Founder(s): Anibal & Cuitlahuac Ortiz
Location: Mexico
Where to Buy: Website
Products: Men's & Women's Direct to Consumer & Made to Order Shoes, Boots, & Leather Jackets
Products I Own: Natural Chromexcel Boots
Location: Mexico
Where to Buy: Website
Products: Men's & Women's Direct to Consumer & Made to Order Shoes, Boots, & Leather Jackets
Products I Own: Natural Chromexcel Boots
Contact & Social Media
An Honest Discussion with John Doe Shoes' Co-Founder Cuitlahuac Ortiz & a Look at their Products:
The sibling tag team of Anibal & Cuitlahuac Ortiz are the founders of John Doe Shoes that began it's journey around 5 years ago. One aspect I really respect out them is that they are an upfront, transparent company that do not try to hide behind fancy words and other bells and whistles. Cuitlahueac makes some very bold statements about their company and about the shoe industry as a whole. Check it out below:
"The name (John Doe Shoes) comes from the idea that we don't care about brands, so the brand is pointless what people should care about is quality. Our motto is "pay for quality not for a brand." - Cuitlahueac Ortiz
I totally agree with Cuitlahuac here, there are so many big brands and companies that just sell a name and nothing more. It is one of the main reasons I started this website. I want to plant the seed in peoples' mind that paying more for quality and passion is greater than any brand name.
The Possibilities are Endless... *All pics in the gallery above from John Doe Shoes
"The term handmade is abused in lots of industries. Do they mean handmade because there was a guy holding the shoe while machines were sewing the uppers, stitching the soles, brushing the shoe and so on? Handmade shoes are hard to find and quite expensive. I have seen amazing shoes made in China and woeful shoes made in Italy." -Cuitlahuac
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This statement is very true unfortunately. Handmade is actually a really loose term and it no longer is synonymous with quality. That's why it is important to not only know about the product you are buying, but the people behind the company too.
"There's a lot of mumbo jumbo around in the industry. Terms such as full grain, premium leather, handmade, Made in (insert USA or a European country), small batches, ethically made, top notch design. All of them are terms that seek to awe the customer. But many times those terms say nothing about the actual quality of a product." -Cuitlahuac
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Ride a Motorcycle? Check out John Doe's Rider Boots *Pic from John Doe Shoes
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While some of the above wording I personally look for when buying shoes, Cuitlahuac makes a valid point: companies have gotten very sly with their wording in promotions. Some (not all) of the above words are nice to hear and read about a product. However, the question to ask is: what do the words say about the actual qualities of the item? When it comes to shoes, a product that stands out aesthetically sells and many times we overlook important aspects. Some questions to ask when buying shoes & boots are:
- What is the overall construction (Goodyear Welted, Blake Stitched, Rapid Blake Stitched, Cemented, Storm Welted...)?
- Is the foundation of the shoe, the sole style, match the weather of the area I live in?
- Am I looking for more comfort, support, or protection from the particular shoe/boot?
"...I think only 2 or 3 companies can compare to our vast leather collection." -Cuitlahuac
Personally, I have not found another company with such a great leather selection. John Doe Shoes has everything, from shark to waxed flesh to calf!
Love Boots? Me too! So many leather choices! The above are just a few: Roughout, Essex, Horsehide, Chromexcel. *Pic from John Doe Shoes
"We have a never ending obsession to make our shoes better. If you compare a pair of shoes from each one of the 5 years we've been in business you'll see there's a continuous improvement. While other companies spend on marketing, pictures, giveaways and promotional activity. We invest a huge part of our income in product development." -Cuitlahuac
Full-grain, Lambskin Leather Jackets Complete with YKK Zippers. *Pic from John Doe Shoes
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So many design and color choices... *Pic from John Doe Shoes
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Cuitlahuac on the freedom of owning a factory (unlike most shoe companies): "We are finally free to think out of the box, get whatever suppliers, designs we can think of but as I said, it's always about the long term, and while the other guys are paying reviews and ads, we just cut one middle man and without raising our prices we have a higher profit."
Customize the Sole. The new Lactae Hevea Country Sole pictured above.
All shoes & boots are Goodyear Welted or Storm Welted. *Pic from John Doe Shoes |
Choose between the new Milo Last (left) and their Kuit Last (right). *Pic from John Doe Shoes
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"These 5 years have been tremendously fulfilling. And while we have had our fair share of shortcomings. It had been those difficult times which have solidified the company and put us in a position to succeed." -Cuitlahuac
For a Complete Style Guide to John Doe Shoes Click Here
These Boots are Great in the Snow!
Branded By U Product Posts:
9.25.18
Chromexcel is a very famous leather from Horween. The leather is loved by many boot enthusiasts and is used in pairs that are three times as much as my pair of John Doe 420 Boots that go for around $200.
