Aldo is a footwear brand almost everyone has heard of. This budget-friendly Canadian brand pops up everywhere, from outlet malls to department stores.
The footwear and lifestyle brand has collaborated with companies like Disney and Barbie and celebrities like Millie Bobby Brown.
Aldo is a Canadian footwear and lifestyle brand that has collaborated with huge companies like Disney and Barbie
Aldo Bensadoun founded this Canadian brand in Montreal and has expanded it into a footwear empire. Aldo has carved a space in the footwear industry as a brand that offers style and comfort, catering to every aesthetic with classic silhouettes and quirky styles.
We’re deep-diving into this footwear brand to help you decide whether Aldo shoes are worth the hype.
The History of Aldo
ALDO Shoes was founded by Aldo Bensadoun in 1972 in Canada with a footwear concession in Le Chateau. Bensadoun was the grandson of a cobbler and the son of a shoe merchant.
Aldo founder Aldo Bensadoun at the 30th FN Achievement Awards in 2016 (Credit: Bill Davila / Startraksphoto)
The first standalone Aldo store opened in Montreal in 1978, with the brand expanding across Canada in the ’80s and ’90s. It launched its first store outside North America in 1995 in Israel before quickly expanding to Saudi Arabia, Europe, and Asia.
What has made Aldo famous is its quick turnaround time. The brand can design, produce, and deliver new styles within a matter of weeks.
This short production window allows it to stay ahead of trends, quickly recreating designer silhouettes and runway pieces at a more accessible price point.
Aldo can offer these styles at a competitive price as the brand cuts out the middleman by managing the distribution and manufacturing of the shoes in-house.
The first standalone Aldo store opened in Montreal in 1978 before it expanded into a global footwear chain with over 2000 outlets in over 100 countries (Credit: Martin Good / Shutterstock)
The success of ALDO shoes has led to the formation of The Aldo Group, which contains several other brands and a white-label business that manufactures footwear for JC Penney and Kohl’s.
Although ALDO is a budget-friendly brand, it’s a favorite amongst celebrities and influencers. Selena Gomez is a long-term fan of the brand and Kate Middleton gave Aldo a royal stamp of approval by wearing the “Nicholes” block heel to Wimbledon in 2019 and 2021.
Celebrities like Ariel Winter, Nina Dobrev, Jessica Alba, and Natalie Portman show love for Aldo shoes (Credit: Sara De Boer / Christian Lapid / Humberto Carreno / startraksphoto)
Aldo Shoe Sizing Recommendations
It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the hundreds of shoe styles Aldo offers. The brand recommends that you size up if you’re between sizes or if one foot measures larger than the other.
Only selected Aldo shoes are available in half sizes. Sizing can vary between footwear types and styles, so we recommend reading the product description for specific sizing guidance before purchasing.
Aldo suggests moving up to the larger size if your measurements are between sizes or if one foot’s measurement is larger than the other (Credit: Aldo)
Aldo Returns and Exchange Policy
If you’re buying Aldo shoes for the first time, you’ll want to know the brand’s returns and exchange policy for extra peace of mind. Aldo products purchased in-store and online can be exchanged in-store within 30 days if the item is still in stock.
An item can only be exchanged if it is in a sellable condition with the original receipt and packaging within 30 days of your purchase. You must bring your order confirmation email and the original packaging if your order was placed online.
Aldo allows returns within 30 days of purchase and may only be replaced if the item is in sellable condition and has the original packing and receipt
Orders placed online can be returned to Aldo using its online returns portal, but you’ll be charged for the return delivery.
If your footwear is faulty and less than six months old, you can contact Aldo’s customer service to determine whether you can exchange your shoes or get a refund.
Is Aldo a Sustainable Shoe Brand?
Sustainable fashion is on the rise. Whether you’re a fan of capsule closets or want to do your bit for the environment, you might wonder where Aldo falls on the sustainability scale.
The brand recently introduced its ‘ALDO Love Planet’ collection. This sustainable collection uses ‘planet-loving’ materials, including Aldo’s CleanStep technology that helps clean and filter polluted water. This innovative sole prevents millions of pounds of waste from reaching landfills.
However, Aldo only shares limited information about its sustainability practices. It does highlight several eco-friendly materials that it uses on select footwear styles.
Its most used materials include recycled polyester and nylon, made using post-consumer recycled PET plastic certified according to the Global Recycled Standard.
Aldo has recently unveiled the Aldo Love Planet collection, a line of environmental-friendly products constructed using the brand’s CleanStep technology and other eco-friendly materials
Aldo also uses BLOOM Algae EVA foam, an insole material derived from algae biomass. You can find this material in the brand’s RRPL Frost sneakers, which form a part of the ‘Love Planet’ collection. A similar material – BLOOM Algae Eva Phylon – is used for the midsole of these sneakers.
The brand’s trademarked ‘CleanStep’ technology cleans and filters polluted water using thermoplastic rubber derived from algae biomass. Another material mentioned is recycled polyester yarn, which features across the ‘Love Planet’ collection.
Aldo Discount Codes and Special Promotions
If you’re a savvy shopper, you can usually avoid paying full price for most Aldo shoes. While collaborations and special edition shoes are often excluded from promotions, discount codes usually save you money when buying classic or permanent styles.
Aldo offers a 15% discount code off your first order when you sign up for the brand’s ‘ALDO Crew’ program and join its newsletter.
Aldo offers a 15% discount code off your first order when you sign up for the brand’s ALDO Crew program (Credit: Aldo)
Aldo offers an exclusive 15% student discount through the Student Beans platform, which can be used on full-price items. It also provides a 15% discount for key workers, including teachers, healthcare professionals, and military staff.
You can find the latest Aldo shoe discounts and promotions on the brand’s official website, with a dedicated page for easy access.
FAQs about Aldo Shoes
1. Who Owns Aldo?
Its founder, Aldo Bensadoun, still owns Aldo. The footwear brand forms the foundation of the Aldo Group, which includes other brands and a white-label business that manufactures shoes for U.S. department stores, such as JCPenney and Kohl’s.
2. Where is Aldo made?
Although Aldo is a Canadian brand, its footwear is not made in Canada or the United States. About 60% of Aldo’s shoes are made in China, with other manufacturing locations throughout Asia and Brazil.
3. Is Aldo a Famous Brand?
Aldo is a famous footwear brand known for recreating designer footwear at a more accessible, high-street price point. It’s one of the most successful Canadian fashion brands, with over 1,500 points of sale across more than 100 countries.