Alden Shoe Company
The Alden Shoe Company is an American shoe company founded in 1884 by Charles H. Alden in Middleborough, Massachusetts. Alden specializes in handcrafted men's leather boots and dress shoes, such as Oxfords, bluchers, loafers, and chukka boots.
History
In the 19th century, there were once hundreds of shoemakers in New England, but now Alden is one of only a few factories. Alden is considered a heritage, family-owned brand. Many of the company's roughly 100 workers at its factory in Middleborough are second or third generation, and it sources its leathers mostly from small tanneries in Europe and the U.S. - its shell cordovan comes from the last such tannery in America, Horween Leather Company. Alden has used Horween as their leather supplier since 1930, and is their largest cordovan customer.In 2021, former CFO Richard Hajjar pled guilty to embezzlement of over $30 million from the company of which some $17 million he had transferred to business run by his partner Bianca de la Garza. He was ordered to serve nearly six years in prison.