The Astorflex Brand – All You Need To Know

We recently had the pleasure of adding esteemed Astorflex brand to our footwear repertoire. Packed full of heritage history delights and sitting proudly toward the upper echelons of the production quality scale, Astorflex not only offers up an all-encompassing array of sturdy shoes but have been dubbed by many as having, ‘the best desert boots in the world.’ With such bold claims flying around and a newly cultivated arsenal of swish suede stompers at our disposal, we thought it only right to showcase the brand in all its storied glory.

History of Astorflex

When it comes to rich historical relevance and masterful levels of craftsmanship few do it better than Astorflex. Originating way back in the 19^th century, and having since been passed down from generation to generation, the company started its humble beginnings specialising in the making of wooden clogs. Years later the patrimonial brand established their first factory in the Italian town of Mantova amongst a selection of other small family run business’, quickly making a name for themselves when it came to producing high-quality handmade leather shoes bolstered with wooden solos.

Fast forward to the ‘80s and following both industrialisation and the rise in demand for a more diverse selection of footwear many manufacturers began experimenting with different ways in which shoes could be put together, with many trying their hand at what was dubbed the ‘ideal method’. Bringing with it a sleek modern look and sturdy build, this new technique utilised external stitching to the outer edge of the sole to connect the upper and lower portions of the shoe.

Naturally, the Astorflex brand couldn’t help but try their hand at this new approach and since 1984 it has been their go-to method of construction, fitting seamlessly into their core values of quality, wearability and flexibility which sit central to their ethos.

 

Craftsmanship

From the outset Astorflex has always placed emphasis on the calibre of their products, shaping their footwear around a stringent set of foundational blocks that pay close attention to elements such as detailing, materials and above all else comfort. With the main body of their offering comprising of timeless shapes such as deserts boots / Chelsea boots, a variety of different fabrics employed and constant innovation across now 6 generations it’s easy to see why they have become a mainstay in the men’s footwear landscape.

Take for example their Greenflex Boots or Bitflex Boots. Made using the finest locally sourced Tuscan suede and leather lined, the Greenflex keep traditional features such as a two-hole lacing system intact whilst the Bitflex equips both an elasticated side panelling and heel pull tab for easy application. Below both pairs sit atop a classic crepe sole that moulds to the foot with every wear, ensuring additional cushioning and a signature finish.

 

Sustainability

Currently operating under the watchful gaze of great, great-grandson Fabio Travenzoli, the brand has recently made steps toward becoming more sustainable in their approach, allowing for greater transparency at every stage of the business and placing additional significance on developing an eco-conscious methodology.

Using strictly Italian sourced components, water-based adhesives, natural rubber and vegetable dyeing techniques, that not only omit dyes and artificial colour finishes but makes the finished product healthier and more absorbent, to create something 100% ecological, Astorflex continue to look ahead, researching new ways to adapt their responsibly charged mantra.

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