The term “hand-welting” is quickly fading from the shoemaker’s lexicon. But there’s no replacing the human touch. Because hand-welted shoes require a leather holdfast to secure the inseam, rather than the canvas that’s used in machine-made shoes, they offer superior comfort. And unlike machining, hand-welting allows the outsoles to be replaced without compromising the structural integrity of the shoes. Budapest is one of the world’s great bastions of hand-welting, and it’s here that Buday Shoes—a family-run business of about six artisans—has been operating since the ‘80s.