GOODYEAR CONSTRUCTION
The construction technique of the Goodyear welt shoe dates back to 1869, when Charles Goodyear Jr. invented the machine used for this process. This particular technique is generally considered the best in terms of comfort and durability as well as ease of repair. The Goodyear method is highly regarded in the high-end shoe market because it allows shoes to be:
relatively waterproof (the way the sole is connected to the welt prevents water from reaching the inside of the shoe),
extremely comfortable after several uses (thanks to its cork filling, which is known to create a mold of the foot providing an almost customized footbed), and
easily repairable in terms of replacing the sole, which gives the shoe a rather long life that can reach decades if the upper is properly cared for.