I’ve long associated Bally of Switzerland with my dad. He has been an avid fan of the shoe brand since his mother advocated the emphasis of a quality shoe over all. Since moving to Switzerland and passing the Bally store so often I think of my dad and his Bally shoes which he only ever has resoled as the supple leather ages ever so well.
As I contemplate a new pair of sturdy flats that may be fit for a sprint to the tram and with a little bit of a heel to keep a hem from sweeping the ground. I keep coming back to Bally. Perhaps I’m old enough and mature enough to set aside the disposable and the cheap flats and invest in a flat that will stand me in good stead for years to come. I’m leaning toward the purchase of the Elsa Flat.
Founded by Carl Franz Bally, what began as a family-run ribbon factory in Schönenwerd quickly became a pioneering global brand by the turn of the century as Bally industrialized its processes (1854), and expanded stores from Montevideo, Uruguay (1870) to Paris, France (1879). Bally is one of the world's longstanding luxury brands. Proud to be leather architects, our DNA as skilled shoemakers marries a heritage of craftsmanship with a decidedly contemporary aesthetic.