Where are Wyde shoes made?

Wyde shoes are made in two places. The leather models Nova, Maia, Maia Strap, Nilo, Chelsea and Norra are handmade in Portugal, and the Soma sneaker is made in China by a long-standing partner. Wyde Footwear is a shoe brand that works with these partners, and it does not run the factories itself.

On its FAQ page, Wyde describes the setup this way: its shoes are crafted by two specialist partners, which are three family-run factories in Portugal and a long-standing partner in China for the Soma line. The Portuguese factories make the leather models from LWG Gold-certified European leather. The partner in China was chosen for its expertise in suede and textile construction, which is what Soma is built from.

This article goes through each model, explains why the production is split, lists the materials Wyde names for each shoe and explains what the LWG rating on the leather does and does not tell you. Every statement about production comes from Wyde's own pages and documents, and every statement about the Leather Working Group comes from the group's own certification page.

What are the key details?

• Nova, Maia, Maia Strap, Nilo, Chelsea and Norra are handmade in Portugal.
• Soma is made in China. Wyde never describes Soma as made in Portugal.
• Wyde works with three family-run factories in Portugal and one long-standing partner in China.
• The leather models use leather with an LWG rating. Nova White uses LWG Silver, while Nova Dual Black, Maia, Maia Strap and Nilo name LWG Gold.
• Wyde is a shoe brand and not a manufacturer.

Which Wyde models are made in Portugal?

Six shoe models are made in Portugal: Nova, Maia, Maia Strap, Nilo, Chelsea and Norra. Each product page for these shoes carries the line "Handmade in Portugal", and the Anatomic Socks are made in Portugal as well.

Nova is Wyde's leather sneaker. Maia is a leather sandal with adjustable straps, and Maia Strap is the same shoe with a strap over the instep. Customers should size down one size from their Wyde sneaker size when they choose Maia or Maia Strap. Nilo is a slip-on built on a cork-based footbed. Chelsea is a chelsea boot with a water resistant membrane for the cold and wet months, and Norra is a winter boot developed for slush, snow and long cold days.

The Anatomic Socks are toe socks that are made in Portugal from 80% cotton, 17% nylon and 3% spandex, according to the Wyde FAQ on its sock product page. The socks are the only accessory this article covers, because Wyde states the country of origin only for them.

Which models are handmade in Portugal?

• Nova, the leather sneaker.
• Maia and Maia Strap, the leather sandals. Size down one size from your Wyde sneaker size.
• Nilo, the slip-on on a cork-based footbed.
• Chelsea, the chelsea boot.
• Norra, the winter boot.

Who makes Wyde shoes in Portugal?

Wyde shoes in Portugal are made in three family-run factories. Wyde does not name the factories on its website, so this article does not either.

What Wyde does say is that the factories make its leather models from LWG Gold-certified European leather, and that every shoe, wherever it is made, is held to the same standard: anatomically correct lasts, durable materials and craftsmanship the brand stands behind. A last is the foot-shaped form a shoe is built around, so an anatomically correct last is what gives these shoes their foot-shaped outline.

The product pages add that the shoes are developed with foot function specialists. Wyde states that its Portugal-made leather shoes are free from PFCs, AZO colors and heavy metals, and that they comply with EU regulations such as REACH and CADS norms. Wyde makes these chemical statements for its Portugal-made leather models, not for Soma.

Why is Soma made in China?

Soma is made in China by a long-standing partner that Wyde chose for its expertise in suede and textile construction. Soma is built from air mesh and suede on the upper, which is a different construction from the leather models made in Portugal.

Wyde describes Soma as a shoe with lightweight foam, a wide toe box, zero drop and a sole that moves with you. The spec list on the product page names a rubber outsole, an EVA midsole, an air mesh and suede upper and a velvet inner lining. A pair in size 39 weighs 300 g. According to Wyde's product catalog, Soma was launched on 25 March 2026.

The Soma product page also says something about the factory. Wyde states that it chooses every manufacturing partner with the same standard of quality and integrity, and that its Soma factory is ISO 9001:2015 certified for quality management and BSCI audited (amfori, conducted by QIMA). According to Wyde, the audit confirms fair wages, safe working conditions, no child or forced labor, and environmental protection practices.

Soma has no LWG rating. The LWG ratings in this article apply to the leather models, and Wyde makes no LWG claim for Soma.

What are the key details about Soma?

• Made in China by a long-standing partner.
• Upper: air mesh and suede. Lining: velvet.
• Midsole: EVA. Outsole: rubber.
• Weight: 300 g in size 39.
• The Soma factory is ISO 9001:2015 certified and BSCI audited, according to Wyde.

What materials do Wyde shoes use?

The materials differ by model. Rubber outsoles appear on Nova, Maia, Nilo and Soma, cork appears in Maia and Nilo, and the leather models use leather with an LWG rating.

The next steps show how Wyde lists the materials for the models whose spec lists name them. Chelsea and Norra are also handmade in Portugal, and their full material lists are on their product pages.

What does LWG certification mean for Wyde shoes?

The Leather Working Group, or LWG, audits the companies that make leather. A Gold rating means the leather manufacturer reached the top level in every scored part of the audit. It is a rating of how the tannery works with water, energy and chemicals, and it is not a certification of animal welfare.

