Why are Leather Shoes so Expensive?

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The retail price of expensive leather shoes and other finished leather products is dependent on their associated variable and fixed costs which manufacturers must bear during different production stages.

The production costs of shoes and other fashion leather products include salaries of skilled labor, utility charges, periodic banks' loan payments, administrative costs, expenses on latest machines, equipment, tools, requisite technology, transportation, and trading.

In addition to above explained factors, manufacturers incur expenditures on the procurement of relevant raw materials i.e., superior quality hides, skins, tannin compounds, adhesives, special glues, necessary tanning chemicals, and others.

Manufacturers of leather shoes bear lot of fluctuating costs during manufacturing stages, so, final goods such as branded Oxford shoes, boots, Derby shoes, sandals, Boat Shoes, slippers, Horsebit shoes, and varieties of accessories tend to become expensive after reaching at retail level.

Costly Goodyear Welted Method

It is important to mention here that those shoes which are constructed on Goodyear Welted method are more sturdy, long-lasting, timeless, elegant, flexible, and costly than shoes which are made from other methods, so, under Goodyear Welted method, the sole is strongly joined with upper with the support of cork to make shoes comfortable for walking, thus, shoes resist from penetration of water up to a great extent.

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Expensive Raw Materials

Leather is an animal sourced tough, biodegradable, hypoallergenic, flexible, breathable, and luxurious natural fabric, and raw materials of it i.e., quality hides and skins are obtained from different breeds of animal namely cows, buffaloes, bovines, sheep, goats, deer, and other costly exotic hides and skins of animals.

The hides and skins of animals are carefully preserved, cleansed, tanned, and processed from different time-consuming stages up to finished leather, so, all these stages entail heavy production costs, so, that is why shoes made of leather are expensive, high-end fashion goods, long-lasting, durable, sturdy, versatile, breathable, comfortable, convenient, and long-term money investment choice for buyers because they continue to wear them for extended period!

Machinery, Equipment, and Technology

To keep pair of leather shoes standardized, free of defects, superbly finished, and showing lasting high quality, shoe manufacturing companies invest huge funds in the installation of latest machinery, equipment, and technology at factories which increase production costs of finished leather shoes.

Brand Speaks Louder

There are few internationally recognized brands in leather shoemaking which carry supreme reliability, quality assurance, high-end products, wider global acceptability because their shoes are so popular, comfortable, longer lasting, timeless, versatile, and robust, so, that is what their shoes command high retail prices all over the world.

Those varieties of leather shoes which are backed by the reputable brand names in the commercial markets include Gucci, Johnston & Murphy, Prada, Timberland, Cole Hann, Berluti, Crockett Jones, and others, so, their shoes are so expensive at retail levels.

To buy a quality pair of branded leather shoes is an excellent transaction which saves precious money and valuable time of customer, so, relieving him or her from repeat purchasing ordeals and deep level of frustration in future. 

The high retail price paid to buy leather shoes becomes cheap in the long run since customer continues to wear shoes for the longest span of time, so, reputable name of brand and quality speak louder!

Manufacturing Costs

It is a fact that high quality shoes are constructed from cowhide leather which is expensive but long-lasting, strong, and durable material for shoemaking. 

The shoes made from leather are long-lasting, sturdy, timeless, flexible, breathable, stylish, attractive, versatile, eye-catching; manifest smooth upper surface, impressive appearance, nice finishing, contain soft lining, cushioned footbed, comfortable midsole, strong outer soles, sturdy backstay, stacked heels, and more notably, luxurious leather shoes are strongly welted and heavily stitched from supreme quality industrial threads, so, that is why leather shoes command high retail prices with the associated renowned brand names worldwide.

Sturdiest Leather Shoes

Shoes constructed from full grain leather are more luxurious, sturdy, durable, long-lasting, elegant, breathable, and timeless than shoes which are made from other leather types such as top grain sanded leather, genuine, suede finished fabric, bonded, and faux leather.

Full grain leather is obtained from the uppermost layers of interlinked fibers of hides that is found just below the hairs of animals, so, goods and shoes made of it have lasting durability, longevity, flexibility, natural breathability, and high tensile strength.

Full grain leather develops an attractive and beautiful patina with aging and manifests natural wrinkles, scars, and imperfections on the hides and skins of animals which make them more eye-catching.

Bespoke Shoes

Those shoe lovers who want to appear stylish, fashionista, noticeable, graceful, and prominent in their social circles, tend to order for bespoke shoes because these provide them with personal satisfaction, comfort, convenience, elegance, and sense of exclusivity, so, such customers pay extra premium for their pair of shoes which match with their personality type.

Handmade Leather Shoes

Handmade leather shoes are more expensive, strong, durable, longer lasting, elegant, timeless, stylish, and long-term money investment options for men, women, and all fashionistas because they continue to wear them for protracted time period.

Handcrafted shoes involve extraordinary dexterity of labor, time, efforts, manual cuttings, welting, stitching, finishing, so, that is what such kinds of shoes are unique, lasting, strong, and high-priced. 

Attributes of Long-Lasting 

Shoes made from leather material are durable, sturdy, elegant, timeless, fashion appealing, cute, and more importantly these last longer.

Shoes made of synthetic materials and faux leather are inferior in quality, do not last longer, manifest cracks, dullness, fading, and peelings after short period of wearing while shoes made from leather are long-lasting, do not show cracks, dullness, fading, and scratches even after passing of several years, so, that is why leather shoes command high prices at retail level.

Breathability

Shoes constructed from leather are breathable which allow air, heavy sweating, and vapors to pass through leather walls which keep feet of people cool, dry, ventilated, and protect them from skin irritation, itching, allergies, and discomfort, so, that is what pair of leather shoes are more expensive than shoes made of synthetic materials.

Can Leather Shoes Last Forever?

The condition of forever lasting for any made-made goods is totally impossible, so, everything has limited useful time span but when you compare leather shoes with the shoes made of synthetic materials and faux leather then it is quite obvious that welted leather shoes last longer, say from 10 to 15 years or more, provided these are regularly cared with soft brush, quality cream, conditioner, innovator, and balm.

Hope you have enjoyed this post! 😊