It was three years since, but the past weekend it was finally time for the Stockholm edition of the super trunk shows again. Six shoe companies and three partners exhibited, lots of shoe shining happenings including the Swedish champs, second hand marketplace and much more. Here’s a summary of the day with loads of photos.
Loads of shoes in one place again, here’s CNES table, one of all the exhibitors.
The event took place in the same venue as it has in the recent four editions, Scandic Anglais, located at Stureplan in the middle of Stockholm. It was a calmer event than usual, about 400 people came in total during the day, quite a bit less than the 700-900 we’ve had previous years, and sales was also slower than normal. A bit hard to say the reason, if interest is down a bit, or if it’s the nervousness for the energy crisis and recession (the fact that it was sensationally calm on the streets of Stockholm in general, where for example one of the main menswear stores closed the day with zero orders, which is like unheard of for a Saturday after salary, suggests the latter was at least partly a reason).
A bit calmer than usual, but during times it was more crowded.
This meant more time to chat properly though, which was one positive thing with it. Here’s Daniel Wegan of Catella Shoemaker having a long conversation with a visitor.
Luxury shoe care by main partner Paul Brunngård.
Ties and more by Granqvist.
Knitwear by Blugiallo.
Nonetheless it was a great day, where a majority of those who came were really shoe interested folks, and the calmer tempo made it easier for them to have meaningful conversations with the exhibitors and get more assistance, which was much appreciated by both sides. One person had to work harder than everyone else though, Anders Sundström of the main partner and shoe care company Paul Brunngård. He shined visitors shoes the whole day, when he wasn’t part of the jury in the shining champs and held an appreciated spit shine workshop.
Anders Sundström of Paul Brunngård hosting the spit shine workshop.
Working hard on the shine.
Chatting shoes. Acme Shoemaker’s representatives still aren’t able to travel to Europe due to Covid restrictions in China, so they had Robert Gladh on the floor in Sweden, who previously have worked for among others Oscar Jacobson and Skolyx.
In the aforementioned Swedish championships in shoe shining, the finalists Anders Ericson, Alexander Glansholm and Tobias Bjöörn battled it out over 20 minutes, where they shined a Loake Aldwych shoe with Paul Brunngård’s new products. Jury, consisting of Anders, me, co-organiser Roland Olsson and Isaac Kjellström of Loake, came to the conclusion that Tobias Bjöörn had done the best shine job, giving him the title, 3,000 SEK, a filled luxury shoe care valet box worth about 6,000 SEK, and a pair of Loake shoes worth 3,500 SEK. After his win Tobias and the contest has been featured in a bunch of local and national media, including the current affairs programme Efter fem in Sweden’s second largest TV channel TV4.
Shoe shining final on the roll. Finalists from the left: Tobias Bjöörn, Alexander Glansholm, Anders Ericson.
Crowd following it immensely.
Winner Tobias Bjöörn.
The finished shoes, placed same order as on stage, so from the left: Bjöörn, Glansholm, Ericson.
For Shoegazing Market, the second hand shoe marketplace, we had over 70 pairs on the tables and a third of them found new owners when the day was over. Those not sold were either picked up by the owners, or given to the second hand shop Pete & Harry, where the proceeds go to support for Ukraine.
This Saturday the super trunk show tour continues, with the Amsterdam edition. Read more about that here, and stay tuned for coverage from this as well.
Shoegazing Market where visitors’ own second hand shoes were sold.
Over 70 pairs were on sale.
Hunting for a bargain.
Balmoral boots on the table of Chinese brand Yearn Shoemaker and their European representative Arterton London.
Arterton showcased this handcrafted Nakata hanger which is painted with “flower dust” by a Japanese sensei. Price €1,700.
Adelaide in museum calf.
Yearn’s sole.
Boots by Bridlen Shoemaker from India.
Bridlen’s usp is that they do Goodyear welting the old school way, directly to a thicker insole (right), instead of to a glued on canvas rib (left) as is standard nowadays.
Bridlen’s table.
Austerity brogue from the Founders line, with tighter waists, oak bark tanned soles and so on.
Anton Carlsson at Blugiallo explains their concept to a visitor.
Clean warmers.
Acme Shoemaker, the real high-end Chinese maker, was impressing many visitors.
Shark skin split toe derby. Cool factor: high.
Butterfly loafers.
The famous Black Panter seamless wholecut.
Alan Lee from CNES helping a customer who try on their shoes.
A spiral wholecut by CNES.
Cool split toe derby boot in a hatch grain leather.
A split toe sibling to the above.
Paul Brunngård’s excellent shoe care products.
Really great brushes. Soft horsehair bristles, very soft goat hair bristles, or super soft yak hair bristles.
Inspecting footwar.
French style stuff by Catella Shoemaker.
Pigskin derby. Gorgeous.
That waist…
Garpincho gloves by Granqvist.
Difficult to choose tie when there’s so many choices.
The top three in world champs in shoemaking and patina winner stopped here on their global tour.
Talking shoes.
The well-known display of TLB Mallorca Artista by Skolyx.
Sleek penny loafer.
Various types of footwear.
Patent leather oxford from Skolyx own brand.
Lots of shoe testing during the day.
Shining shoes.
Grown-up men doing things together.
Films from the event:
