Wataru Shimamoto, the masterful Japanese shoemaker behind the brand Orma Shoemaker, is an inspiring figure in the world of bespoke footwear. With a background at Il Micio in Italy, he’s now back in Japan since some years carving out a niche for himself in the competitive landscape of shoemaking, culminating in his victory at the World Championships of Shoemaking in 2022.
One of the classic British online stores for quality men’s shoes is back in business. Two year’s ago they closed to store and sold of all the stock. One thought that was it. But now Pediwear has re-opened, with quite a large stock from several brands like Carlos Santos, Carmina, Tricker’s, Sanders and so on.
The Japanese shoemaker Kiichiro Ozeki has a background at Hiro Yanagimachi and Gaziano & Girling, but now he introduces his own bespoke shoe brand Fig. A new challenge where he for the first time will do all the steps himself, not only his famous bottom making, but also lasts and upper making. Fig now does its first trunk show in Japan.
Three years ago the Alfred Sargent brand went into liquidation, and from that the Paul Sargent brand emerged with the same factory, models, lasts and so on. Aim was to finally give a Sargent brand the attention it deserved, but sadly, things has not gone as planned. Now the factory in Rushden, Northamptonshire, is once again closed, and all workers have been laid off.
By popular demand, the Question and answer podcast special with Daniel Wegan of Catella is back for another edition. This time we talk workload, potential business expansions, what he would have changed from when he started his own business, and much more.
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The New York Super Trunk Show was back for its second iteration the past weekend, with another great shoe day in the middle of Manhattan. 1,200 visitors coming to check out a bunch of shoe and menswear exhibitors from around the world, follow the U.S. shoe shining champs and other shoe happenings, and just have a good time. Substantial report from the day with lots of photos.
The Japanese shoe shine bar chain and shoe care brand Brift H, founded by the first world champion of shoe shining Yuya Hasegawa, is now part of the Japanese high-end fashion giant United Arrows. A great journey that started with Yuya being a street shoe shiner, and a testament to the importance the shoe shine industry has, not least in Japan.
Here we will live stream two sessions from the New York Super Trunk Show today Saturday October 5. See live from the final of the U.S. Championships of Shoe Shining, see the results of the shoe patina exhibition, and get a look at all the amazing shoe exhibitors from all over the world. Will also be available to watch after the live sessions.
This Saturday the second edition of the New York Super Trunk Show takes place. In a lovely venue on Manhattan, on Upper East Side between Madison Ave and Central Park, we’ll gather 15 exhibitors from all over the world, host a patina exhibition, a free shoe shining service, and the U.S. Championships of Shoe Shining. Here’s some practical info ahead of the event, for those who plan to visit, and on the live streaming we will do for those who can’t attend.
Wildsmith was one of the classic British quality men’s shoe brands, started already in 1847, but it was a long time since it had a prime. The original company was liquidated in the early 2000’s, and after two unsuccessful resurrections it’s now time for the third attempt.
