answer:Very few leather shoes out there today. if they exist, they are very expensive. I will bet a dozen doughnuts that your shoes were made in China. check under the tongue to find the answer. Wife bought a pair of ladies sandals, while in Italy. they were handmade and made of real leather. there were no markings on the sandals to state real leather or handmade. but, leather only has one smell and her shoes had it. has lasted her for ten years.