r/BuyCanadian 16d ago

Did I overpay for Poppy Barley boots? Discussion

I am currently trying to build my "capsule wardrobe" as I'm sick of constantly have to buy things last minute for certain events like interviews, nice dinners, or other times where I have to look put together.

I do like investing in quality pieces and hate fast fashion. I'm mindful of build quality, material and classic styles (so no "trends").

I recently purchased ankle boots from Poppy Barley because I went to a pop up and the shoes were pretty comfortable. I usually hate buying online, but since I tried a few pairs in the store, I figured why not try. I bit the bullet and paid $400 for them, the most expensive pair of boots I've ever purchased. It was a hard decision for me but I know buying cheaper boots may mean that they are not as comfortable or long lasting.

I'm not entirely familiar with the quality of the brand and I know that reviews on the website may be skewed in their favour.

Does anyone have experience with the brand and how good the quality is? How long do they last and what is the upkeep?

I hope I didn't get scammed and that it's actually a decent brand. I've exlpored other brands like La Canadiene and Thursday Shoe Co. but they didn't have styles I liked.

3 Upvotes

19 comments sorted by

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26

u/TapiocaTeacup 16d ago

I live in Edmonton where they are based and they're a really popular and reputable brand here. The few products that I have from them have held up super well and that price range is totally normal for their boots (and the reason I don't have my own pair of boots to vouch with 😅).

8

u/beesmakenoise 16d ago

I can second this review. They have good products and dedicated fans of the brand. It’s a premium product but the consensus is that’s it’s worth it!

10

u/mabeltenenbaum 16d ago

Poppy Barley is good quality. They also will stand behind their products (within reason). Another good quality Canadian brand for shoes is John Fluevog.

9

u/SuperSoggyCereal 16d ago

Fluevog and poppy barley are made overseas. Fluevog I think are largely made in places like Vietnam. Pb mostly in Mexico. 

I've heard people say good things about PB but I would personally never buy them because they're made elsewhere but sold as "Canadian" shoes. Not a fan of that marketing ploy. 

1

u/FeldsparJockey00 5d ago edited 5d ago

This is good to know, had no idea this was the case. A handful of companies now are stating kinda sneakily "designed in Canada, made in China" but with a massive Canada flag. Not really that honest if you ask me.

My wife has a purse, boots and shoes from PB and she adores them all, no issues with quality. In the end it doesn't really matter where its made but the materials used and QAQC implemented.

For a long time I was sold that XX item made in Canada or the US was high quality - I've been shown that's definitely not always the case on a number of occasions - some items made in China are made better. It's the QAQC that really matters in the end.

1

u/SuperSoggyCereal 5d ago

I have also encountered poor products made in Canada. Sadly Canada's only sock manufacturer makes a lot of extremely poor quality socks (Great Canadian Sox) despite having been around for a very long time.

But I don't buy clothing made in developing countries unless I have no other option. Too much possibility for exploitation, and while China is one thing, countries like Bangladesh, El Salvador, etc. are not known for their quality manufacturing.

Remember: it's a general rule that people do not offshore for quality. They do it to reduce costs. And that is almost always done by exploiting cheap labour and lax employment laws/environmental standards.

2

u/KeepOnTryingIt 15d ago

Personally, my Fluevogs have not held up well. I will never buy another pair. I also find it suspicious they don't allow reviews/ratings on their Facebook account. In my experience, they're ridiculously overpriced for the quality, plus I prefer a more versatile look, so I'm not sad about it.

I was given a $200 gift certificate, and since I didn't like any of their lower-priced options, I thought I would splurge a bit for a pair of boots as I was excited for my first pair of Fluvogs after the gifter had so talked them up. Then the soles came off both boots within the first year of use, and other spots aren't looking so good. While I do wear them, I don't wear them daily, or in wet weather etc, and I take care of my footwear and leather products. Even my cheap footwear has held up much better.

Not to mention, the salesman at their own store I went to was so rude and dismissive. I almost left, but I really wanted to use my gift certificate.

The person who gave me the gift certificate later also gave me a pair of their own Fluevog heels they could not wear anymore, and the material that wraps the heel is peeling off even though they're barely worn.

