Are all Allen Edmonds Uppers Made in the Dominican Republic?

deveandepot1 · Mar 1, 2011

Is it true or an urban myth? I have heard it from multiple people IRL and on the web.

Edit-FWIW it doesn't matter that much to me. They make great shoes at a fantastic price. Especially for seconds.

I would just find it strange that the All American shoe company makes the most important part of the shoe outside the US.

MyOtherLife · Mar 1, 2011

hohneokc · Mar 1, 2011

According the video on their website, the uppers are cut and sewn in Wisconsin. Can't verify if it is true as I have never been there. But they have a video showing it.

Chris

dasai · Mar 1, 2011

FAIK, their moccasin-style shoes are made in the Dominican Republic because the amount of handwork involved would make them too expensive for A-E's target audience. (From memory, it was mentioned in an interview with CEO Paul Grangaard a year or two ago.)

I don't think that extends to their other shoes, though.

deveandepot1 · Mar 1, 2011

Originally Posted by hohneokc

According the video on their website, the uppers are cut and sewn in Wisconsin. Can't verify if it is true as I have never been there. But they have a video showing it.

Chris

I guess that answers that.

deveandepot1 · Mar 1, 2011

I did a quick google search "Wisconsin Allen Edmonds Factory" and found info on the Port Washington Allen Edmonds store and little on the factory. I then did a "Port Washington Allen Edmonds Factory" search and ended up at the Allen Edmonds wikipedia page:

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."

deveandepot1 · Mar 1, 2011

I just found this from 2007

While Allen-Edmonds will save on labor costs in the Dominican Republic, it will face higher costs in both shipping raw materials to the Dominican Republic and then shipping the shoe uppers to Maine for final assembly, Stollenwerk said. As a result, he sees no overall cost savings in shifting the work offshore.

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee...30/story1.html

Hans Cater · Mar 1, 2011

Well I don't think where they make them really matters does it?

If the quality is maintain and the price good, then I am 100% satisfied.

deveandepot1 · Mar 1, 2011

Originally Posted by Hans Cater

Well I don't think where they make them really matters does it?

If the quality is maintain and the price good, then I am 100% satisfied.

Yeah, I agree 100%.
I do find it strange that they can sell them as "Made in USA".

upnorth · Mar 1, 2011

If u want a 100% made in usa shoe, look for AE seconds.

Don Carlos · Mar 1, 2011

Originally Posted by deveandepot1

Yeah, I agree 100%. I do find it strange that they can sell them as "Made in USA".
This is a common, probably even prevalent, but nevertheless deceptive practice in the apparel industry. For example, fashion-oriented Italian brands like Prada, Gucci, Armani, etc., are notorious for gathering and assembling most of their materials in China, then shipping the almost-finished items to Italy to put on the finishing touches -- thereby claiming the items were "Made in Italy."

DocHolliday · Mar 1, 2011

I was just asking about this in another thread. And yeah, it does matter to me. Partly because of issues of price, partly because I like to support American manufacturing. AE is one of the last quality American shoe companies, and I'd hate to see them go the way of so many other great American shoemakers.

Omega Man · Mar 1, 2011

+1. I would like to support local manufacturers when ever I can. Hope AE will not go down the drain like hmmm... Florsheim....

Jim Barns · Mar 1, 2011

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

I was just asking about this in another thread. And yeah, it does matter to me. Partly because of issues of price, partly because I like to support American manufacturing. AE is one of the last quality American shoe companies, and I'd hate to see them go the way of so many other great American shoemakers.

What do you mean by that? The fact that they send some of the work to Dominican Republic doesn't mean it is not an American company anymore is it?

nmprisons · Mar 1, 2011

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

I was just asking about this in another thread. And yeah, it does matter to me. Partly because of issues of price, partly because I like to support American manufacturing. AE is one of the last quality American shoe companies, and I'd hate to see them go the way of so many other great American shoemakers.

This is exactly how I feel. I would even pay the slight Alden premium for this reason, though all of my recent shoe purchases (except for Vass orders) have been deeply discounted via B&S or PSAs.

Are all Allen Edmonds Uppers Made in the Dominican Republic?

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