I have seen a couple of comments on here about Aldo. I have also heard a few other people say they would never buy Aldo.
Anyone care to fill me in as to why?
i think they gained noteriety and a bad rep when they started cranking out obvious design knock-offs. i started noticing their lack of creativity myself when they started making blatant rip-offs of those popular Diesels about 3 years ago…and it snowballed from there i assume.
I should have figured it out by the diesel knock-offs, but I’ve never been interested in that style shoe, so I didn’t pay much attention.
Here’s why I’m planning my ALDO bon fire…
I happened to meet someone fairly high up in the corp. (doesn’t matter who, or how). I was pretty excited because I had 2 pairs of ALDOs as my dress shoes and really liked them.
I had this glorious vision of slick designer people, working along-side really Old guys (with bushy grey eye-brows) who’d been making shoes their whole lives.
Obviously I wanted to know all about their design process, but I stayed pretty quiet most of the evening. Then he mentioned something about their “buyers” traveling to spec the materials. I asked “Shouldn’t your designers be specing the materials??” to which I got. “We don’t staff designers.” That’s when I really got involved in the conversation.
here’s the jist:
they buy ‘x’ amount of shoes from certain companies who apparently do not operate in the intended market, then those “Samples” go to all their manufacturers to see who can change it slightly and produce it the cheapest. All of the changes happen at the manufacturer.
maybe this is normal in fashion and shoes, but I had no idea.
Memorable quotes:
“Fashion is cyclical, we have no need for design staff”
“If someone asks why it looks like a Gucci, our sales employees are trained to say it’s ALDOs version of a current trend”
“I can see your perceptions are crushed here, but you’re living in a DreamWorld…Face it, you’re a starving artist”
these quotes could go on and on… but you get the idea
It was a learning experience to say the least, now I’m looking for replacements. I wore my boots out once sense then, and it literally made me sick, I looked down, and just wanted to go home and throw them out.
I’m still pretty hot about this, I’m gonna spread my posts out, see what others have to say.
“We don’t staff designers.”
they buy ‘x’ amount of shoes from certain companies who apparently do not operate in the intended market, then those “Samples” go to all their manufacturers to see who can change it slightly and produce it the cheapest. All of the changes happen at the manufacturer.
I’ve never even touched a pair of Aldos, but after reading that I’ll gladly join you in your Aldo bonfire.
That is pretty common at that price point of fashion shoe to my understanding… doesn’t make it right.
Not right or wrong I think, just serving a market. I dont think Aldo ever proposed that they were a high design, innovative product company. IMHO, I dont think they either ever had a great rep to start with so am surprised you are so surprised.
Tons of brands and products are like this just serving up a trend inspired product. For the masses, this it seems is what many want. Nothing too funky, too original, just a “version of”.
I wouldnt be too upset with Aldo (although I’d be happy to bring some gasonline for the bonfire), more shame should be on the consumers for generating the need… but of course we all aren’t the high style fashion mavens we would like to be…
Sourced product like this is super common in the footwear industry. There are literaly thousands of factories doing straight knock offs (with the brand name also illegally copied) and “inspired” designs (usually 95-100% the same with but another no-name brand or “your logo here” service). For sure lots dont end up in the North Amercian market, but many do in the K-marts, discount stores, and mid level fashion stores across the country.
Looking for something better in the way of dress shoes? Once you go italian, you’ll never go back. Check Clone for some really different styles, or great classics from Costume National, Miu Miu or Prada. $$ but worth it in quality alone.
R
im actually very surprised, and somewhat dissappointed. Ive always thought Aldo had pretty cool designs (ive only known the brand for a few years) at affordable prices. I havent noticed blatant ripoffs but now i see them in a totally different light. im a sucker for urban casual trendy shoes, but i guess i wont stop at aldo no more 
Having worked in that market; here’s my explanation. Aldo is a “mid-end” shoe line. Their styles and price points are targeted towards their specific market and consumers. When you have to stick with a price point such as, let’s say $69.00 retail, your customer that purchases and can afford that shoe isn’t interested or necessarily KNOWS the high-end, original, couture trends. They’re buying this shoe because they can fit into the trends of those they see around them. (This customer isn’t exactly the same customer who’s out searching for the newest, limited Chloe heel). With that being said, materials are also a major factor, as is factoring in cost of staff, etc.