The group says its audit protocol for leather manufacturers has 17 sections, among them water and energy use, chemical management, and waste management and effluent treatment. Each scored section has a minimum threshold: Gold 85%, Silver 75% and Bronze 65%, with 50% as the threshold for the Audited level. The final rating is set by the lowest section, so a manufacturer that achieves Gold has achieved Gold in each scored section.

The group also states that the audit is not an assessment of legal compliance, and that its audits are carried out by LWG Assurance Services, which it describes as an impartial certification body. Certification lasts 24 months for manufacturers.

For a shopper, this means two things. First, the rating describes the tannery that supplies the leather, not the shoe factory and not the finished shoe. Second, the rating differs by model and color. Nova White uses LWG Silver certified leather, while Nova Dual Black, Maia, Maia Strap and Nilo name LWG Gold certified leather. Wyde makes no LWG claim for Soma.

How do LWG ratings compare?

• Gold: reached the top level, at least 85%, in every scored section.
• Silver: reached at least 75% in every scored section.
• Bronze: reached at least 65% in every scored section.
• Audited: reached at least 50%. Below 50% the audit is failed.

What do all Wyde shoes have in common, wherever they are made?

Every Wyde shoe has a wide, foot-shaped toe box, zero drop and zero toe spring. Zero drop means the heel and the forefoot sit at the same height. Wyde also designs the shoes so that the toes can bend without restriction.

These are the design principles Wyde names on its FAQ page, and it says it does not compromise on them in any factory. Wyde shoes share the principles of barefoot footwear, which are a wide toe box, zero drop, no toe spring and a flexible sole, but they have more cushioning than a barefoot shoe. For that reason Wyde does not call its shoes barefoot shoes. It describes them as anatomically shaped shoes with a wide toe box and everyday cushioning.

All sizes are unisex and run from EU 36 to 47 in whole sizes. If you normally wear a half size, Wyde recommends sizing up, and if you are between sizes, it also says to size up. The exception is Maia, where Wyde recommends sizing down one size from your Wyde sneaker size.

How can you check where a specific pair of Wyde shoes is made?

Open the product page of the pair you are looking at and read the description and the spec list. The page names the country of origin and the materials.

If you have a question that the product page does not answer, Wyde's customer contact is support@wydefootwear.com.

Where do PFC-free and REACH statements apply?

Wyde makes its PFC-free, AZO-free and heavy-metal-free statements for its Portugal-made leather shoes. It does not make them for Soma, which is made in China.

On its FAQ page, Wyde writes that its shoes, handmade in Portugal, are free from PFCs, AZO colors and heavy metals, and that they are fully compliant with EU regulations such as REACH and CADS norms. This article repeats the statement as Wyde makes it. It is a statement by the brand, and this article does not test or verify the shoes.

The Soma factory has a different set of documents, which are the ISO 9001:2015 certificate for quality management and the BSCI audit by QIMA that Wyde names on the Soma product page. The two sets of statements describe different things and should not be mixed up, since one concerns the chemical profile of the Portugal-made shoes and the other concerns the management system and working conditions at the Soma factory.

Are returns handled differently for shoes made in Portugal and in China?

No. The return policy on wydefootwear.com does not distinguish between models or factories. It applies to all shoes, and you have 30 days from the day you receive your order to register a return in the return portal.

The policy asks that you try the shoes indoors on a clean floor. A few minutes of walking around indoors is fine, and the shoes need to come back unused, in original condition and in the original box. Wyde provides a prepaid return label for orders within Sweden, the EU and the USA, and size exchanges are free in those three markets. In Norway, Switzerland, the UK and Canada you place a new order in the size you want and register the original pair as a return. Because the policy is the same for every model, you can compare a Portugal-made leather sneaker and Soma on fit and materials without a difference in the return terms.

Related reading: Stylish Wide Toe Box Shoes, Wyde Shoe Prices, and Wyde Footwear Sizing, Size Exchanges and Returns Explained.

Are all Wyde shoes made in Portugal?

No. Nova, Maia, Maia Strap, Nilo, Chelsea and Norra are handmade in Portugal, while the Soma model is made in China by a long-standing partner.

Who owns the factories that make Wyde shoes?

Wyde works with three family-run factories in Portugal and a long-standing partner in China. Wyde is a shoe brand and not a manufacturer, and it does not name the factories on its website.

Does Soma use LWG certified leather?

No. Soma has an air mesh and suede upper, and Wyde makes no LWG claim for it. The LWG ratings apply to the leather models.

What is the difference between LWG Gold and LWG Silver?

Both are ratings of a tannery from the Leather Working Group. Gold means the manufacturer reached at least 85% in every scored section of the audit, and Silver means at least 75%. Nova White uses LWG Silver certified leather, while Nova Dual Black, Maia, Maia Strap and Nilo name LWG Gold.

Is the LWG rating an animal welfare certification?

No. It rates the environmental performance of the tannery, including water and energy use, chemical management and waste management.

How big do Maia shoes run?

Wyde recommends sizing down one size from your Wyde sneaker size when you buy Maia or Maia Strap. For other Wyde shoes, Wyde recommends sizing up if you are between sizes or normally wear a half size.

What are the sources?

Wyde Footwear, FAQ page (https://wydefootwear.com/pages/faq), and the product pages for Nova Dual Black, Nova White, Maia, Nilo, Soma and Anatomic Socks at wydefootwear.com, and the return policy (https://wydefootwear.com/policies/refund-policy), as of October 2026. Wyde Footwear product catalog (brand document, September 2026). Leather Working Group, certification page (https://www.leatherworkinggroup.com/certification/).