Hi Functional Footwear Friends,
I wanted to check in and give you all an update on the shoe production and time line on availability. See below for delivery details.
I recently returned from a trip down to El Salvador. It was quite an adventure. I had a great time meeting everyone, working in the factory and planning for the future.
While in El Salvador, I toured the factory and saw each stage of the Turriff Footwear production process. I was able to observe the skilled artisans at work on the production line and gained a comprehensive understanding of the factory's capabilities.
I also had the opportunity to venture into the country's interior to see the factory's own tannery and rubber plant.
Overall, I was thoroughly impressed by their organization, attention to detail, and dedication to quality control. I was also pleased to discover that they closely follow SATRA Footwear guidelines—something they hadn't advertised during the development process. SATRA is an independent research and testing organization which provides expertise and test methods for footwear quality, performance, and safety. These guidelines ensure high product standards and a safe, ethical work environment for the shoemakers. Not only do they follow SATRA, but Duramas is also in the process of getting their environmental certifications for all their manufacturing facilities, which is also important to Turriff Footwear.
Despite lacking brand recognition, their in-house tannery and rubber products offer impressive quality and variety. Although we do use their EVA foam for the 6mm cushion midsole, I look forward to testing more of their in-house materials in future footwear development (Watch this space for news).
One exciting part of my tannery visit was having their leather development team showcase their own version of “Waxy Commander” leather and them demonstrating how varying the amount of wax in the finishing process could alter its appearance.
In the factory, I worked on upcoming designs with their development team and collaborated on refining the finishing processes. They even let me jump on a few machines to achieve the exact edge finish I wanted.
While exploring the factory stock rooms I discovered a minimal memory foam cushion intended for sock-liner/ insert cushion. I decided to incorporate it into this production run. This will enhance the shoe's comfort in the heel which is often a sensitive area for people. I was previously hesitant to add a heel cushion because all previous samples I saw were excessively thick and spongy. This minimal cushion will also ensure you don't feel the Blake stitch and ensure it does not bother your heel with wear, something I noticed while wearing my non-cushioned sock-liner sample shoes.
The trade off with these enhancements is they resulted in a slight delay. Rather than a factory finish date of January 16th, it was pushed to January 28th (tomorrow!). As a result the full launch of Turriff Functional Footwear and shipping of orders is now set to begin mid-February once the shoes arrive in Canada and make it through customs.
I'm confident the wait will be worth it, and I appreciate your patience and support.
I want to stress that this was not the factory delaying the order, but my decision, with the intention of creating the best overall footwear possible.
I'm so excited for you to receive these shoes and can't wait to hear what you think!
Please reach out if you have any questions. I am happy to help in anyway that I can!
Remember If you have any sizing questions please don’t hesitate to ask and I will be happy to help you find the right fit.
Email me: andrew@turriffshoes.com
Check out the website to see all the specs and details.
Check out the instagram for shoe photos and styling.
Have a look back through our substack posts to follow along with the design and development process.
Be one of the first 150 to order and receive a handmade, gold foil embossed Turriff leather key fob, crafted in collaboration with Phee's Original Goods.
Free your feet and get yourself outside!
Have a great day!
Andrew
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