Amberjack Shoes

A small step for dress shoes, a giant step for sustainable fashion. Although a slight twist of Armstrong’s famous words, we think it’s fitting considering the trailblazing nature of this innovative men’s footwear label. Amberjack was born to modernize the outdated dress shoe with contemporary, comfortable models. And while it works to keep its own footprint down, with carbon-neutral shipping and plastic-free packaging, it’s certainly left its mark on the fashion industry.

Is Amberjack legit?

Yes. Amberjack was founded in New York in 2020 by Jonathan Peters, manufactures its shoes in Portugal, and sells them direct from its own website. Every pair carries a two-year warranty against manufacturing defects. We own six pairs: the Original, the Boot, the Cap-Toe, the Chelsea, the Loafer and the Slip-On. Not one has worn out, failed, or gone back for a repair.

We ordered in the US with US delivery, and the shoes arrived within a couple of days. We have never needed the returns, the exchanges or customer service. The policy at the bottom of this page is what Amberjack publishes, and we have not tested it.

The Amberjack shoes we have reviewed

We own and wear six of the models. Each review covers one pair, carries our own photographs, and says plainly what we did not like about it.

• Read our hands-on review of the Amberjack Original, the dress shoe the brand launched with.
• The Amberjack Cap-Toe, reviewed, the brand’s cap-toe dress shoe.
• What the Amberjack Boot is like to wear, in full-grain leather or nubuck.
• Our review of the Amberjack Chelsea, the classic boot in leather or Italian suede.
• The Loafer, tested in both the suede and the leather.
• Slipping into the Amberjack Slip-On: black, chestnut or honey, and no laces to tie.

Behind Amberjack

History of Amberjack

Established in New York in 2020 by Jonathan Peters, Amberjack was born to reinvent the tired dress shoe. The innovative brand launched with a single shoe silhouette—The Original. The Original epitomized what the footwear label would ultimately become. It focused on sustainability. It pressed hard into comfort and quality. And it was obsessed with modernizing what was quickly becoming an outdated silhouette.

But why the need for change? After graduating from college, Amberjack founder Jonathan Peters worked with many well-known leaders in the fashion and footwear industries. And while he was captivated by the soul (and sole) that went into each design, he was disappointed by how little thought actually went into sustainability. Even brands that marketed themselves as “fully green” were more concerned with their bottom line than anything else. And the label “eco-conscious” was more often used as a marketing ploy as opposed to a real interest in change.

Inspired by brands such as Allbirds—who were actually doing something to make a difference—Jonathan Peters decided to follow in their innovative footsteps (pun intended.) From the get-go, Amberjack was more interested in comfort, quality and sustainability than it was with reducing the shoes’ cost price. The Originals were hybrid dress shoes that infused innovative technologies with decades of craftsmanship. The unique silhouette took the footwear world by storm. And soon after launching, the brand was able to expand its product range into various shoe types—all of which stepped into Amberjack’s trailblazing mentality.

Interesting facts about Amberjack

Yep, Amberjack is a type of fish found in the Indian and Pacific oceans. But it is not the muse behind the luxury brand’s name—despite the fact that it *reeled *in an enormous fan base soon after launching (sorry we had to.) Rather the name “Amberjack” is a combination of “amber” and Jonathan Peters’ grandfather’s name, “Jack.”

Why Jack? As Jonathan’s childhood hero, his grandfather personified the quintessential gentleman—as do Amberjack shoes. Why amber? Amber is a fossilized resin with the uncanny ability to capture and preserve an object from a moment in time. It’s also the traditional color used for old-world dress shoes. And in a way, “amber” represents the infusion of old with new.

This marriage between old and new is evident throughout the brand. From shoe designs to the materials used, the luxury label plays with the idea of merging the two worlds to create a brand that is classically timeless and also always one step ahead of the curve.

A nod towards the past, Amberjack exclusively uses A-grade quality leather usually used for luxury cars. While its proprietary comfort is representative of a movement towards “the new.” The cushioned soles are similar to those found in high-performance athletic shoes. And working with the same supplier that engineered the all-hailed Adidas Boost, the brand is passionate about adopting various cutting-edge technologies.

Amberjack product range

Since launching the luxury label with just The Original, Amberjack has expanded its product range to include a collection of men’s footwear. And while each shoe is made from distinctive materials, all Amberjack shoes are designed to reinvent men’s dress shoes that are better for your feet and better for the planet.

