Are these RL loafers genuinely welted or cemented with a decorative welt?
https://www.ralphlauren.co.uk/en/alston-leather-penny-loafer-3616535660731.html
The website describes them as a "leather welt".
The salesman in the shop wasn't sure.
ChatGPT surmises they are cemented with a decorative welt.
They were priced below what I would expect to pay for genuine Goodyear welted shoes.
Just though I would check here for clarification.
22 Replies
Hi @RedWhisky! For better answers, include:
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why does it matter. just buy any loafer from any other actual shoe company at that price.
Blake stitched
It doesn’t matter tho
why would the computer know
Don't quite understand sorry, Goodyear welted loafers would usually cost a lot more than that.
Why doesn't it matter?
my point is if you're going to be picky enough to want gyw loafers then you ought to be discerning enough to not make a purchase from a brand that isnt even claiming to gyw
Ah ok got you. I was just confused by the term "leather welt" which I hadn't come across before.
Just buy shoes you like and that fit well. The construction method matters less than those things
Ah ok. I have always tended to buy gyw shoes because they can be re-soled and I like buying things that last. That's why I'm interested to know.
Have you had any of the shoes resoled?
Most folks I come across that care about this feature haven’t actually resoled any of the shoes
You can also do lots of repairs to shoes that aren’t gyw. Blake for example is also repairable
Yes, many pairs. Might be worth noting I'm probably a good bit older than the average poster here so might be a generational thing. And yeah I also like Blake stitched shoes. I'm just a bit adverse to cemented shoes which in my experience tend to fall apart quickly.
Carrion’s advice above holds true then. I’d stick to buying shoes from shoe companies. PRL shoes have been made by many different companies over the years but I think these are standard white label made in Portugal/spain/italy Blake stitched loafers
They are made in China. I don't think they are even Blake stitched, I think they are most likely cemented, but I wondered if anyone here could confirm for sure. What makes you think they are Blake stitched?
Does anyone even make GYW/ Blake stitched shoes in China?
Yeah plenty. There’s tons of bespoke makers too
AI doesn’t know shit about those shoes
They have real stitching on the bottom that matches every pair of Blake stitched shoes I’ve ever seen. They could be cemented tho. Only true way to know would be to cut them open
I know there are Chinese bespoke shoemakers. I don't think I've ever seen mass-produced Chinese shoes with GYW though. But I know that doesn't mean they don't exist.
Grant stone
Oh yeah. One reason AI gave me for doubting they are GYW, though, was that they aren't labelled as such on the PRL website. It's a selling point (as with Grant Stone), so if they are, it's usually noted. Ditto Blake stitched, I think.
J crew sells tons of gyw shoes including Alden’s and they aren’t labeled as GYW.
This is why carrion said to stick with shoe brands.
AI doesn’t know shit from dick. Stop using it for dumb stuff
https://www.jcrew.com/p/mens/categories/shoes/boots/aldenreg-for-jcrew-405-indy-boots-in-kudu-leather/F6191?display=standard&fit=Classic&color_name=brown&colorProductCode=F6191
J.Crew
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Yeah, I normally exclusively buy shoes from shoe brands, normally English makers like C&J and Cheaney. I just bought these because the stitching on the outsole made me think maybe they are GYW or Blake stitched. I've seen plenty of shoes with a fake welt before but from what I remember they don't have stitching on the outsole.
They’re definitely not gyw bc the sole is a single ply of leather/material. Gyw requires the sole and the welt to be attached via a rapid stitch so it will always be two layers
Gyw can also have a channeled sole and usually you have the same SPI on the welt and the sole stitch if it’s visible (or fairly close)
The sole is rubber btw
Less common but still doable afaik