SAS
Est. 1976
Heritage & History
Terry Armstrong and Lew Hayden met in Pittsfield, Maine, where both had come up through the traditional New England shoe trade. In 1976 they pooled their resources and leased space in the corner of an unused aircraft hangar on San Antonio's South Side. They started with 13 shoemakers and no advertising budget, relying entirely on word of mouth. Within a decade, that reputation had grown enough to warrant a second facility: in 1985, SAS opened a factory in Del Rio, Texas.
Armstrong eventually bought out Hayden's share of the business before Hayden's death in 2005, and the company has remained privately held ever since. SAS operates more than 100 stores and offers roughly 200 size-and-width combinations — including up to six width categories — to serve customers that mainstream footwear had long underserved.
Made in San Antonio, Texas
SAS manufactures at factories in San Antonio and Del Rio, Texas. Each pair passes through approximately 87 distinct steps and is touched by roughly 80 pairs of skilled hands. Shoemakers hand-carve proprietary lasts from high-density polyethylene. The company cuts and works only full-grain leather, and the entire structure of each shoe is assembled and inspected in-house.
About 42 percent of SAS's factory workforce has worked for the company for more than 15 years. At a time when almost every American footwear brand had moved production overseas, SAS made the deliberate choice to stay — on the grounds that controlling quality meant controlling manufacturing. The San Antonio factory offers public tours.
SAS Time Out Men's Tripad Comfort Leather Walking Shoe Black
SAS
Clothing & Apparel
SAS VTO Adjustable Comfort Walking Shoe Black
SAS
Clothing & Apparel
SAS Free Time Women's Comfort Walking Shoe Black
SAS
Clothing & Apparel
SAS Free Time Mesh Women's Walking Sneaker White
SAS
Clothing & Apparel
SAS Journey Lux Men's Comfort Walking Sneaker
SAS
Clothing & Apparel
SAS Simplify Women's Comfort Loafer Black
SAS
Clothing & Apparel
SAS Guardian Slip-Resistant Comfort Lace Up Black
SAS
Clothing & Apparel
SAS Bravo Men's Heel Strap Sandal Black
SAS
Clothing & Apparel
SAS Bravo Women's Adjustable Comfort Sandal Brown
SAS
Clothing & Apparel
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SAS made in the USA?
Yes. SAS manufactures 15 verified products in San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio Shoemakers has handcrafted comfort footwear in San Antonio, Texas since 1976, operating as one of the last fully domestic shoe manufacturers in the United States.
Where is SAS manufactured?
SAS is headquartered in San Antonio, TX. Manufacturing takes place in San Antonio, Texas.
What SAS products can I buy?
We carry 15 verified SAS products across Clothing & Apparel. Every listing links directly to Amazon with verified American manufacturing.
When was SAS founded?
SAS was founded in 1976. San Antonio Shoemakers has handcrafted comfort footwear in San Antonio, Texas since 1976, operating as one of the last fully domestic shoe manufacturers in the United States.