Made-to-Measure Brand Stoffa Adds Footwear to the Mix
Stòffa, a made-to-measure brand beloved by menswear enthusiasts, is adding footwear to its mix for the first time.
According to the company, the inaugural collection is inspired by folk shoes that were closely wrapped around the foot and designed to be worn in natural conditions. Tull Price, a 20-year veteran of the shoe industry, worked closely with Stòffa to bring the line to life, updating the ancient reference for modern use.
The result is a collection consisting of three styles – the Slipper, the Open Lace and the Trainer. Each style is available in three colorways including taupe suede, chocolate suede and black suede. Retail prices range between $600 and $700.
Sourced from one of the oldest tanneries in Italy, all the leathers used are vegetable-tanned cowhides selected for their performance and feel on the skin. Stòffa noted that the rawhides used are a by-product of the food industry, sourced from European farms which comply with EU animal welfare legislation. Each is tanned using natural, plant-based tannins—renewable resources valued for their antioxidant, antibiotic and antibacterial properties—and dyed using a combination of bark and plant leaf extracts.
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As for the soles, each shoe features an exclusive Lactae Hevea sole. This natural latex sole is made from the milk of the Cao Su tree, first used underfoot by Mayan Indians over eight hundred years ago. The material results in a durable sole that provides natural cushion, the company said.
The materials are then sent to fourth-generation shoemakers in Salerno, Italy that specialize in soft constructions like hand-sewn moccasins to complete the shoes. Stòffa noted that each shoe is crafted in such a way that its insoles and outsoles can be easily replaced by a cobbler when worn out. Additional insoles and outsoles are available for purchase directly through Stòffa’s shops.
Founded in 2014 by friends Agyesh Madan and Nick Ragosta, Stòffa started as a small collection of rollable felt hats and knit neckwear and has since expanded into a full made-to-measure clothing and accessories brand that operates inside a multi-level SoHo showroom at 54 Mercer St.
According to Ragosta, the brand will continue to evolve its new footwear program over time, with a new boot style set to drop later this fall.
