Loafers

Here you'll find Goodyear welted loafers by Skolyx, Yanko and TLB Mallorca. Loafers is a shoe model without any lacing, a type of slip-on, which has gained popularity in recent years, not least thanks to it's great comfort and ease of use, as well as for it's combination of classic and contemporary style.

Common models is the penny with a strap over the ankle, and the tassel with decorative tassels on top of the shoe. It’s especially popular during spring and summer when it can be worn both with dressier shorts and lighter suits.

All shoes from Skolyx, Yanko and TLB Mallorca are made in Spain, on the island Mallorca, in high quality full grain leather with a Goodyear welted construction to be easily resoleable. Only exception is the comfy Belgian loafers we offer from Yanko, which are Blake stitched.

What are loafers?

It's a type of slip-on shoe, which have no laces. Usually, they consist of side panels that run around the toe of the shoe, and then a vamp panel on top of the shoe that goes up to the opening of the shoe, where it becomes like a tongue. There are many different types of loafers, from relatively dressy black pennies, to light and airy Belgians with a low-cut vamp.

When was the first loafer developed?

This is a shoe model that, unlike in most cases, we actually know more or less exactly how it was developed, thanks to it being a relatively young model that has not been around for very long. The first version was launched in 1908 in Norway as the "Aurlandskoen", developed by Nils Gregoriusson Tveranger. In the following decades, the shoe was further developed, and by mid-century it was a major export success, going under the name "Norwegian Moccasins". Around the same time, the British bespoke shoe company Wildsmith developed a slip-on house shoe for the future King George VI, which became the model for the British loafers that were then taken across the Atlantic and developed further.

What are penny loafers?

A penny have like a saddle strap that runs over the ankle of the shoe, providing added stability, and with a smaller opening in the middle of the strap. The name derives from high school students in the US where the model became very popular, who according to the stories being told used to have pennies lying in the opening of the strap to use for phone calls. The penny is one of the most popular loafer models today.

What are tassel loafers?

The first tassel was developed by the American company Alden, when they were commissioned by the famous American actor Paul Lukas. He had bought a pair of oxfords in Europe with leather tassels on the laces, and wanted a version of it made. But Alden combined it with the loafer and used the lace with the tassels purely for decoration, and the tassel was born. The shoe was made for him in 1948, and in 1950 Alden introduced the tassel loafer to its range.

How should new loafers fit?

Since they have no laces or buckles with which to adjust the fit, it's a bit more difficult to get the fit perfect. Loafers should feel slightly tighter when brand new compared to lace-up shoes, but should certainly not be uncomfortable. It's not uncommon to go down half a size, compared to, say, lace-ups or monk shoes. If you need to choose a size that is a bit roomy, as the smaller one is too tight or short, this can usually be solved in a good way, see below.

How do I avoid heel slip on loafers?

A simple and very well working solution is to use a tongue pad in suede leather, with a self-adhesive surface that is attached over the instep and holds down and behind the foot in a good way. If necessary, this can be complemented with a thin insole in leather, and possibly also with a soft suede heel grip.