Our leather comes from a Portuguese tannery that holds a Leather Working Group (LWG) Gold certification. All our leather is a byproduct of the food industry, and we use the latest technology to maximize the use of each hide during the cutting phase. 

Our full-grain leather will stretch slightly with wear and shape to your feet. The cork in our shoe welts and CPL-01™ insoles will also naturally adapt to your feet with wear. 

Yes. Because our shoes are Goodyear-welted, they can be easily resoled by your local cobbler. 

In Goodyear-welted shoes, the upper part of the shoe is stitched to a strip of leather (the welt), which is then stitched to the sole, creating a gap between the upper and the sole. Other shoe construction methods glue the sole directly to the shoe, making resoling difficult without affecting the integrity of the shoe.

If you are in the market for a good cobbler, check out Vibram®’s shoe repair locater here. 

Goodyear-welting is widely regarded as the gold standard in high-quality shoe construction. The process involves stitching a strip of leather, known as the welt, around the shoe's edge, creating a comfortable and durable bond between the shoe's upper and sole. Unlike shoes where the upper and sole are glued together, Goodyear-welted shoes can be easily resoled as needed with wear.

Invented in 1869 by Charles Goodyear Jr., son of vulcanized rubber inventor Charles Goodyear, the Goodyear welt remains renowned for its remarkable durability, weather resistance, and longevity. Manufacturing a Goodyear-welt, however, is difficult and requires the expertise of skilled artisans. We are fortunate to work with such craftsmen at our partner factory in Portugal, where they have specialized in Goodyear-welting for over 50 years.

We rely on Vibram® outsoles for their quality, comfort, shock absorption, and grip. Founded in 1937 by Italian mountaineer Vitale Bramani, who identified the need for safer tread after the death of six of his friends during an expedition in the Alps, Vibram® first pulled inspiration from car tires. Bramani created a rubber lug sole dubbed the  “Carramato”—Italian for “tank tread”—a marked departure from the leather outsoles of the time. 

While you might not be climbing any mountains in your Canal Footwear, we believe your everyday shoes deserve the best of the best. That’s why we’ve chosen to work with Vibram®, an industry leader in innovation and performance. We use their lightweight Vibram® Vi-Lite series. 

CPL-01™ is named after the three layers that make up Canal Footwear’s proprietary insoles: Cork, Poron® foam, and Leather. Learn more about our comfortable and supportive insoles here.

Yes, our custom-made shoe lasts are specifically designed to accommodate removable insoles. Since our CPL-01™ insoles are removable, you can easily replace them with your own orthotics if you prefer. Unlike glued-in insoles that require you to size up to fit your inserts, Canal Footwear allows you to order your true size. This ensures a proper fit without compromising the shoe’s width, length or height.

Don’t have custom orthotics but aren’t sure about our CPL-01™ insoles? You can read more about our shoes and insoles here.

Take a look at our detailed size guide here. If you have any further questions, please reach out to us at hello@canalfootwear.com.

View our detailed care guide here.

Our classic styles will remain in stock. Please visit the product page and join the waitlist.