Welted shoes are built with a strip of leather – the welt – stitched to both the upper and the midsole, binding all relevant layers of the shoe together without glue.The outsole is subsequently added to the robust construction. The result is a product that can be fully resoled when the outsole wears through, extending the life of the shoe by decades. Montà uses Norwegian welt construction, the most demanding variant of this method: the upper is turned outward and double-stitched through the welt for exceptional strength and moisture resistance. The visible stitching along the perimeter is structural, not decorative.

Every Montà shoe is handcrafted at our own manufactory in Hungary using Norwegian welt construction. The upper is cut from full grain leather, shaped over a last, then hand-stitched outward through the welt and leather sole. Each pair passes through dozens of individual steps before it leaves the workshop. Making handcrafted leather shoes this way takes significantly longer than conventional production and produces a shoe built to outlast it.

Yes. Welt construction means the upper and the midsole are stitched together and build a robust basis for multiple times of resoling by a cobbler when worn through. This is the practical argument for the method: a well-maintained pair becomes shoes built to last a lifetime rather than a few seasons. We recommend taking them to a cobbler familiar with leather sole shoes and welted construction.

Montà shoes are made in Hungary, at our manufactory with over a century of production history. Design is directed from Paris by Romain Kremer. The leather comes from carefully selected tanneries from Germany and Italy. The craft happens in Hungary. In that sense, Montà is genuinely European shoes: the product of several distinct traditions brought together in a single object.

Montà sources its upper leather exclusively from Heinen, a tannery in Germany with a long history of producing hides for premium footwear. Every shoe is made from full grain calf leather – the highest grade available, cut from the outermost layer of the hide with its natural surface left intact. Full grain leather shoes wear in rather than wearing out: denser, more breathable, and more durable than corrected or split alternatives, and capable of developing a patina unique to each pair.

Montà offers two sole options depending on the model. The leather sole – used on select styles – is cut from vegetable-tanned sole leather – known for abrasion resistance and finished with a brass toe plate and brass nails placed on the outside of the outer sole. Leather sole shoes are the more formal and traditional choice: they require more craft to finish and are built for long-term wear and repairability. Vibram soles are available across more models, offering greater weather resistance with less maintenance. Both use the same Norwegian welt construction and the same quality of upper leather.

Full grain leather is the outermost layer of the hide, left completely intact – natural surface, natural grain, and all the structural density that comes with it. Top grain leather is the same layer, but sanded to remove surface imperfections, producing a more uniform finish at the cost of durability. The key difference with full grain vs top grain leather: full grain develops a patina over time, while top grain tends to deteriorate once its surface coating wears. Montà uses full grain leather exclusively.

Yes – and with full grain leather, it is one of the strongest arguments for the material. Patina is the gradual change in surface character that develops as leather shoes are worn: a deepening of tone, a natural sheen, creases that form according to how each person moves. It is not damage – it is the material recording its use. Leather patina shoes become more individual over time, not less. That is something synthetic materials cannot replicate.

Leather shoe care is consistent rather than complicated. After each wear, allow the shoes to breathe and rest before storing – wooden shoe trees help maintain their shape. To clean leather shoes, wipe away surface dirt with a dry or lightly damp cloth; avoid submerging or soaking. Apply a cream or conditioner every few weeks, or when the leather appears dry. How to care for leather shoes in short: rest, clean, condition, repeat.

Leather shoe protection starts before the first wear. Apply a water-resistant conditioner or wax to the upper before using the shoes outside – this helps the leather repel moisture without sealing it. Avoid prolonged exposure to rain, salt, or direct heat. After wet wear, dry the shoes naturally at room temperature, away from radiators using a shoe tree to support the original shape. Regular conditioning is the most effective long-term protection: it keeps the leather supple and prevents the surface from cracking.

Full grain leather needs time to adjust to the foot – this is a feature of the material, not a flaw. To break in leather shoes, wear them in short intervals at first: an hour or two at home, then gradually longer outside. Thick socks help ease initial pressure points. The leather will soften and mould to your foot within a few weeks of regular use. Avoid forcing the process with heat or excessive moisture.

Durable leather shoes built with welt construction and full grain leather have no structural reason to fail. The leather improves with age. The soles can be replaced. There is no adhesive to degrade, no synthetic material to crack. How long leather shoes last depends largely on how they are maintained rather than the shoe giving out. With the right care, a well-kept pair can last a lifetime – and often does.

Montà was founded in 2025 as a contemporary unisex footwear brand rooted in Alpine heritage. Design is led by Romain Kremer – French designer, former Head Menswear Designer at Mugler and first Creative Director of Camper – who brings a forward-looking precision to the traditional Haferl shoe. Every pair is produced by Schwangau Schuh GmbH, a manufactory with a long history in traditional shoemaking. The brand’s identity and cultural direction are shaped by Frontrose, a multidisciplinary entity connecting Alpine heritage with contemporary culture.

Montà makes alpine shoes – leather shoes rooted in the Haferl tradition of the German-speaking mountain regions. The collection covers a range of forms: slip-ons, lace-ups, and side-laced styles that work for everyday wear or more considered occasions. Every model is built using Norwegian welt construction on a leather or Vibram sole, in a continuous size range. Alpine footwear, made in Europe, for the long term.

Montà shoes are unisex shoes – designed for men and women in a continuous size range, without distinction in silhouette or construction. Each style is developed as a shape that works across genders. Leather shoes for men and leather shoes for women share the same qualities – good construction, honest materials, a form that holds. That is what we build towards.

Yes. Montà shoes are built for regular use – not as occasion pieces to be worn twice a year. The Norwegian welt construction and full grain leather mean the shoe improves with consistent wear rather than deteriorating under it. As casual leather shoes, they work across most contexts: city streets, offices, travel. The sole options – leather for more formal settings, Vibram for everyday durability – extend that range further.