Amberjack’s collection of the most comfortable dress shoes for men includes The Original, The Loafer, The Chelsea, and The Tux. All silhouettes run the gamut in colorways—from Chestnut brown to Cobalt blue. The brand’s signature rubber sole is evident in all silhouettes. And leather textures range from glossy to suede. So there’s just enough choice to find your perfect pair without scrolling through an overwhelming number of options.

Signature materials and craftsmanship

You won’t see it advertised all over its homepage, but Amberjack ships every order carbon neutral, buys its leather from an ISO-certified tannery and assembles in a fair-wage factory. It chooses to be discreet about all of it, because the brand firmly believes that sustainability in fashion should be normalized, not glorified. And while we appreciate the brand’s sentiment and humility, we know you want to know just how your Amberjack shoes are contributing towards a less-destructive future.

Amberjack exclusively sources its leather from an ISO-certified sustainable tannery. This means that the tannins absorbed by the leather skin are biodegradable and environmentally friendly. The process used reduces the number of harmful chemicals released. And it always requires far fewer natural resources than traditional tanning methods.

While the brand is yet to release vegan leather options, all of the leather used is sustainably sourced as a byproduct of the meat industry. The luxury label only used full-grain, A-grade quality leather for improved durability. This type of leather is usually used on luxury cars or by affluent footwear labels who subsequently sell their shoes at a much higher price point.

Besides the leathers used on Amberjack shoes, the brand manufactures all its footwear in Portugal in a fair wage factory. It only uses plastic-free packing. And its shipping is 100% carbon neutral. Talk about multiple steps in many right directions.

Where are Amberjack shoes made?

Marrying a modern metropolitan mindset with timeless European craftsmanship, Amberjack shoes are designed in Brooklyn, New York and made by craftsmen in Portugal. Amberjack only works with small, LWG-certified factories with long histories of shoemaking—many of them making shoes for well-known labels that sell them for double or triple the price.

How do Amberjack shoes fit?

Amberjack says its shoes run true to size for most feet. Between sizes, take the smaller one: if you wear both a 10.5 and an 11, order the 10.5. Wide feet want the wide-sized option where the model offers one, and a half size up where it does not.

Once finding the perfect fit, Amberjack shoes are incredibly comfortable. Roomy-yet-snug, the supple leather is the shoe equivalent of a foot hug. Heat-activated arch support molds to your foot for a customized tailored fit. And ample ventilation makes Amberjack footwear effortlessly breathable.

How to tie Amberjack shoes?

As comfortable as Amberjack shoes may be, there’s nothing more annoying than constantly bending down to tie your laces. So you best tie them up properly. Practically and aesthetically, we recommend a classic straight lace with a hidden knot. What do we mean by this? Once tying your laces, tuck the bow underneath the tongue of the shoe so that it can’t be seen. That way it won’t come undone. And we love the clean aesthetic.

Are Amberjack shoes worth the price?

Yep, Amberjack is considered a luxury brand due to its high-quality craftsmanship and premium materials, but the brand’s shoes are also fantastic value for money. Amberjack shoes are manufactured in the same family-run factories as other well-known affluent labels. And while they showcase the same impeccable eye for detail, Amberjack shoes are far more affordable than other luxury brands. Across the nineteen shoes Amberjack currently sells, prices run from $149 to $250, so more than one pair in the rotation is within reach.

Where to buy Amberjack

Cutting out the middleman, Amberjack’s direct-to-consumer sales approach keeps the brand’s quality high and its prices low. The affordable luxury label sells its men’s footwear exclusively on the Amberjack website, where you’ll find its full range of unique silhouettes and colorways.

Amberjack shipping

Amberjack ships anywhere in the world, and its shipping is 100% carbon neutral. Inside the contiguous US it is free on orders over $70, and a standard US order typically lands in two to five business days. Everywhere else the customer pays the shipping and any import or customs duties, unless the brand says otherwise at checkout.

Amberjack return policy

Inside the contiguous US, Amberjack takes returns free within 30 days of the order shipping, and exchanges free within 60, on orders over $70. The shoes have to come back unworn and in their original condition. International orders can be returned or exchanged too, but the customer pays the return shipping, and anything marked Final Sale cannot be sent back at all.