Aldo does have designers by the way. To answer COPYBOY’S quotes;
“If someone asks why it looks like a Gucci, our sales employees are trained to say it’s ALDOs version of a current trend” - A lot of footwear buyers nowadays come from every industry. There are buyers buying shoes that used to buy furniture. One of the most difficult tasks is getting a buyer to understand WHY this shoe will sell and WHY it’s hot. So, whatever lingo is used to communicate with the buyer is totally acceptable.
And as far as Aldo purchasing shoes and taking them to a factory to have them “changed” a little bit… This is what’s called ‘shopping for inspiration’ and most companies that are ‘mid-end’ or 'low-end- do this. Even high end companies do it. You shop, you see a shoe that has an interesting detail (heel, last, toe shape, etc.) and so you purchase it. You create from that.
It’s my experience of how the business works and I’ve created lines for low-end, first cost, and couture.
As far as Aldo; I rarely see anything that I personally like but maybe once in a blue moon.
cheers!
Another reason footwear looks the same through so many brands is the fact that designers move so frequently through the doors, we all know people who once with Nike are now at Puma, vice versa etc.
The consumer is pretty clever though, people who buy the copied/heavily inspired are not the consumer that the brand with the original design would target.
Aldo does have designers by the way. To answer COPYBOY’S quotes;
My quote about ALDO not having designers didn’t come from me. it came from an ALDO employee (not a store salesperson, one that would know about this sorta thing). If they do in fact have design staff, than I guess that employee must have misspoken, for about an hour and a half.
And as far as Aldo purchasing shoes and taking them to a factory to have them “changed” a little bit… This is what’s called ‘shopping for inspiration’
Call it what you would like, but I call it Lazy, and the end product, A knock-off…
I am starting to understand that this is widespread practice. It just caught me off guard that I was paying $130 for knock-offs! (and there isn’t $130 worth of tooling and material there, hence I thought I was safe) Next time I will simply do a little more research, and pay a lot more. rkuchinsky, thanks for the links.
IMO the problem here is the “TREND” it’s self. I wasn’t buying those particular shoes based on a trend, I was buying them because they were simple and somewhat timeless and I need a brown and a blk. pair of night on the town shoes. They were meant to last a very long time (I’m not a pointy toe from HELL kind of guy). For this reason, I won’t have any problem paying 3 to 4 times what I paid once I find a pair I like from a “creative” company. I’ll be the first to admit, I wasn’t in the KNOW about this sort of shoe when I purchased them, but this is a mistake I won’t make again.
I have no respect for a co. that relies solely on riding the waves of other more original companies. A co. that has no ambition to create anything on their own. At this point I’d rather go out and buy Traveler 9’s B-Ball shoe at Wal-Mart (at least I know someone designed it)
Where is the risk in designing a freakin’ brown boot anyway? what could possibly go so wrong that they can’t be self sufficient?
I know it stings, but it is reality… we’ve all been asked to make something more like an iPod, or more Nike, or make it look like it was in the Matrix, or whatever hot thing just hit the blogs… and sometimes we do it to ourselves. It’s just more up front in more fashion driven industries…
Even look at “design driven” companies like Medium, their biggest shoe looks like a chuck taylor (not coming at them, I have a pair…)
if you watch “The Devil Wears Prada” the Merrill Streep character gives a good monolog on how it goes from a fringe happening, to a mass trend, to the sale bin at Walmart.
