Founded in 1884 by Charles H. Alden of Middleborough, Massachusetts, the Alden Shoe Company was one of a number of footwear corporations to ride the boom of New England shoe manufacturing that coincided with technical advances owing to the industrial revolution, such as the Goodyear Welt, a mechanized sowing machine, and a mechanized shoe-lasting machine, all of which improved productivity to such a degree that New England became responsible for producing almost a third of the country’s shoes. Not only were these shoes made more quickly than those of traditional shoe makers, the product was also more consistent, and created with fewer errors. Demand soared as product made its way west and south, following the rail routes as the rails themselves followed the expanding country.
Alden flourished for fifty years, but operations were hit hard by the Great Depression, during which many shoe companies were shuttered. Though deeply affected by the market crash, Alden kept itself alive by moving business to two factories—one in Massachusetts, the other in Connecticut—and by the end of the decade business picked up. The army contracted Alden to produce Alden Boots for soldiers headed to war. After the war, with the markets beginning to open up to globalization, and with manufacturers looking ever farther afield for low-cost labor and materials that they could use to meet the rapacious demands of the US footwear market, Alden took a rarefied tack. Instead of cheapening their operating costs, and, by doing so, cheapening their product, the company chose instead to focus on producing the highest quality footwear they possibly could.
The most famous example of Alden’s commitment to quality craftsmanship is and Alden boot: the Alden 405, worn by Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in all four films. The timeless design of the 405 incorporates robust Horween leather with a neo-cork outsole and vegetable-tanned insole. The cork part of the outsole is layered beneath rubber and the layers are cemented together in a process called Goodyear Welting, which seals the outsole to the boot’s upper while preserving a springiness and give in the sole itself. Added to this layer of cork is a tempered steel shank, contoured and ribbed for extra strength. The shank is the backbone of the shoe, providing the proper support and shape required to supply comfort throughout the day.
At Sherman Brothers, we all sell a number of limited edition cordovan Alden boots, including a cap-toe boot with a commando sole, and a chukka. Cordovan is a type of leather developed from the hide of horses that is prized in shoemaking for its durability, and its lack of creasing. Cordovan remains smooth even after years of use. First discovered by the Visigoths way back in the 600s, cordovan retains the medieval characteristic of being an immensely difficult, time-consuming material to treat and process. The sort of thing that could only be developed in a society that didn’t have to move “fast” all the time. And the result, in footwear, is beautiful, and worth it.
Come shop Sherman Brothers for your Alden boots today.
