cordovan
Rich leather shade
Cordovan is a durable leather originally made from horsehide, prized for its smooth texture and ability to take a high shine.
The name comes from Córdoba, Spain, historically famous for fine leatherwork.
Cordovan is most associated with dress shoes: a pair of cordovan wingtips, He polished his cordovans until they gleamed.
The word also names the deep reddish-brown color typical of this leather.
Hard outer covering
- horsehideEquine skin covering
- tanningCuring hides or bronzing
- vegetable-tannedLeather cured with plant matter
- full-grainLeather with intact surface
aniline · patina · supple · hide · calfskin · pelt · tannery · burnished
Closed-lacing dress shoe
- brogueAccent or sturdy shoe
- loaferLaceless slip-on shoe
- wingtipPerforated dress shoe
- derbyOpen-entry competition
tassel · sole · welt · lasted · cobbler · resoling · polish · shine
Deep purplish red
- oxbloodDark brownish-red hue
- maroonDark brownish-red hue
- mahoganyReddish-brown tropical lumber
- reddish-brownWarm earth tone
wine · garnet · claret · ruby · aubergine · plum · cranberry · chestnut
Made by skilled craftspeople
- handmadeCreated manually, not mechanically
- bespokeMade to individual specifications
- cobblingFixing or making shoes
- shoemakingCrafting footwear by hand
leatherworking · hand-stitched · traditional · heirloom · quality · skilled · apprentice · workshop
Added cost for better
- exclusiveLimited to one group
- expensiveCosting much money
- prestigeReputation commanding admiration
- elegantGracefully refined, tasteful
refined · sophisticated · classic · timeless · investment · heirloom · collectible · connoisseur
shell
Hard outer covering
- horsehideEquine skin covering
- tanningCuring hides or bronzing
- vegetable-tannedLeather cured with plant matter
full-grain · aniline · patina · supple · hide · calfskin · pelt · tannery · burnished · grain
oxford
Closed-lacing dress shoe
derby · tassel · sole · welt · lasted · cobbler · resoling · polish · shine
burgundy
Deep purplish red
reddish-brown · wine · garnet · claret · ruby · aubergine · plum · cranberry · chestnut · umber
artisanal
Made by skilled craftspeople
- handmadeCreated manually, not mechanically
- bespokeMade to individual specifications
- cobblingFixing or making shoes
shoemaking · leatherworking · hand-stitched · traditional · heirloom · quality · skilled · apprentice · workshop
premium
Added cost for better
elegant · refined · sophisticated · classic · timeless · investment · heirloom · collectible · connoisseur · discerning
- Reddish-Brownreddish brown, russet, sienna, burnt sienna, auburn
- animal materialsfur, leather, hide, pelt, wool
- leather colorstan, brown, cognac, saddle, oxblood
- deep redsburgundy, maroon, crimson, oxblood, garnet
- redsred, scarlet, crimson, ruby, cherry red
- shoe careshoe polish, shoe cleaner, shoe trees, shoe shine, polish
cordovanbonded leather
Fiber-blended imitation material
faux leather · synthetic · pleather · patent leather · suede