This spring the British brand Church’s launched a new premium range, supposedly to compete with Edward Green, John Lobb Paris and Gaziano & Girling. Here is a closer look at the Crown Collection.
The famous shoe company Church’s has been a controversial subject among shoe nerds ever since the Italian luxury company Prada bought the brand a number of years ago. Everything from the fact that the brand now just makes shit to that it’s just as good as before has been proclaimed. My view is that the brand’s Northampton produced Custom Grade footwear is basically what they have always been, but that the problem was partly that for some ranges they’ve chosen shortcuts (moved production from England, changed construction methods, etc) without telling about it and also that they’ve put all development focus on more fashion-oriented models and left the classic side a bit neglected. One exception was the Heritage Line, an attempt at a new premium range that was launched a few years ago which was a real disappointment, it was small, very difficult to access and was not considered to be particularly affordable. Selling shoes at over €1 000 without a closed channel sole for example is a clear failure one might think.
Crown Collection cap toes.
Now the brand makes a new approach on the premium front with the Crown Collection. From the start, it is now a larger number of models included, several interpretations of classics such as the mandatory plain cap toe oxford, a full brogue and double monk shoe, but also a few more special models. For example, a wingtip double monk and my favorite which is a wholecut oxford with a decoration stich made on the inside of the leather where one hand sew a so called skin-stich, midway through the skin, which otherwise mostly Italians are up to. Most come in several different shades, the colors have a nice depth, clearly a more elaborate finish than the usual Custom Grade shoes. The level of craftsmanship of the Crown Collection is high, with relatively narrow bevelled waists and a tight fitting heel, and this time with closed channel soles. The sole stitch is also hidden in a channel on top of the welt here. Leather quality seem really good.
Nice underneath.
Wholecut with handmade decoration stitch.
Crown Collection models are made in two different lasts, 148 and 149. Both with a rounder toe shape where 149 is slightly narrower almond-shaped, and both are longer and neater in shape than Church’s standard lasts. I experienced the fit when I tried them to be fairly standard in size, perhaps with a slightly lower instep.
Prices for Crown Collection models are at £1 000, a bit more for the model with hand-sewn decoration stitch. Price wise, thus on a par with or above its British premium competitors. If Crown Collection will stand up well against them remains to be seen, it’s certainly nice to see that Church’s now seem to make a proper go for it at least.
Lovely punched wholecut, with six pairs of eyelets instead of the more common five.
Wingtip double monk shoe.
A more traditional rendition of the double monk.
hello how much is the cost of A more traditional rendition double monk, and wingtrip double monk shoe , and crown collection cap toes? because it’s seams difficult to found a exact price an your web. best regards Melhan
I think you are slightly ill informed in terms of where production is done. 90% of all men’s shoes( everything that is good year welted) is still produced in Northampton. They haven’t skipped any steps in production as I know each pair of shoes goes through on average 280 manual procedures and takes between 8-12 weeks depending on the model. They only produce sneakers and some of the much more casual rubber soled loafers in Italy? Where did you get this information from as it has no bearing?
Melhan: The price for Crown Collection models is as stated around £1,000.
Jeffrey: Men’s shoes yes, but I didn’t state it was only men’s shoes I tallked about. The range I mention above is their women’s range of “classic models”, which used to be Goodyear welted in Northampton as well, but which a couple of years back was moved to Italy and Blake stitched instead. No change in price, no new info, same models as before in many cases. That was really bad IMO. In this article (only Swedish though) you see some pics of their Italian made women’s shoes: http://www.shoegazing.se/2013/05/31/nyhet-churchs-fejkar-randsom/
You spend too much time on Styleforum, which is a self perpetuating rumor mill.
Hamilton: I’m not sure what you are referring to?
A good article. Much better than the American snob of shoes.