I know it stings, but it is reality… we’ve all been asked to make something more like an iPod, or more Nike, or make it look like it was in the Matrix, or whatever hot thing just hit the blogs…
I understand your point here. The part that bugs me is “we” (designers) aren’t in the ALDO (and many others) equation. I can understand companies have to ride the wave at some point, not every product is the next i-pod, but to not even have a design division?
Isn’t fashion design driven? How can it be correct that a Co. dependent on Design does not have designers? It’s a slap in the face.
if you watch “The Devil Wears Prada” the Merrill Streep character gives a good monolog on how it goes from a fringe happening, to a mass trend, to the sale bin at Walmart.
I saw that movie, and I brought it up in the conversation as a parallel, that part was eye-opening to me. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the issue as a whole though. I don’t see the need for everything to be a knock-off of something higher up. Why should everything look the same?, why not give the consumer choices?
No matter what, IMO, there is simply no excuse for any fashion co. to not have a creative design department.
I bought a pair several years ago and was disappointed with their quality. I wouldn’t do it again.
Isn’t Payless doing basically the same thing on the womans side? (ie. “appropriating” high end brands?)
LOL @ copyboy. Call it what you would like, but I call it Lazy, and the end product, A knock-off…
they’re sure making a lot of money being “lazy”.
Basically what you’re saying is that every single company in the world should make completely original products, fresh designs, every idea coming right out of thin air. I think that’s called evolution at it’s fastest and finest. A world with no conformity. How interesting.
Ideas have to stem from somewhere.
10% of a shoe must be changed in order to avoid infringement laws. Aldo knows this and so do their designers/linebuilders/etc.
" why not give the consumer choices? "
the consumer DOES have choices. It’s called supply and demand. Payless and Wal-Mart customers who need to buy shoes for the whole family every season and can’t afford to buy Salvatore Ferragamo or Gucci.
Macy’s customers who have a little bit more to spend and can buy shoes just for one outfit. And the Saks and Neiman Marcus customer who can easily drop $560 on a pair of heels.
If you can’t understand the business aspect of the footwear industry, why be in the business? There’s more that goes into a shoe than pretty colors and playing with markers.
A world with no copies. No copy machines. No twins or triplets. Just one whiskey.
LOL @ copyboy. Call it what you would like, but I call it Lazy, and the end product, A knock-off…
you dont have to LOL at me.
they’re sure making a lot of money being “lazy”.
yes they are, but they’re Mooching…
as we learned here from Traveler 9,
Even Wal Mart has designers “Playing with Markers” to create a product at a certain price point. This shoe is less than $20, but it’s an original design.
“Basically what you’re saying is that every single company in the world should make completely original products, fresh designs”
Why do you believe this is too much to ask? It doesn’t have to be the most Original thing everytime, but shouldn’t every company that produces a product have the obligation to create that product? Or, if they have to buy it elsewhere, shouldn’t the co. that created it get some kind of creadit? Maybe it’s not changed 10%, maybe they partner up with that co. and form a relationship?
“Ideas have to stem from somewhere”
Obviously! but that’s not what I’m talking about here. These products (any Knock-off) were never “Ideas” to begin with. The only Idea came from some SUIT "Hey, lets buy that, and changed 10% (as you stated) so we can’t get sued by the co. that created that great original product. Hence where my statement of LAZY comes in.
When I was referring to the consumer having choices, my point was this: There’s no reason why a mid-level shoe has to look exactly like a $600 shoe, or for a shoe at Payless to Look exactly like my Puma 5000m. If these companies stopped knocking off higher priced shoes and started creating their own (like Traveler 9 at Wal Mart) they would see that they still sell shoes based on Supply and Demand, or customer Loyalty. Why is that so hard to swallow?
By Knocking off, they are actually spitting in their customer’s face, because now everyone knows they’re Broke, it’s obvious by the knock-offs they have strapped to their feet. I’ll bet anyone wearing Traveler 9’s B-ball shoes will get “what are those?” instead of “Oh, you shop at Payless huh?”
