AE Park Avenue - Major Heel Problems

[Quadcammer]



One little thing about your post. Yes the shoes are stamped Made in the USA, but the uppers are stiched in the Dominican Republic

oh?

Do you have any proof that their main line shoe uppers are stitched in the DR?

 

[MyOtherLife]

Yachting Man, I believe if you check with Allen Edmonds they will tell you that only certain of their hand-sewn loafer uppers are being done in the DR.
They also have now launched a new entry level line made there as well but all of their other mainline product is still made, to my knowledge, in the USA.

 

[Yachting Man]



oh?

Do you have any proof that their main line shoe uppers are stitched in the DR?

It was discussed a while back here:
http://www.styleforum.net/t/228354/are-all-allen-edmonds-uppers-made-in-the-dominican-republic

The post confirms certain shoe uppers are definitely stitched in the DR.
Quotes posted from select articles suggest that part of the main line uppers are also stitched in the DR.

Quote:
Currently the production of the shoe uppers are made in the Dominican Republic due to lack of shoe sewers in the United States. The uppers are imported to the factories in Lewiston, ME and Port Washington, WI where they are assembled with other shoe parts, thus allowing them to be considered "Made in the USA."

There are others in there. Interesting thread and opinions.

It's very likely that only some of the main line uppers are stitched in the DR. As a company that prides itself in being all-american. I have issues with this.

 

[senoreme]

I totally agree with you. I own about 15 pair of AE's and they do just fine. People give me compliments all of the time. They are fashionable and durable.

 

[essej]

The heels of mine have split from the sole, but haven't fallen off so I keep wearing them.

 

[glenjay]

I am one of the spoiled brats that Man of Lint refers to (although at 54 I no longer qualify for brat status, just spoiled).

I do own a few pair of AE shoes in my collection, and I find them to be a solid quality shoe, for the $300 price range. I would not however consider them a "high end dress shoe", because that would simply be a disservice to companies like Edward Green, John Lobb, Berluti, and so on.

I don't expect to get John Lobb quality for $300, but I can't afford 30 pairs of John Lobbs either (not and remain married), so I have various levels of quality shoe brands in my collection. I would not consider AE as low quality by any means, I think they have great quality. But, there is a general hierarchy to shoe brand quality, just as there is for most things.