So fucking cross - £45 Clarks shoes not even fucking leather???????

[inlovewithhubby]

As above. Two pairs bought today for 4 and 6 year old. Bought patent for first time ever as my last child starts school and I caved. Just took the stickers out and discovered to my horror they aren't even leather?? How on earth can they justify that cost for man made fibre shoes? I am going to kick off massively, I got them in John Lewis so I'm starting there, but does anyone know how they manage it?

Man made fibre makes feet sweat. Leather also 'gives' in a way man made fibre doesn't. It's also cheap and I could have got a pair of plastic shoes off the shelf for about £7 from any supermarket. I thought I was paying for quality but I'm clearly not.

Interestingly there is a confusing sign on the labels if both pairs which resembles the leather sign, but they then clearly state that they are man made fibre. Im initially going after misrepresentation but i didn't even look at the signs - I just presumed that a 40 plus quid pair of Clarks shoes would be leather. AI really being U for having that expectation?

Op, can't you just link the style of shoe? Please? then we can all stop wasting our time wondering if you are right or not!

Just paid £52 for one of my dc's school shoes today and they are absolutely bog standard/nothing special. Shoes just are expensive (fuckers).

OP, leather is not a by product of the meat industry.

It is a seperate industry that exists only for the production of goods such as shoes, bags etc.

I am not attacking you. I have bought and used countless leather items over the years and I always believed to be superior to 'plastic' substitutes.

I have since learned the true cost.

Yes but even in Clarkes certain styles won't fit even if it's the measured width.

Independent shoe shops that stock all the brands use the measurement as a guide and will recommend the best styles that fit.

When you are on a budget this is helpful information.

I've not deformed my children's feet or anyone else's.

Looking on Clarkes website their entire range of school shoes over £30 are leather, except for only one pair of trainer type shoes at £34. The only pair at £45 are patent brogues which are coated (obviously) leather.

Patent leather wears better than real leather in kids shoes ( find Clarke's and Startrite both generally very poor for scuffing).

Return them ASAP.
Brantano do the same range of Clarks shoes two pounds cheaper and they are doing a £10 off any pair of shoes over £30.
I did this last Tuesday. You might be able to get an alternative in leather for £12 less.

GeneralBobbit

There is no such thing as ethical, environmentally friendly leather.

It cannot exist.

Animal agriculture is one of the most severe causes of climate change.

You've raised some interesting points wannabe, do you know of a company which sells higher welfare leather?
I would pay more for higher welfare shoes, as like the OP I don't want to put growing feet in plastic - but I don't know where I would start to look for such a company?

Ok, try more ethical then please?

Some pointers please

For the people that aren't vegan ( though I do appreciate vegan ism is the most ethical way to live)

Brantano do the same Clarks shoes (they name them differently, but the Clarks box is identical to main shop as I checked) and have all the different width. Once I realise I'd paid an extra £12 for the privilege of shopping in their main shop, I returned them.

Leather shoes are crap. Only once made the mistake of buying dd a pair of leather school shoes, from John Lewis. They fell apart before 1/2 term.

Can you show us the shoes op? or link to the shoes?

I just looked on Clarkes website and cannot see a manmade shoe for £45. Their patent is listed as coated leather. Which might be why it is listed differently.

TBH though I bought my daughter patent clarkes shoes once and her feet really sweated in them so haven't done so since. She was happy with the patent though I must say! It was only me who had the gripes.

I'd be interested to know if there was anywhere that sold decent non leather alternatives to clarks shoes though…as a vegan I'm not that happy with it so if anyone has other suggestions...

I don't know how to post the link? I bought them in store. I could photo shoe and label but then no idea how to upload?

Agree that if there were more ethical leather outfitters I'd be delighted to give them my £40 a pop. I buy only free range meat etc, so I do appreciate that there are ethics issues in the animal trade. But I wouldn't put my kids growing feet in anything but leather, which moulds to their feet and stretches into shape over time. As far as I'm aware, no man made fibre can do this. Please correct me if I'm wrong!!

But when you get the width of the foot measured it's not actually measuring the width, it's measuring the volume of the foot. A wide flat foot would measure the same as a tall narrow foot.

Vivobarefoot school shoes are wide and made from real leather...

which moulds to their feet and stretches into shape over time

If it's moulding to their feet and needs to be stretched into shape I'd suggest the shoes may be too small? Feet need space inside a shoe to expand.

If you are happy to pay that amount on school shoes try Dr. Martens it's what we moved to and their leather shoes are fairly indestructible

I agree with everything wannabe has said. Danger-Happy Little Soles and Vivo barefoot have vegan shoes

Children's (and our) shoes shouldn't mould to the foot-the toe box should be wide enough for a wiggle. Vivo is a good site to look at.

I have nothing useful to add. However, the advert for this thread amused me

What is the name of the shoe?

Surely they are coated leather. Leather with a coating which is what patent leather is.

I find the fitting pretty awful. One of my first ever jobs was a children's show fitter for FHW (showing my age). I have bought Clarks before but every time I have had to cross check their fit as they really aren't brilliantly trained. The iPad fitting system is horrifically bad as well....