What are we up to?

As we enter our 16th year, we’re making thoughtful changes to how we operate.

We’ve always taken pride in the quality of our shoes, but we’re setting out to get even better. Our goal is simple: to make the best shoes we possibly can, using high-quality materials, traditional construction, and time-tested techniques. Shoes that are made with care and meant to last.

We’re not trying to be the biggest shoe company. We’re not interested in mass production or chasing growth at all costs. Instead, we’re committing to fewer styles, produced in smaller quantities, with an even higher standard of craftsmanship.

Handmade production has always been at the heart of Fortress, and we’re leaning into that more than ever. There are very few shoemakers left who can do this work by hand, and we’re fortunate to partner with some of the best. It’s a slow, demanding process—and one that’s only becoming more challenging—but it’s the only way we want to make shoes.

Moving forward, we’ll be producing a limited number of pairs each year. Enough pairs to support our small team (of 3 people!) here in the US and all our shoemakers in Peru. Each season, we will communicate to you the number of pairs that we produce in each style. We’ll also share more about how our shoes are made, who makes them, and the materials we use, with a greater focus on premium, traceable leathers. 

What does this mean for our current styles?

Our most popular styles aren’t going anywhere, but they are evolving. We’re updating leathers, refining construction, and improving details across the board. The current versions of these styles are part of our Next Chapter Sale as we make room for what’s next.

The sale will likely run through January, at the end of which we’ll update our site with new versions of the shoes and adjust our prices.

So will our prices increase?

Yes. Starting sometime in February, our prices will better reflect the costs of operating a business like this (tariffs, shipping, fulfillment, advertising, salaries, insurance, and more), and especially the high costs of producing our shoes with high-quality materials and artisanal shoemakers.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us over the last 15 years, and we hope the next 15 will be filled with goodness for all in our orbit and beyond. Your belief in what we’re building makes this work possible, and we’re so excited for what the next chapter holds.