This is a half-dead American brand. Before Allen Edmonds and Alden became the benchmark of American dress shoes, they were called the four kings of American high-end dress shoes with Florsheim, Hanover and Footjoy.
Of these four kings, Hanover has long since closed down, Footjoy focuses on golf shoes, and Florsheim is shamelessly producing junk shoes, while Johnston & Murphy may be even junkier than Florsheim.
Their present situation is the foreshadowing of globalization in the late 1990s. A lot of production has moved to India, and the product line sank, and the price went down. brand value has been squandered.
To be fair, watching the demand for formal shoes decrease day by day, how these manufacturers choose sounds practical and sad.
During the production in the United States, there were three lines, the main line, that is, the entry level, then the Aristocraft line, and the top line was the Crown Aristocraft line.
At the end of the period, leather was not used in the insole of the main line, but some foam and even cardboard were used.
The top-grade Crown Aristocraft line has always used only leather imported from Europe and shell cordovan from Horween.
There are only the most traditional designs such as Cap Toe and Wingtip in style, and only black, brown and burgundy in color.
After moving to India for production, the entry-level Optima line was introduced, and suede was began to use. Although it is still Goodyear construction, the rubber insole was actually not suitable for sole changing.
Visit Johnston & Murphy official website today, and you can also see the Aristocraft line, but it is also produced in India, and most of the leather is local.
Shoes are not expensive, but the glory of history is gone.