Hand crafted entirely in Northern Italy, Astorflex takes a responsible, transparent and sustainable approach to its laid-back footwear. Described by some as “the best desert boots in the world,” originally founded in the 1800s, the brand’s sixth generation factory follows a greener line under its latest owners, hemled by Fabio Travenzoli.
At the beginning of the 19th century, in Castel D'ario (Mantova) where the first shoe factory was set up, there were lots of small, family-run workshops that produced handmade footwear with leather uppers annd wooden soles. However, after the first world war, at the outset of industrialisation, the young Travenzoli brothers started to produce different types of footwear using the "Ideal" method (outer stitching along the edge of the sole).
Ensuring that each step of the production and sales process is as transparent as possible, the current incarnation of Astorflex features vegetable tanned leathers, water-based colors, non-solvent glues and natural rubber soles for a final product described as “100% ecological.” All of their models are designed and developed to a be comfortable: above all they are flexible, soft and quickly adapt to the user's feet. They use Italian leather from master tanneries in Tuscany for the uppers.
The lining and insoles are vegetable-tanned calf leather, obtained by soaking the leather in a mixture of water and powdered oak bark and mimosa, without using dies or colour finishes. This process makes the leather healthier, hypoallergenic and guarantees greater sweat absorption for dry, odourless feet. Most of their soles are in natural rubber consisting in coagulated latex from the rubber tree (hevea brasilianis). The various shoe parts are assembled using water-based adhesives.
la scarpa buona - the good shoe
