The Barré Construction

The Barré Construction is a shoe construction developed by Alexander Barré for the Carl Hässner Master Shoes collection. Its objective was to combine the functional characteristics of historic sports shoes with the quality standards of traditional shoemaking.

At the heart of the construction is a vertically stitched leather sole assembly. The upper, leather insole board, and leather outsole are first permanently joined before being stitched together. The stitching runs within a specially formed stitch channel in the leather outsole and is completely covered by the leather insole after assembly. As a result, the interior of the shoe remains smooth and exceptionally comfortable.

The Barré Construction follows the principles of premium stitched leather footwear but has been specifically developed to meet the demands of historic sports shoes.

It combines stability, flexibility, and direct ground feel with a durable, repairable construction.

For the Carl Hässner Master Shoes, every component of the sole assembly has been newly developed and carefully matched. These include a multi-layer leather insole board, a rolled leather outsole, and a specially developed TPU protector sole. The protector sole shields the leather outsole during everyday wear without compromising its natural flexibility.

Every Carl Hässner Master Shoe is handcrafted through numerous traditional shoemaking processes. From cutting the leather and lasting the upper to building the sole, executing the vertical stitching, and fitting the leather insole, each shoe is carefully assembled by hand. The result is a distinctive shoe construction that combines the character of historic sports shoes with the craftsmanship of modern shoemaking.