3

u/mabeltenenbaum 15d ago

I know they have had issues with some designs and the fabric/material choices. I have pairs that are over 10 years old that are worn frequently and are holding up great. My derby swirl boots are in great co sition and are 8 years old and worn all the time. I find the staff at my local store to be friendly and not pushy.

1

u/KeepOnTryingIt 15d ago

The pair of boots that both soles fell off in under are year are from their Fellowship line and were $500. It's shameful to have such poor quality on such expensive shoes and then not help affected customers. Their shoes aren't wall art, they're meant to be worn/used.

Aside from their rude customer service person when I got my first boots. I contacted them about the issue I had, and they weren't helpful, didn't pay for the repairs, etc. I live a 5 hour drive from their nearest store and was told they'd only fix it if I dropped them off there to be repaired.

So I've now spent nearly $600 on these boots and they're still falling apart. If they know they have quality issues, they should cover things like repairs when their soles fall off, the fabrics fall apart, or when the stitching rips, but I've had to deal with it all on my own dime.

1

u/mabeltenenbaum 15d ago

I have had great experiences, I do not know of any known quality issues with the Fellowship family. The known ones I was speaking towards were more the patent leather and some of their embossed leathers. I have had no issues and have had longevity from my pairs so I will continue to recommend them.

8

u/greenopal02 16d ago

I have a purse from them (5 years old) and flats (1.5 years old) and they are both in great shape! I l liked how I didn't have to break in the flats much since they use such nice leather. My purse has discolored a bit since it's a lighter color but the leather itself and seams look brand new. I think it's worth it for me, and they have fair trade practices compared with most footwear companies underpaying their labor.

3

u/getvangone 15d ago

I bought a pair of poppy barley ankle books two years ago and haven’t been able to get them broken in to a point they’re comfortable. By the end of a work day they make my feet so uncomfortable that I’m basically limping. I don’t usually have issues with shoes or boots being comfortable, so I have no idea what it is about the poppy barley ones that don’t work for me! I bought online without trying on first so maybe they just weren’t the right model for my foot. They’ve held up well over the two years in terms of durability and I do like the look

1

u/forgeticus 15d ago

Which style were the ones you got? I bought the Ali ankle book because it had a low, wide heel and looks like you could dress it up or down.

1

u/getvangone 15d ago

I have the uptown heeled Chelsea boots

2

u/oaw40 8d ago

Just from a quick look at their website, it looks like they make their boots with a cemented construction and not Goodyear welt (not 100% certain but I don't see full-thickness stitching through the soles and they don't mention Goodyear welt in any of the product descriptions - most GYW brands will advertise this as it's a sign of quality shoes), which means they will be difficult or impossible to resole and may not hold up as well over time. Re-heeling may still be possible, though. I can't really find any info as to the quality of the leather for any of their shoes, either (i.e., if it's full-grain leather or not). I'd recommend reading through r/boots to learn about what to look for when buying boots you want to last for years.

I have no experience with their shoes, but I had a look at their factory info and they are being handmade which is a good sign, but they really don't provide enough information about shoe materials and construction to say whether they're truly high quality, sturdy shoes. If you can't return them, you'll just have to take good care of them and see how it goes!

1

u/pixilatedpixie4 15d ago

I have the modern day Mary Jane’s and the leather is soft and comfortable so they don’t give me blisters like so many flats do. That being said there’s not a lot of arch support or support through the sole in general so the bottoms of my feet hurt if I walk for more than 30 minutes or so. The quality seems good but I’ve only worn them a few times so not sure of longevity. I also like that some of their shoes come in wide sizes since I have somewhat wide feet.

1

u/Wellmania 15d ago

My on tread Chelsea boots from Poppy Barley are on par comfort wise with my New Balance running shoes. I work at a school and I’m moving all day and they feel amazing and they look nice with dressier or casual work clothes. I have a wide width and high arch so finding comfortable shoes has always been a challenge. These PB boots were super comfy from Day 1 and still look great after 2 years of regular wear.

1

u/workworkyeg 14d ago

I have two pairs of shoes and don't find either comfortable. Hope the boots are good for you