Alden’s 986 is a coin loafer that incorporates all the design elements of American footwear. In addition to the unique luster of cordovan, which is not found in ordinary loafers, Alden employs unique techniques for moccasins and soles. In this issue, we introduce the charm of Alden’s “986”!
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Alden is a top brand of American ready-to-wear shoes that has made a name for itself with the finest materials and craftsmanship
Alden is a long-established shoe brand founded in 1884 in Middleborough, Massachusetts, USA. Starting as a small manufacturer of custom-made boots and made-to-order men’s shoes, Alden grew into a well-known brand in the United States by working on Goodyear-welted shoes using high-quality materials. The company is also famous for revolutionizing shoe manufacturing by pioneering the field of orthopedic shoes while making traditional shoes. Today, Goodyear Welltested is the premier American shoe brand with overwhelming popularity not only in Japan but also internationally.
Alden continues to be recognized for its 200 skilled work processes. The brand’s Goodyear-welted shoes begin with a rigorous quality check of the leather used for the upper. Under natural light, the leather is carefully checked for scratches, bloodstains, and wrinkles. Only materials that have passed the thorough inspection conducted by the president himself are cut by craftsmen, and the process proceeds to the sewing of the upper leather and the hanging of the wooden pattern. Sewing is done with a sewing machine, which is of course operated by hand. The beautifully stitched work is done by the hands of craftsmen with many years of experience. Furthermore, tanker boots and coin loafers are sewn completely by hand. The highest level of skill is put into every step of the process to complete a pair of shoes.
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Alden’s “986” coin loafer has a lot of attention to detail that you won’t find in a typical coin loafer.
The 986 is a loafer model developed by Alden. It is generally called a coin loafer or penny loafer, and is also called a “Leisure Handsewn Moccasin” by Alden. The charm of the Leisure Handsewn Moccasin is that it uses the finest Horween shell cordovan as the upper material, and is studded throughout with special features not found in ordinary coin loafers, such as the all-around Goodyear manufacturing method and double soles. In particular, the U-shaped skin-stitched mocca is carefully handled by only two Alden craftsmen, and each stitch is carefully applied by hand, creating a beautiful pattern that sets them apart from the rest.
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What is the difference between Alden’s “986” and “99162” coin loafers?
In fact, “986” is the model number of the coin loafer developed in the U.S., the original home of the brand. The “986” is actually the model number of a coin loafer developed in the U.S.A., the original home of the loafer. Both the “986” and the “99162” use the same Vanlast. However, the “99162” has a slightly longer and higher instep. It is a matter of personal preference as to which one is better, but as of June 2018, the “986” has more distribution in the market, including online retailers.
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On the next page, we will introduce seven noteworthy features packed into the Alden “986”!
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