the fact that even though a layman may not be able to tell it apart from young calf skin, the materials are so different that there is hardly any point in making a comparison between the two. 

                                

The second word, 'cordovan' is derived from the town of Cordoba in Spain. This is not where production of the material took place necessarily, but the name was actually derived from the colour the product was most dyed in. During the 1800s, when class division was still a thing, the upper class distignuished themselves by wearing their clothing in rich and lavish colours, such as the deep oxblood shade we see most Shell Cordovan products in. Another reason for the dark dye is the fact that the unevitable blemishes on the skin are easier to hide. Due to the many slaughterhouses in the region and bull fighting as a popular activity, the city of Cordoba was linked to this shade. Today, this is known as the Color #8.

                                  

The top tanning company in terms of Shell Cordovan is without any doubt Horween Leather Co. of Chicago, IL. Despite great demand, the shell layers that leave the premises of their workshop remain to be made with the utmost care and only from the most suitable skins. After leaving there, a big part of the hides only have a short trip in front of them; to Middleborough, MA, where Alden of New England put their craftsmen to work in order to create the beautifully classic and amazingly durable shoes they have always been known to produce. 


We carry a complete collection of shoes by Alden, in Shell Cordovan as well as calf suedes. Click here to view our Alden collection.

A selection of bags and small leather goods we carry in our accessories store are also manufactured from Shell Cordovan of Horween Leather Co. Click here to view these products. 

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