Alden

The shoe company, started in 1884, is believed to be New England's last original shoe and boot maker - the sole survivor in a region that once was dotted with shoe and boot factories. Only one other original company is still around, and it makes golf shoes. As it has bucked the trend, Alden has made its mark on American fashion. The iconic men's tassel moccasin ("tassel moc," in Alden speak) is among its enduring creations, widely copied today. The company specializes in classically styled men's boots and dress shoes. Most of the oxfords, wingtips, and loafers in its catalogs have remained unchanged for decades. Alden shoes are manufactured exclusively in Middleborough, inside a vast brick-and-steel building off Interstate 495. Inside, the factory spans 70,000 square feet, and the whirring sound of sewing machines and the heady aroma of leather fill the air. Here, approximately 100 employees produce thousands of shoes for high-end retailers from Manhattan to San Francisco, and fill orders across the globe for customers from Tokyo to Milan. Have a closer look at our Alden sellection here