Loafers for men sold by Clarks and Bata in India come with three kinds of upper, which are leather, suede and PVC synthetic. The choice between them is the first decision for most buyers, and the sole and the return terms follow after that.
The four pairs below are the Clarks Clarkslite Bit in black leather, the Clarks Torford Easy in olive suede, the Bata Brown Loafers and a genuine leather loafer from Hush Puppies. Descriptions follow the wording on the brand pages, and phrases such as easy care and breathable are claims made by the brands themselves.
Leather, suede or PVC synthetic
Clarks describes the Clarkslite Bit as a black leather shoe with subtle stretch in the upper, and the brand calls the leather easy care.
The Hush Puppies loafer belongs to the Bata group and its page lists a genuine leather upper with a fabric lining. Together with the Clarkslite Bit, it is one of the two leather pairs in this set.
Suede appears on the Clarks Torford Easy. Clarks describes an olive suede upper on that shoe, and the page does not name a lining material.
The Bata Brown Loafers are the one synthetic pair. Bata lists the upper as PVC synthetic, the lining as PVC lining and the insole as cellulose board, so a buyer who specifically wants leather will not find it on this page.
Clarks says the Clarkslite Bit has a lightweight, flexible EVA sole. The brand also describes the sole as shock absorbing, a statement made by Clarks. The brand also describes a breathable OrthoLite footbed with added foam at the heel and a perforated lining.
The Torford Easy is described with a removable contour cushion footbed. Its page does not say what the sole is made of, which leaves one detail unanswered for a buyer comparing it with the Clarkslite Bit.
Both Bata group pages name a TPR outsole. The Hush Puppies page spells the abbreviation out as Thermoplastic Rubber, while the Bata Brown Loafers page pairs the TPR outsole with the cellulose board insole mentioned above.
Fit and width
Clarks publishes a men’s fit guide on its US site that names G as its medium width, H as wide and XW as extra wide. The guide gives no code for narrow shoes, and the Clarks pages for the two loafers here state no width at all.
The same guide says the heel should fit snugly without slipping, and adds that a slipping heel can cause blisters and reduce stability.
A separate Clarks guide to measuring feet advises taking the measurement in the late afternoon or evening, when feet are at their largest. It says to size to the bigger foot if the two differ, gives G as the standard men’s width, and suggests measuring about once a year as an adult.
GH Bass, a loafer maker, says in its fit guide that loafers should feel snug but not tight. A pair that feels loose out of the box is likely too big, and it will not tighten with wear.
The same guide says slight heel movement is normal at first in new leather, while significant lifting during walking points to a poor fit. It also says leather stretches slightly, mainly in width rather than length, and that suede softens faster than structured leather.
Return terms on the Bata group pages
Bata says unused items can be returned in original packaging within 30 days of delivery. The same page adds that the original shipping charges are not reimbursed.
The Hush Puppies page says returns are accepted within the same window, but it is the Bata Brown Loafers page that states the packaging condition and the shipping rule.
Bata’s club FAQ page says returns are accepted within the same window with no questions asked. It adds that a replacement is valued at the amount paid, including any Bata Club points that were used.
The Clarks India return page sets different terms. Clarks says returns are accepted within five days of receipt, and the item must be unused and intact, in its original packaging, with labels, tags or plastic wrap still on.
A prepaid refund takes five to seven business days once it starts, as per the same page. The refund starts only after the returned item arrives and passes a condition check, and the page does not say who pays for return shipping.
Return terms vary by page, and the Clarks return page and the Clarks product pages are separate documents. The same holds for the Bata product page and the Bata Club FAQ page.
The Clarkslite Bit suits a man who wants a black leather slip on with an EVA sole for the office. Sizes 6 to 14 are listed, which is a wider range than the other three pairs show. The page describes the upper as easy care with subtle stretch, and both phrases are claims from the brand, not measured results.
Care instructions, width and warranty are all missing from the page. A measurement shown for the item width is a product dimension, not a fit width, so it cannot be used to judge how the shoe will sit on a broad foot.
Torford Easy for casual wear
The Torford Easy is the choice for a man who wants a suede loafer for casual occasions. Sizes 6 to 11 are listed on the page. Clarks calls the olive suede upper premium, which is also a brand statement.
Clarks names no sole material, no lining and no care instructions for it, and the page mentions no warranty. The removable footbed is the one construction detail given.
Bata Brown Loafers for a synthetic upper
This pair suits a man who wants a brown loafer and does not need leather. Sizes UK 6 to 10 are listed.
The size information on the page is contradictory, since the text says there is no size guide while a size guide link is also shown. No care instructions are given either, so a buyer is left with the material list and the return terms.
Hush Puppies loafer in genuine leather
The Hush Puppies loafer is described as genuine leather with a fabric lining and a TPR outsole. It suits a man who wants leather from the Hush Puppies range once the pair is available again.
On its page the loafer is marked unavailable, with no colour or sizes shown. Its size guide is given only as an image.
Care for leather, suede and PVC uppers
Three of the four product pages give no care instructions, so the guidance below comes from other footwear makers and applies to each material in general. None of it is specific to the four pairs.
Loake’s care page advises leaving at least 24 hours between wears in dry conditions, so that the shoes can dry out from perspiration. It also advises using a shoe horn each time to protect the heel backs, and shoe trees to keep the shape.
For cleaning leather, Loake says to wipe off dirt with a damp cloth or brush and apply a thin layer of wax or cream to the whole shoe. The shoe is then brushed after about a minute.
The Hush Puppies UK care guide says to stuff wet shoes with newspaper or kitchen roll and let them air dry, away from heaters, which can warp the shape. Loake gives similar advice for wet shoes, saying to dry them away from direct heat with newspaper inside.
Hush Puppies also says leather should be kept in a cool, shaded spot to prevent fading, and its page says leather is most likely to dry out in winter.
Suede has its own steps in the ECCO care guide. The order is to brush lightly, clean with a foam cleaner on a damp cloth, brush with a nubuck brush, condition, and then spray a water repellent from 25 cm and leave it 15 minutes to dry.
Rieker’s guide to synthetic leather shoes says to wipe off loose dirt first. The shoe is then wiped in gentle circles with a cloth dampened in warm water with a little mild detergent, and dried with a towel.
Intertek, a testing and certification company, says the Indian footwear quality control orders cover leather and other materials. They also cover all rubber and all polymeric footwear, such as rubber and PVC boots, sandals and slippers, and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) licenses use of the Standard Mark on them.
A BIS circular lists the order for leather and other materials as covering canvas shoes with rubber soles, sports footwear, derby style shoes and general purpose shoes. Loafers are not named in that list.
What the pages leave out
Three of the four pages give no care instructions, and none of them states a width or a fit standard. The two Clarks pages mention no warranty.
The Hush Puppies page offers a notify option for buyers who want to be told when the loafer is available again.