“If you can’t understand the business aspect of the footwear industry, why be in the business? There’s more that goes into a shoe than pretty colors and playing with markers.”
I’m not in the footwear industry, if I were I wouldn’t be involved with this conversation. My opinions are based on an outsider looking in. When I design a product, I am forced to look at what the others are doing and stay as far away as I can.
Ok that’s why. I didn’t think someone in the footwear business would be that confused of different levels/aspects of the business. I think I’ve explained enough. It’s your turn to open your mind and figure things out.
I’m not going to open my mind and adopt shameful business practices as simply “The Way”
B, you are obviously quite the business man…good for you!
10% of a shoe must be changed in order to avoid infringement laws. Aldo knows this and so do their designers/linebuilders/etc.
Based on the statement above: Aldo’s “designers” aren’t Aldo employees, since 90% of any specific Aldo “Design” is funded by Gucci, Prada and others…correct?
Also, if you cut the word “Designers” out of that statement, do you still feel there’s nothing wrong with it? I’ll explain this 1 more time, I enjoyed my Aldo’s, until I was told by an Aldo employee “we have no need for design staff” ALDO DOES NOT STAFF DESIGNERS
Are you a designer?
Um no is asking you to open your mind and adopt these practices. For those of us who are, or were shoe designers, this is a frustrating fact and an aspect of the business that existed BEFORE Designers got invloved, and its how footwear has been mass produced since the late 19th century. We understand it and work within it.
Shoes are commodities. Some companies choose to strive to improve upon certain aspects of that commodity via design and development. Some companies strive to improve those same aspects via lowering the bottom line and widening market share.
At my last WSA trade show in 2005 I read some where that there were over 350 shoe BRANDS and over a thousand manufacturers worldwide. Its safe to say that a clear majority of those 350 brands prefer to line build upon trends as opposed to design because its faster, cheaper and easier to shop a ready made shoe to fifty factories looking for the lowest cost, than it is to pay a deisgner to come up with a new idea. Less expense, less risk and greater profit.
Um no is asking you to open your mind and adopt these practices.
correct, I may have taken B’s comment wrong there.
I Understand many co. avoid design and development in pursuit of less risk, higher profit. But I don’t agree with that practice, it makes that co. dependent.
I don’t need to go around in circles here, It’s simple. I will just Avoid Supporting those Lazy companies. Aldo got me becuase I wasn’t informed, and didn’t understand Fashion Footwear in the least. Now I’m starting to become a little more informed. I know never to step foot in an Aldo store again, and to research a bit more next time. That’s all.
Thanks for the insight
Thats true - I worked for Shellys years ago when they had a wholesale business internationally. We used to sell to Aldo. They’d buy our stuff, run it for a season, then knock it off after that. Shellys was perfectly fine with that. Put it this way, when it’s close to convention time in Europe (GDS and MICAM), our shop in Oxford Circus would be jammed full of footwear trade people, all buying sample size. They’d be as blatent as to bring suitcases in and start filling them up! Shellys attitude was that you can’t stop the copyists, ban them, they’ll send someone else in to buy it. With Aldo he bought stock and we had a agreement and we knew it would be knocked off.
Anyway, I do pretty well out of these companies that don’t have designers, they do need freelancers sometimes, a lot of them have not a clue how to make spec sheets, for instance, or they might need to make a trend presentation ot the board. It’s easy work and well paid, we take it on and balance it out with the more creative stuff that we do.
Another thing to note, with the type of shoes that Aldo sells, alot of it is designed by the factories, the buyer might pick it up on a factory visit, buy it from a sales agent or at show, so lots of it is designed by the in-house designer at the factory, rather than knocked off. A friend of mine who lives in Spain makes a lot of money out of designing collections for factories, I occasionally do that kind of work too.
It’s the norm for retail chains like Aldo to have buyers but no design team, if they are buying at trade shows or from sales agents, why would they need them?