Deconstructing the Joni Sandal: What Goes Into a Well‑Made Shoe

If you’ve ever wondered what actually goes into a well‑made shoe, you’re not alone. One of my most‑watched TikTok videos recently was me quite literally taking apart our best‑selling Joni sandal, piece by piece, to show what you don’t normally get to see.

This blog post is the long‑form version of that video: a transparent breakdown of the components inside the Joni, why they were chosen, and how each part contributes to comfort, durability, and longevity. This is not about trends or fast fashion: it’s about construction, materials, and informed buying.

In the video, I dismantle a Joni to show the internal layers and components that are usually hidden once a shoe is finished. Shoes are often judged purely on aesthetics, but the real quality lives on the inside.

SHOP JONI

 

Why Deconstruct a Shoe?

There’s a widespread misconception that if something is made from leather, it is automatically high quality. That’s simply not true. Quality comes from how materials are selected, combined, and constructed. Not just from the material label itself.

By deconstructing the Joni, I wanted to show:

  • What a thoughtfully made shoe actually consists of

  • Why certain material choices matter

  • How comfort is engineered, not accidental

  • Why two shoes that look similar on the outside can feel completely different on the foot

 

Handmade in Portugal

Every pair of Joni sandals is handmade in Portugal by skilled craftsmen and craftswomen. Small‑batch production allows for closer quality control, better working conditions, and a more considered approach to materials.

This also means accepting limits: factory minimums, longer development timelines, and fewer shortcuts. But those constraints are exactly what allow us to focus on quality rather than volume.

The Joni sandal wasn’t designed to be trendy or disposable. It was designed to be worn: repeatedly, comfortably, and for years.

If you’re curious to see the construction for yourself, watch the video above. And if you’re someone who believes that the best things to invest in are well‑made shoes, the Joni might be for you.

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