Shoemaker Keeps it Made in the ATL

By Elizabeth Brotherton-Bunch
May 01 2015 |
Photo courtesy Cord Shoes + Boots.

American-made Cord Shoes + Boots emphasizes quality over quantity.

Atlanta-based Cord Shoes +Boots does things a little differently than most shoemakers.

For one, each shoe is handcrafted using traditional construction methods. While bigger brands might emphasize volume, Cord is focused on quality. All of the company’s shoes and boots are completely hand-crafted, with no cementing or bonding.

Photo courtesy Cord Shoes + Boots.

Cord Shoes + Boots are also 100 percent Made in America, part of the company’s desire to rebuild shoe manufacturing from the ground-up.

“We’re committed to having a local workforce that’s able to be trained, able to have more than a living wage,” says Danny Echevarria, marketing and operations director at Cord Shoes + Boots. “We’re committed to creating work, not just creating products.”

With styles for both men and women, Cord offers a modern, fresh take on classic work boots. There’s also a line of handcrafted accessories, including wallets.

“We want to create more jobs, and those jobs don’t just have to be in the creative sector, like so many jobs that are created these days. Creating more opportunities in the manufacturing and industrial sector is also important to us." Danny Echevarria, Cord Shoes + Boots

Cord prices start at $395, which is higher than many consumers are used to paying. But Echevarria promises that it’s worth the cost.

“What you get is a durable product that at the end of the day you don’t throw away. It’s not a disposable product,” he says. “Our shoes may cost more, but in the lifetime that you are going to be wearing them, you’re going to have bought worse quality shoes three for four times over.”

Cord is a “very humble production shop” at this point, Echevarria says. Company founder Sarah Green designs and handcrafts the shoes herself, supported by two apprentices. Echevarria handles the marketing and operations side of the company.

But the company hopes to expand in upcoming months, including hiring additional staff and beginning to offer its products in retail outlets (right now, the shoes are only available online).

“We want to create more jobs, and those jobs don’t just have to be in the creative sector, like so many jobs that are created these days. Creating more opportunities in the manufacturing and industrial sector is also important to us," he says.

In addition to supporting American workers, Cord products also support local organizations close to the company’s heart. Right now, for example, a portion of the company’s proceeds support the nonprofit Atlanta Underdog Initiative, which focuses on pit bull and mastiff rescue.

The inspiration? The company’s shop dog, Poe.

“Moving forward, we’re going to offer a unique line of products related to issues we care about,” Echevarria says. “A portion of the proceeds from each product will go to a different organization."

Visit Cord Shoes + Boots online.