Love at first sight is the best way to describe my introduction to Grant Stone. This emerging company crafts, Goodyear-welted shoes made with quality leather sourced from respected tanneries in the USA and Europe. When I first heard that Grant Stone shoes were manufactured in Xiamen, China I was honestly sceptical. As many of us know the “Made in China” mark carries a slight stigma and has been associated with products made with lower quality materials or less attention to detail. This could not be farther from the truth when discussing the shoes built by Grant Stone.

Unboxing

What’s inside?

• One shoe for each foot
• Extra laces
• Two truly nice shoe bags with wooden bead ties
• One polished metal shoe horn with bottle opener

Construction

The foundation of a building is what ensures that a building will stay standing for a long time. The foundation of a pair of shoes is equally as important for the longevity of the shoes. Grant Stone builds their shoes with a Goodyear-welt which in short means that many layers of materials combined with the best stitching (lockstitching) guarantees the longest life possible for your shoes. Every layer is attached to the backbone of the shoe, the insole. Goodyear-welting is one of the oldest, most time-consuming way to craft shoes, but creates the most durable products.

Grant Stone uses a veg-tan leather insole, welt, midsole, outsole, a steel shank and cork filler to create the platform for the shoes. If you have been with my blog for a while you have heard me talk about how veg-tanning is the best way to tan leather. This natural process brings the leather to life in a way that chemical dyes simply cannot. (More on veg-tanned leather in my Ruitertassen bag review) The cork filler and leather insole adapt to your foot over time to create a shoe that is personally formed.

The upper of the shoe is constructed with quality leather which is infused with liqueurs and oils in the “hot stuffing” process. This particular pair of shoes has the natural-edge finish which allows me to wear the shoes in both a dress and a more casual manner. This was definitely a selling point for me on this specific color as I bridge the gap between dress and elevated casual often.

Styling

The brogue work on the shoe is gorgeous and attracted me immediately. The overall look of the shoes compliments both a suit and a pair of jeans without seeming out-of-place. I paired them with a pair of selvedge denim for a day around town and they instantly became the center piece to my outfit. The last that Grant Stone uses is formed slightly larger than your typical shoes last so I was recommended to size a half-size down. This advice put me spot on in the pair of shoes that I needed!

Final Thoughts

I have not worn these shoes long enough to give you an honest wear test, but I have worn them enough to get the soles scuffed and create some character throughout the upper. My observation of the wears that I have put them through leads me to believe that these shoes will take the every day beating in stride and last me for years to come.

The price point on these shoes is right around $300 which is almost 50% less than the American made shoe legends, Alden. With that being said you may have to sit down and consider if the name and heritage alone is worth the cash to you. The quality of Grant Stones work seperates itself from some of these other big brands and gives them the ability to stand on their own. I am always looking for brands who are doing something special, something unique and something that pushes against the current. Wyatt the director of Grant Stone is doing just that. He is making quality shoes that rival the biggest American companies and charging a fraction of the cost.

Head over to Grant Stone and check out all of their options!