I sometimes hear from people that they wait with inserting shoe trees after they’ve taken their shoes off, to let the worst moist evaporate first. While I can understand the logic behind this, it’s definitely not what’s best for your shoes. Here’s why you should basically always insert your shoe trees straight away after use.
One of the most sought after bespoke shoemakers we have in the world is without a doubt TYE Shoemaker. For many years the only chance to get a pair was to visit them in Tokyo, since a few years they started doing trunk shows in Singapore, and now they are doing their first ever trunk show in New York on May 27-30.
The Indian brand Bridlen’s latest shoe news is an interesting one, where they’ve developed two new asymmetric lasts that are made to follow the natural shape of the feet. A type of last that was more common a bunch of decades ago, but that seem to be making a comeback more and more. A good middle-way between the more common classic shoe lasts and the frankly often hideous minimalist “barefoot” style lats.
Many bespoke shoemakers cut open fitting shoes to be able to assess certain things even better. Touch, feel and input from the customer may be the most important, but to gather extra data it can be good to get a view “inside”. In the case with this pair an extra feature of the cutting was used, where the maker Patrick Frei cut diagonal lines to let the fitting shoes expand to better evaluate how much needed to be added.
The Portuguese brand Carlos Santos and their Goodyear welted shoes are considered quite affordable already at RRP, now you can get them at 25% off when the online store The Noble Shoe runs a sale on all their stock of the brand.
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The finalists in the two prestigious world championships contests, with finals taking place at the London Super Trunk Show on May 9, have been appointed. We’ll have two Japanese and a French battle it out in the shine final, and two Frenchmen and a Finn to fight for glory for the patina title. See their submissions here.
Hear the Tokyo based shoemaker Seiji McCarthy answer questions from listeners and readers of Shoegazing. For example why there’s not more American bespoke shoemakers making classic American style shoes, how his workshop is set up, if lastmaking skill is affected by more makers offering handmade MTO shoes, and much more.
One of the most anticipated events in the world of quality footwear returns to London this spring. On Saturday May 9, the London Super Trunk Show will be held for the eighth time, bringing together leading men’s shoe and menswear brands from around the world. Visitors can expect exhibitions from 13 companies, a free shoe shining service, several shorter stage sessions on shoes and shoe care, the finals of the world championships of shoe shining, shoe patina and shoemaking, and more. Here’s all info about the event.
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Boot Black is the premium shoe care brand of Japan’s largest shoe care manufacturer Columbus. A family owned company that dates back over 100 years, which in accordance to Japanese tradition always try do that little bit extra for the most demanding customers.
Last year I wrote about the news that the James Fayed, owner of the British shirt company Turnbull & Asser, bought a majority stake in the Northampton shoe manufacturer Tricker’s. Now merges between the two companies are announced, as Turnbull’s Creative Director Roberto Menichetti will take the same role at Tricker’s, and their footwear will be integrated into Turnbull & Asser’s retail network.
