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Brand Scorecard:
★★★★☆
Leather: 4.5
Hardware: 4
Design: 4
Engineering: 4
Craftmanship: 4.5
TOTAL: 4.21
Brand Website:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BRIEF HISTORY
Goral is a brand rooted in the rich heritage of shoemaking, with each shoe designed in-house and handcrafted in our family-run factory in Sheffield, England. Established in 1936, the factory is now operated by the third generation of the family, ensuring that we maintain complete control over the production process from start to finish. Our skilled craftsmen pour their love and passion into every pair, upholding a tradition of excellence that has been passed down through generations.
Crafting each pair of Goral shoes is a labor-intensive process, involving over 200 individual steps. We use only the finest quality materials, carefully sourced from the best tanneries and producers around the world. As we continue our journey, we remain dedicated to our mission of sharing the heritage of shoemaking, delivering exceptional handcrafted quality in every pair of shoes we create.
FIVE PILLARS OF A GOOD LEATHERCRAFT
CRITERIA | 5 (Very Strong) | 4 (Strong) | 3 (Mixed) | 2 (Limited) | 1 (Not Present) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leather | A perfect balance of art and fashion of leather tanning. Rare and artisanal hides from exceptional tanneries | Good leathers for the application in hand. Coming from environmentally conscious tanneries | Average corrected leathers that do NOT require high-quality raw hides. Less info on the source of the leather | Low-quality leather choice with significantly less information about the sourcing practice. | Inferior sketchy leather derivates or non-leather materials. |
Hardware | Top of the line Stainless Steel or Brass Hardware with Highest Caliber Coatings | Common alloy or brass hardware with high-quality plating and thin protection that will last a good while. | Alloy hardware with acceptable coating. Lifetime may be impacted due to the coating of the hardware. | Serious flaws in the making and coating of the low-grade alloy hardware that is harmful to humans and the planet. | Non-metal, plastic, and non-durable hardware that is harmful to humans and the planet. |
Design | A professional design language that is unique and consistent with the brand | A creative take on a classical design concept | Minimal changes to common styles | Almost copy of common/famous designs. Dysfunctional elements. | Problematic design elements affect the functionality, durability, and aesthetics of the product. |
Engineering | Highly organized, sophisticated shape and form engineering with high-quality materials inside the craft. | Clean and quality inner support materials and structure | Acceptable cleanliness of inner work with medium-quality support materials | Messy inside with low-grade support elements | Complete lack of inner structure and craftsmanship. |
Craftsmanship | Expert craftsmanship with flawless, hand or machine stitching, demonstrating advanced skills. No visible errors; edge paint is avoided using superior techniques. | Perfect machine stitching with excellent edge finishing. Immaculate inside and out, with no visible flaws, showing a commitment to quality. | Good overall stitching and alignment with minor flaws. Acceptable edge finishing, with fairly clean interior and exterior. | Noticeable misalignment and sloppy workmanship. Multiple errors affect visual appeal, with untidy interior work. | Poor craftsmanship with missed stitches, visible errors, and uncleaned residues. Major issues that may affect durability. |
Overall Score | An incredible value for money that I have no problem recommending to anyone | Very good example of great quality for a great price without any risk to try | A considerable offer with a relatively high price. Make your choice at your own discretion | Consider it well within your own criterion as the quality/price is not a decision point I can recommend here | Stay away! |
READING MY ASSESSMENT SCORES
SCORE | NAME | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
5 | Strong Yes | ⭐ This grade is given to brands that present great value for the price they charge you for their product. I have no problem confidently recommending you check their products. These are the brands I reach out to ask if they can give me an affiliate link so your purchases using my link can support my content efforts. |
4 | Yes | 👍 This indicates that the brand meets all my expectations from the perspective of price and information they have about their products. I would happily buy their products at this level of quality/value score. This is the only other category of brands I request an affiliate link to support this channel to improve my Leathertainment content. |
3 | Mixed | ➖ There are areas that I found less than desirable for the quality/price performance I appreciate personally. Some high-end luxury brands may fall under this category given I am looking for tangible value in the products, ignoring the intangible brand prestige they may offer as a value to their customers. I am not a customer of these brands and I wouldn’t recommend them to my audience if they do NOT value brand logos. |
2 | No | 👎 This indicates that the product and the brand failed my expectations in significant ways and I won’t recommend them to anyone. |
1 | Strong No | ❌ This is the lowest assessment and indicates fundamental issues in the product and/or the brand. I would say look somewhere else. |
LEATHERVERSE MATRIX
The Leatherverse Brand Matrix visually compares leather brands based on sophistication and pricing, helping consumers understand their market positioning.
Legend
Vertical Axis: Ranges from simple artisan crafts to exclusive, master-crafted items.
Horizontal Axis: Covers pricing from low (no brand premium) to high (perceived luxury), with 2x multipliers for basic products and up to 15x for heavily marketed luxury items.
Diagonal Line: Represents the balance between price and performance. Brands on the line offer good value, those below suggest poor value, and those above offer exceptional value.
