Bernardo 1946
New York, NYBrand
What makes a pair of shoes worth keeping? Ask anyone who has worn the same leather boots and sandals for a decade and the answer usually comes down to two words: durability and versatility. It is a conversation happening across Brazil’s leather industry right now, and one we have been part of since our first sandal in 1946.
A conversation from Brazil
Couro e Criação is a video series from the Brazilian Leather project, where people across the industry talk about how leather is made and how it is seen. In a recent episode, João Fernando Hartz, Executive Director of Industrial, Sourcing and Export at the Shoes and Bags unit of Arezzo and Co, discusses how leather is perceived by the people who choose it: a material that proves its worth through durability and versatility of use.
Why leather lasts
Leather is a natural material that changes with you. It softens where you bend, molds to the shape of your foot and develops a character that synthetic materials cannot copy. Cared for well, a good leather shoe stays in your rotation for years, not seasons.
The most sustainable pair of shoes is the one you keep wearing.
Handcrafted in Brazil
The Brazilian Leather project, led by the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) with ApexBrasil, promotes Brazilian leather around the world with a focus on sustainability and quality, backed by the Brazilian Leather Sustainability Certification. It is the same leather tradition our shoes come from. Every Bernardo pair is handcrafted in a family-owned factory in Brazil, using artisanal leathers and expert craftsmanship.
The icon that proves it
