Goodyear Welt Construction, the invention of the welt stitcher by Charles Goodyear, Jr., is the construction to stitch both the stitched uppers and lining and sole, and this construction of footwear gives you a better fit of your foot as you wear it. It also provides less weariness in spite of long use, and easy repairing of the sole. Another benefit of a dress shoe which is made using the Goodyear welt construction is that the system allows for a constant flow of air to flow through the shoe, which keeps the shoes ventilated, durable and strong.
Goodyear welted shoes are manufactured by a process invented over three hundred years ago. Later, in the nineteenth century, machinery was developed to help the shoemaker and modern versions of those machines are used to this day. There are up to 200 highly skilled stages in the making of a pair of Goodyear welted shoes and the craftsmen take many years to learn their skills.
Goodyear welted footwear acquires its name from the long strip of material called a "welt" which is sewn to the upper and insole of the shoe. The outsole - generally referred to as simply the sole - is attached separately to the welt. This extra part of the contruction gives Goodyear welted shoes their strength, flexibility and comfort.
The benefits of Goodyear welted footwear include:
- Exceptional Comfort - The cavity created by the inseam between the inner and outer sole is filled with a flexible compound (CORK) that quickly moulds to the shape of the wearer's feet.
- Easy to Repair - As long as the uppers remain sound, it is straightforward to re-sole a pair of worn welted boots or shoes by sewing new ones to the existing welts, to give them a life expectancy of 20 years or more. This can be done either by a competent repairer or by having the shoes rebuilt by the factory that made them.
- Insulation - The sandwiched compound between inner and outer soles provides thermal insulation and protection from uneven surfaces for added comfort.
- Flexibility - The Goodyear welted construction is highly adaptable to almost every style of shoe, for every walk of life, which enables shoe makers to quickly respond to trends in both dressy and young fashions.
- Strength - Comfort combines with durability in Goodyear welted footwear to provide incomparable strength, outstanding performance and enhanced shape
Goodyear Welt is chosen for most of the famous high quality and brand-name footwear.