AUDIENCE & CUSTOMER'S PERSPECTIVE
Based on these criteria, how would you rate Goral as a brand?
How would you rate Goral as a brand?
5
4
3
2
PRODUCTS REVIEWED
Craftsmanship and Horse Leather: Reviewing Goral's Mellor II Sneakers
Goral's Mellor II Sneakers
Watch the videos here:
As someone passionate about leather and craftsmanship, I always find myself on the lookout for unique and well-made products. Recently, I took on an interesting challenge: to test the durability of a pair of Mellor II sneakers from Goral, a brand based in the UK. These shoes caught my attention not just for their aesthetic appeal but also because they are made to order in England—a rarity in today's fast-fashion world. Here's a detailed account of my experience, from the moment I placed the order to the moment I put the shoes to the ultimate test.
DISCLAIMER: The “Rip My Bag Challenge” is a review series that tests leather products’ quality, price, and craftsmanship. While the brand supports the challenge financially, my opinions stay fair, unbiased, and truthful. Products featured are purchased anonymously without brand involvement. Brands have no control over content, publishing dates, or the review process. You may read the full disclaimer here.
The Ordering Process
I paid $333 for the Mellor II sneakers, opting for the horse leather version instead of the Horween leather option. The idea of having a shoe made from real horse leather intrigued me, especially since I'd never owned one before. If you're concerned about the ethics of using horse leather, rest assured that no horses are killed specifically for their hides. The leather comes from countries like Poland and Kazakhstan, where horse meat is a significant part of the diet, and the hides are a byproduct of the meat production process.
Receiving the Shoes
The shoes arrived after about three weeks, packaged in a beautiful box and individually dust-bagged. My initial inspection revealed a slight blade mark on the back, which I felt should have been addressed during the making process. Despite this minor flaw, the overall presentation was impressive. I also took advantage of the personalization option available on Goral's website. Although I'm not usually one for personalizing my belongings, I decided to have initials embroidered on the leather to see how it would look. It turned out well, adding a unique touch to the shoes and serving as proof that they were made to order.
First Impressions
One of my main concerns when buying shoes online is sizing, but the Mellor II sneakers fit perfectly, true to the size advertised. The look and feel of the horse leather were immediately appealing. The finish was minimal but shiny, giving the shoes a classic and unique appearance. The construction seemed solid, with no glaring issues in terms of craftsmanship. Aside from the blade mark, I didn't notice any other flaws during my initial check.
Materials and Craftsmanship
Upon closer inspection, I was impressed by the materials used in the construction of the sneakers. The main leather was horse leather, as advertised, and the interior featured two different linings. One had a more pigmented finish on the upper surfaces, while the other was a semi-aniline finish calfskin lining above the insole. There was also a full veg-tan insole between the softer sponge of the insole and the bottom of the shoe. This combination of materials provided excellent comfort and support.
Applying acetone to the horse leather revealed a tiny layer of finish on top of the top-grain leather, a typical feature for horse leather due to its often imperfect grain quality. This finish enhances the leather's natural beauty while making it more durable. The inner walls had a more pigmented finish to prevent color migration to socks, which I found to be a practical and appropriate choice. The lining above the insole was a beautiful semi-aniline calfskin, offering a nice balance of pigment finish for color correction and full-grain quality.
Leather Quality and Cost
Estimating the leather used in the shoes, I figured there were about three square feet of horse leather for the upper and four square feet of lining material, including the calfskin and insole. My estimate for the leather cost was $20 for the upper and $12 for the inner leathers, totaling $32. While I'm not an expert in labor costs, I assume the made-to-order process in England is significantly more expensive than mass manufacturing.
Overall Impression
Given the $32 worth of specialty leathers and the high level of craftsmanship, the $333 price tag seemed very fair. Comparing this to other shoes I've inspected, which often use general materials and are mass-produced, the Mellor II sneakers stand out as a great deal. Despite the challenge of ripping the shoes, I found myself appreciating their quality and durability. I'm even considering ordering another pair, given how much I enjoyed them over the past few days.
Conclusion
The Goral Mellor II sneakers exceeded my expectations in terms of quality, craftsmanship, and value. The unique horse leather, made-to-order process, and attention to detail make these shoes a standout choice for anyone interested in specialty leathers. If you're looking for a well-made, stylish, and durable pair of sneakers, I highly recommend giving Goral a try.
Scorecard
TANNER APPROVED!
★★★★☆ - 4.21
Criteria | Score | Results |
|---|---|---|
Leather | 4.5 | Good leathers for the application in hand. Coming from environmentally conscious tanneries |
Hardware | 4 | Common alloy or brass hardware with high-quality plating and thin protection that will last a good while. |
Design | 4 | A creative take on a classical design concept |
Engineering | 4 | Clean and quality inner support materials and structure |
Craftsmanship | 4.5 | Fair Value for quality with a brand premium: 5 to 6 x multiplier pricing. |
OVERALL SCORE | 4.21 | Very good example of great quality for a great price without any risk to try |
PRICE / COST MULTIPLIER | 5x | Fair Value for quality with a brand premium. |
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