Warning: Pic heavy
Hope you don't mind me asking, and no offence to all, what do you actually like about Vass, I always wondered what are the main reasons why people like Vass, I do like them to a certain extend that I feel I should have one, which reminds me I need to get one soon!But I would like to know what about Vass does people like especially in Singapore.
Vass is handwelted, the oldest and foremost method of of shoemaking.
Goodyear welting while good, is still a factory line adaptation of traditional hand methods like handwelting and with industrialisation (and lower prices) comes compromises. For Goodyear, the compromise is a cork paste layer in lieu of a leather midsole (Problems: decay/pressure wells) and the use of glued fabric (gemming) as the holdfast. (Problems: Critical part of shoe held together by glue and cloth)
Thus while often regarded as the penultimate method of construction, there has also been abit of drama on AAAC and other foreign forums with regards to the use of glue and fabric at a critical connection in our "expensive" shoes. This is as compared to Handwelt or Blake rapid where every layer is solidly joined by a leather to leather connection and stitches. Arguably it can be said that there are also other methods considered "better" such as Veldts or the previously mentioned Blake Rapid (use of a leather midsole but stitching aloft in insole).
Handwelting( Hand channeled holdfast from thick leather midsole)
*** Virtually flat midsole to outsole surface, no need for cork filling***
Goodyear (glued fabric gemming in place of holdfast)
***note the structural gap from the gemming that has to be filled with cork paste***
Blake Rapid (Leather midsole but stitching may be aloft in sock liner)
***still waterproof like Goodyear due to stitch placement + slim welt***
