ALDO

ALDO was founded in Montreal in 1972 by Aldo Bensadoun. The Canadian footwear business began as a concession inside a department store before opening its first freestanding shop in 1978. Bensadoun came from a family connected to shoemaking and shoe retail, giving the new company roots in both the product and the business of selling it.

The brand developed around fashion-led shoes at accessible prices. For men, that has meant footwear for different parts of the wardrobe, from office shoes and loafers to boots and casual styles. Its approach follows changes in dress closely, translating them into products that can reach a broad customer through a large retail network.

Expansion into the United States began in 1993, followed by a wider international rollout. Montreal remained the company’s headquarters as ALDO became a familiar name in shopping centers and city retail districts. Bags and accessories extended its offer, although footwear remained the foundation of the brand’s identity.

ALDO belongs to the family-owned ALDO Group, which also developed Call It Spring. The main label’s role in menswear is grounded in the practical decision of how to finish an outfit. Its collections bring changing proportions and materials to familiar shoe types, offering customers a route into fashion through a purchase that can alter the character of clothes they already own.