For instance, I have a pair of Wolverine 1000 Mile Boots that normally retail at $400 made with the infamous Chromexcel. Now, the Wolverine Boots are made in the United States and the John Doe Boots are made in Mexico, but that does not say a thing about the actual craftsmanship. During my quality inspection of my 420s, I compared them closely to my 1000 Mile Boots. One huge difference, the Chromexcel leather seems to be of superior quality on my 420s! John Doe seems to live by their slogan: "pay for a great product, not a name."
Some other advantages the 420s have over the 1000 Mile:
Don't get me wrong, my Wolverine 1000 Mile Boots are what started by boot obsession and I will always cherish them for that and the heritage behind them. But why pay an extra $200 for all that when the quality isn't as good? If you want a good pair of customized boots or shoes and don't care about the name, John Doe Shoes is definitely worth looking into!
Chromexcel is a very famous leather from Horween. The leather is loved by many boot enthusiasts and is used in pairs that are three times as much as my pair of John Doe 420 Boots that go for around $200.
For instance, I have a pair of Wolverine 1000 Mile Boots that normally retail at $400 made with the infamous Chromexcel. Now, the Wolverine Boots are made in the United States and the John Doe Boots are made in Mexico, but that does not say a thing about the actual craftsmanship. During my quality inspection of my 420s, I compared them closely to my 1000 Mile Boots. One huge difference, the Chromexcel leather seems to be of superior quality on my 420s! John Doe seems to live by their slogan: "pay for a great product, not a name."
Some other advantages the 420s have over the 1000 Mile:
- A steel shank for added support and to keep the overall structure of the boot. The 1000 Mile Boots do not have a shank of any kind.
- The studded rubber sole for wet and winter weather. My 1000 Mile pair is the Evans Model and comes with Vibram forepart but still some exposed leather. A regular pair of 1000 Mile Boots just have a plain leather sole.
- The toe shape is much sleeker and reminds me of Thursday Boots which I love. These 420s can be dressed up or down easily.
- Leather laces
- EVA midsoles for more comfort
- Thicker sewing
- Heavier tongue
Don't get me wrong, my Wolverine 1000 Mile Boots are what started by boot obsession and I will always cherish them for that and the heritage behind them. But why pay an extra $200 for all that when the quality isn't as good? If you want a good pair of customized boots or shoes and don't care about the name, John Doe Shoes is definitely worth looking into!
11.07.18
I decided on my John Doe boots to be my travel pair on my adventure to Rome. The reason? The steel shank in the boot really adds stability that other boots around the same price range sometimes lack. Plus, the heal inserts I bought fit in them perfectly. I wore them everyday for hours and spent much of my time traveling from place to place by foot. While my feet did hurt at the end of the day (as they would in any shoe), the boots were great for walking on the cobbled streets of the city and through the hilly terrain of the countryside because of the studded rubber sole.
The more I wore the boots on the trip, the more the Chromexcel developed its own, unique character. Since returning home, I have made them one of three pairs that will be in my late fall/winter boot rotation. The leather continues to age beautifully and hopefully will continue to hold up well in the coming colder months.
I decided on my John Doe boots to be my travel pair on my adventure to Rome. The reason? The steel shank in the boot really adds stability that other boots around the same price range sometimes lack. Plus, the heal inserts I bought fit in them perfectly. I wore them everyday for hours and spent much of my time traveling from place to place by foot. While my feet did hurt at the end of the day (as they would in any shoe), the boots were great for walking on the cobbled streets of the city and through the hilly terrain of the countryside because of the studded rubber sole.
The more I wore the boots on the trip, the more the Chromexcel developed its own, unique character. Since returning home, I have made them one of three pairs that will be in my late fall/winter boot rotation. The leather continues to age beautifully and hopefully will continue to hold up well in the coming colder months.
Boots After Heavy Use. Pictured Here with Smith's Leather Balm & Blackthorn Leather Leather Balm (Both Great for Boots)
1.18.19
These John Doe Boots are great for winter. They hold up well in snow and the Chromexcel leather is developing a nice patina. Below is what they looked like right before I cleaned and conditioned them and right after. I started with a scrub down with damp, warm cloth and then rubbed in the Saphir's Oiled Leather Cream (the more popular Renovateur also works) with a shoe polish towel. After letting some time I came back and applied Blackthorn Leather's Leather Balm with my fingers and then buffed it with a shoe brush. The result is perfect!
These John Doe Boots are great for winter. They hold up well in snow and the Chromexcel leather is developing a nice patina. Below is what they looked like right before I cleaned and conditioned them and right after. I started with a scrub down with damp, warm cloth and then rubbed in the Saphir's Oiled Leather Cream (the more popular Renovateur also works) with a shoe polish towel. After letting some time I came back and applied Blackthorn Leather's Leather Balm with my fingers and then buffed it with a shoe brush. The result is perfect!
Before Cleaning and Conditioning
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After Cleaning and Conditioning
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