To create a beautiful shoe that moves like a sneaker, we needed to find expert artisans with mastery of traditional Italian shoe-making techniques. We found them—where else?—at a family-owned factory in Tuscany.

<h3>The Team</h3>
<p>We only work with factories that meet our standards for ethical manufacturing and fair labor conditions. This factory and its people were real standouts. They also have a deep commitment to traditional Italian craftsmanship, handling all of their leather quality control and cutting on site. From finding the best leather-finishing processes to spending the time getting the back tab piping just right, their 18-person team is responsible for creating the magic behind our Day Glove.</p>

The Materials

Comfort and quality were major points of emphasis when designing this shoe, so we worked with the factory team to source superior Tuscan leather and a rubber outsole that is both soft and supportive, with ample flexibility to move with your foot.

To get the outsole to fit perfectly to the upper part of the shoe, the team repeatedly re-worked the process until each pairing was even and clean. To ensure sharp, crisp cuts for the insole perforations, they did it by hand—the old-fashioned way, with a mallet and an awl-like tool.

Perfecting the leather was also key. Bright and light-colored shoes often have a finish that looks as if it’s been painted on—that's no good. This leather is tanned and dyed at a partner tannery in Tuscany, achieving a natural finish to match its natural feel. The factory then lightly stamps it with a pebble texture before tumbling it in a large drum to accentuate the textured look and give it an extra-supple feel. The finished leather not only holds color brilliantly, but it’s also strong enough to be worn as an unlined shoe. Plus, it’s smooth, super soft, and pliable enough to mold to fit your foot like, well, a glove.


The Town

East of Pisa and west of Florence sits Santa Maria a Monte. Atop one of the many rolling Tuscan hills, this comune (the Italian equivalent of a village) dates back to at least the 13th century. Winding arcs of side streets are full of cafes, and the view from the hill over lush countryside and tiled roofs is not to be missed. Suffice it to say that we’re happy to visit this factory as often as we can.