Trends come and go like seasons. When it comes to men’s footwear, the sneaker has reigned supreme for the last decade, infiltrating even the luxury brands, which by now have all released their own luxury-priced version of the style that was once relegated to workouts, mowing the lawn and flipping burgers.
And while sneakers will always have places in shoe closets, their collective chokehold on men’s fashion has begun to loosen. The current moment has even been described as a “post-sneaker world,” a phrase coined by James Harris and Lawrence Schlossman of the influential Throwing Fits podcast.
This doesn’t mean men are throwing out their prized Jordan 1 retros, but rather they have expanded their horizons: the hottest shoe over the past few years has arguably been the penny loafer, thanks to emerging brands like Aimé Leon Dore, which is known for pairing more formal footwear with casual outfits.
In other words, the spotlight is back on classic men’s footwear, which means it’s also on the Sanchez family.
Their shop, Custom Shoes by Zapato Sanchez, which has remained in West Edmonton Mall since it opened in 1985, has offered premium handcrafted leather shoes since 2017, when it was renamed from Rucallen Shoe Repair to match its shift in focus from shoe repair to shoemaking.
Now led by third-generation shoemaker Rodrigo and his father Julio, the store’s founder, the family-led enterprise is a beacon of tradition and artistry in an increasingly disposable world. Plus, they make incredibly comfortable shoes, right here in Edmonton.
“Your feet thank you,” says Julio of their shoes, which include the highest-quality materials sourced from their native Chile (as well as Italy, Argentina and Mexico), and high-end features like Blake stitching, a “whole-unit” technique that doesn’t rely on glue. They also produce breathable, flexible soles that can be replaced once they wear out, lengthening the lifespan of a shoe dramatically. “With runners, it’s all products from oil,” continues Julio. “What you’re really doing is wrapping your feet in a plastic bag. Our shoes are like a second skin.”
Rather than bend to the whims of industry trends, Rodrigo, who studied pattern making at the illustrious Arsutoria School in Milan, Italy, is devoted to traditional styles imbued with a contemporary Italian flair.
“I think people are starting to appreciate more authentic designs and quality over quantity,” says Rodrigo of the renewed interest in classic men’s footwear. “We went through a crazy period of fast fashion, but I think that’s plateauing. It’s also economical — if you can buy something that will last most of your lifetime, it makes sense to invest in that.”
Since 2020, Rodrigo has also hosted shoemaking classes, taking students through the steps of the shoemaking process, and leaving them with pairs of shoes they helped create.
“The demand for the classes has been growing steadily since we started offering them,” says Rodrigo. “I think there’s an appreciation for creating things in Edmonton, even if it hasn’t been part of our culture historically. We’ve had multiple students take the course several times, and I’ve become good friends with many of them.
“We’re just glad we can help create a sense of community. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
This article appears in the October 2024 issue of Edify
