Yeossal’s hand-welted shoes are something I have talked about a bit on this blog. Having worked with the Singaporean brand since around 2018, I have seen their shoes transition from the first collection to the latest pieces/craftsmanship that they offer today. The Scott v-cap adelaide is one of their original models. I wrote about them back in 2019, but felt that the post needed a refresh and a reminder of Yeossal’s interesting shoe offering.
Every once in a while, a new brand arrives and reminds the industry that creativity and courage still matter. Yeossal, the Singapore-based menswear atelier, which launched only about 8 or so years ago, is one of those names. When they first sent me their Scott’s V-Cap Oxford, I had it in my showroom in NYC; so many customers who came to buy my shoes were drawn to it, and on more than one occasion, someone asked if they could buy a pair from me on the spot.
That sort of unsolicited admiration doesn’t happen often. It’s a testament to what Yeossal represented: new energy, refined design, and remarkable craftsmanship at a level that challenges even long-established makers. This was at a time before the ‘Made in China: Hand Welted’ was something that had taken off. Yeossal’s hand welted shoes were really one of the first offerings to bring quality Chinese-made shoes to the forefront of the industry.
Craftsmanship Beyond Expectations
Yeossal has since updated the craftsmanship on their offering, and they are even better than what you see in this post. You can see their latest model/craftsmanship in this post, which I wrote earlier this year. Since Yeossa’s first hand welted shoes, they have added a lot of details, yet were able to keep prices low, i.e., the same, since way back in 2019. Surprisingly, too, as costs have since skyrocketed worldwide.
At the time of writing the original post on the Scott shoe, they were roughly $798 SGD (about $600 USD / €525 EUR). At present, they are on Yeossal’s site for only 760 SGD. Around $40 SGD less. While many people are rightly talking about the latest shoemakers to come out and their value for money, it would appear that Yeossal’s hand welted shoes are often overlooked despite being among the best. I have thought about that and realized that when you are known as a menswear brand and not solely for shoes, the idea of your offering might be overlooked for people looking strictly ‘shoe-only’ brands.
The above scenario is like Ralph Lauren and Paul Stuart making cool, exclusive designs for their brands, made by some of the top shoemakers around the world, but never being talked about for their shoes. It is tough as your focus has to be placed somewhere and with Yeossal, their main focus has always been the clothing despite making a fantastic pair of shoes!
But I tell you, the pairs they sent me were among the best that I have seen in the ‘Made in China: Hand Welted’ offering that has hit the shoe industry like a tornado.
Design with Character and Courage
Beyond quality, what truly sets Yeossal apart is design vision. Their lineup is bold, diverse, and refreshingly modern. The Scott V-Cap Oxford in rich burgundy calf stands out — a short-wing pattern executed with real personality. Elsewhere, their use of Gold Museum calf and Anthracite Museum grey leather brings unique flair to otherwise classic forms.
Their fearlessness in making two-tone shoes and using bold leathers is what I appreciated about them. It is very similar to my own design ethos, and what made it easy to write about their offering. The same goes for their clothing offering, which I have been enjoying since the beginning: bold striped shirts, yellow seersucker drawstring trousers, cream colored safari jackets, and more!
A Breath of Fresh Air in a Stagnant Market
At the time of writing this original post back in 2019, the industry was quite safe and boring. There were not a lot of makers doing crazy, bold things. It was a lot safer then, pre-pandemic, when most people just wore black, brown, burgundy, and/or tan shoes to the office. It is interesting how the pandemic and the fact that people stopped going to the office made people more ‘bold’, so to speak. I guess the need to wear certain things was replaced by the ‘want to wear what you feel like.’
Yeossal’s collection is a mix of classic and eclectic models. While each design can technically just be made in black calf and become a very conservative style and look, Yeossal’s hand welted shoes are often marketed in unique colors and patina, showcasing what they are capable of, as opposed to the safe choice.
When I look at Yeossal’s journey, I see a brand that embodies the spirit of innovation. They challenge perceptions, creating beauty, and breathe life into a market that often remains the same
So here’s to Yeossal — and to anyone brave enough to rethink what “classic” can mean!
Learn more here: www.yeossal.com
—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob
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Love it! What last is this?
I will have to ask as these were just sent for marketing all of those years ago and do not have that info on hand and cannot remember.
You can always use this post to reference if you are interesting in getting the same style, etc.
Beautiful last shape and sole work. Quality on all levels. I like the V-Cap. Conservative yet different.
Thanks for sharing Arthur!