I got my current Red Tape shoes (it was brown semi formal leather got from Spencer’s Plaza Chennai) during March 2004. It has lasted till now; yeah I am still wearing those that too almost regularly now in 2009..!!! WOW..It is going to be 5 years!
The shoe started from chennai ; had gone for a trip to Kashmir the very next month; went through the stones and hills of Pahalgam- the ice and snow of Gulmarg, the long walks to Vaishnodevi, back to scorching summer heat & the urban floods during December of Chennai through the years.
Next stint being even more tough here at Minneapolis US with temperatures in -10s -20s and -30s through good part of winter. It has been a really tough time for the shoes and it has outlasted all. I am looking forward to get a new one for myself, not sure if I will go for or get a Red Tape here, but I might probably go for a Dockers, Nun bush or similar
The heels of course have worn to an extent but it has been very even and so it never look odd or uncomfortable. I did got it a round of stitching from a local cobbler to strengthen it around the upper part of sole where it joins with the upper body- This was done proactively when I saw the sole showed signs of coming loose from the body (in my left shoe) - that was in 2007.
Totally I am highly appreciative of the Red Tape shoe that I got. During that time I had choices of Lee Cooper and Woodland but went for this and I believe the right one for me.