The finalists have been selected. We’ll have a Chinese, a Japanese and a Swiss battling it out in the shine final, and the same Swiss (!) and two from France fighting for the patina title. Finals take place at the London Super Trunk Show on May 4. See their submissions here.
You may read all about the London Super Trunk Show in this article, and we appreciate if you visit the event’s Facebook page and let us know you’re coming and help share the event. It’s organised by Shoegazing, The Shoe Snob and Kirby Allison, and takes place on Saturday May 4, in the centre of London at the venue Showcase.co on 12 Regent Street. There’ll be 14 shoe and menswear companies from around the globe exhibiting, a marketplace for second hand shoes, a free shoe shining service and more. The World Championships of Shoemaking will have its award ceremony and competition shoes displayed. Plus then the two other world champs contest that is the topic here.
The qualification process, jury members and how the finals will unfold is thoroughly explained in this article, so here we focus on showcasing the finalists’ submissions and briefly let you know who they are. Both the World Championships of Shoe Shining and Shoe Patina are organised in collaboration with the shoe care company Saphir and the shoe brand Bridlen. As usual we had about 40 submissions to the two contests (thanks to all who gave it a go) from all around the world, some amateurs but more and more professionals. As often is the case, it was tight in the top, but these below made it to the finals in London.
World Championships of Shoe Shining 2024 finalists
Gordon Choo, China. A profile on the Chinese men’s shoe scene. Gordon Choo was previously an apprentice at Yim Shoemaker, later he started the shoe repair company Ichiban Osamu, and now he’s one of four partners of Oct. Tenth. In 2017 he was inspired by the first world champion Yuya Hasegawa to properly learn shoe shining, and has done it both for himself at home and as part of his work for several years now. His entry has a lovely depth and balance of the shine, a pair one could actually wear, with a mirror shine only on toe and heel but nicely transitioned and nice also in between.
Nishigami Yoshihiro, Japan. In Fukuoka in the southern part of Japan, Nishigami Yoshihiro works as a shoe shiner for Boston & Re Olds. He’s been a professional shoe shiner for a decade, and it’s evident that he knows his stuff. A lazyman is a nice option to show off shine on, and even if we don’t judge photo quality one have to admire the one below where the blossoming cherry trees enhance the shade of the shoes.
Albert Gjukaj, Switzerland. Last years shine finalist is out for a new chance to take the crown. Albert Gjukaj runs the shoe, shoe shine and shoe repair store Mr. Dapper in Luzern in Switzerland. He went for a full frontal all over mirror gloss on a black pair of shoes. Not really wearable, but lovely to look at.
World Championships of Shoe Patina 2024 finalists
Albert Gjukaj, Switzerland. Here he is again! As the first person ever Albert Gjukaj has managed to qualify to both the shine and the patina final (there’s usually a few who try to qualify for both every year, and John Chung has won shine and reached patina final once, but in different years). Albert’s patina entry is a lovely vivid purple with both sweeping and mottled parts, with a nicely worked welt as well.
Toan Junie, France. Another first! Toan Junie from France is the first world champion who is back for a new round (this goes for the patina, shine and shoemaking contest), big kudos to him for not being afraid to risk miss winning (see and learn other world champs out there…). Toan has left Corthay where he worked when he won two years ago, now he freelance for among others Septième Largeur. This years entry is an amazing suede patina, highly skilled work.
Morgane Lévêque, France. The first woman to make it to a London patina or shine final is Morgane Lévêque from France. Her patina is quite special, with the navy and dark brown bases and the exquisite transition between them. Not the best photo quality, but the quality job is still visible. Morgane has worked for JM LeGazel as a patina artist for three years, where she both do their standard work and get to experiment on new techniques.
