The major shoe event in London returns for its seventh edition on Saturday, May 10. The event will feature 14 shoe and menswear companies from around the world, a free shoe shining service, a mirror shine masterclass, the new Super Trunk Sweepstake raffle with great prizes, the finals of the World Championships of Shoe Shining, Shoe Patina, and Shoemaking, and more. Below you’ll find all the details about the day.
Location: Showcase.co, 12 Regent Street, St. James, London.
Date: Saturday May 10 2025
Full schedule for the day:
11.00-18.30 Trunk show open for the public, FREE OF CHARGE AND NO REGISTRATION NEEDED.
Exhibitions with:
Platinum sponsors
– Saphir (shoe care, France)
– Bridlen (shoes, India)
Gold sponsors
– CNES (shoes, Vietnam)
– Twinkima.G (shoes, China)
Silver sponsors
– 100 Hands (clothes, Netherlands)
– Arch Kerry (shoes, Japan)
– Blk Brd (shoes, India)
– Bresciani (socks, Italy)
– Charles Paige (clothes, USA)
– Lennertson (shoes, Belgium)
– Optimo Hats (hats, USA)
– Vogel (shoes, USA)
– Yearn (shoes, China)
Special partner
– The Valet (shoe and clothing care service)
On display are all the entries in the World Championships of Shoemaking.
11.00-18.30 Free shoe shining service by Saphir.
11.15-17.15 (1 hour break 14.45-15.45) Final of the World Championships of Shoe Patina in collaboration with Saphir and Bridlen, In the prize pool are shoes from Bridlen, shoe shine kits from Saphir, medals, and £600 (€720 / $770) in total. (More info in the qualification post here)
13.00-13.30 Mirror shine masterclass, with Yuya Hasegawa, founder of Brift-H, first world champion of shoe shining.
15.00-15.30 Final of the World Championships of Shoe Shining in cooperation with Saphir and Bridlen, In the prize pool are shoes from Bridlen, shoe shine kits from Saphir, medals, and £600 (€720 / $770) in total. (More info in the qualification post here)
17.30-18.00 Award ceremony for the patina competition, and for the World Championships of Shoemaking, organised in collaboration with Kirby Allison, Master Shoemakers and Parker Schenecker. The top ten including the three podium positions are presented. In the prize pool is £6,000 (€7,200 / $7,700), shoemaking awls by Phil Norsworthy, medals, plus being exhibited at Isetan Men’s, Tokyo, and 10+ at other locations around the world. (More info in the Call for competition here)
Also winners in the Super Trunk Sweepstake will be announced.
18.30 Event closes.
Here’s the Facebook event page where you’ll get the latest updates. We appreciate any help with spreading the word! The hashtag to use and follow before, during, and after the event is #supertrunk.
Visitors getting ready for one of the stage sessions at last year’s event.
The London Super Trunk Show is one of the world’s largest open events for quality men’s shoes. Launched in 2017 (with a break during the pandemic), it has grown gradually over the years. The event is organised by Jesper Ingevaldsson of Shoegazing and Justin FitzPatrick of The Shoe Snob blog – two of the leading blogs on quality shoes – along with Kirby Allison, who runs one of the largest menswear YouTube channels. The venue is Showcase.co at 12 Regent Street, just below Piccadilly Circus, right across from Jermyn Street – the number one shoe street in the world. The exhibition space is located on street level, with an entrance both from Regent Street and Carlton Street, where there will also be a bar/café serving refreshments during the day.
The super trunk shows is a unique opportunity to see, try and order shoes from so many international brands that in most cases aren’t easily accessible in the UK.
The event is free to attend with no registration needed, open between 11.00–18.30. Last couple of years around 1,300 visitors from all over the world attended to see, try and order shoes and menswear, meet fellow enthusiasts, watch stage events, get a free shoe shine, and simply enjoy the atmosphere. The day has become a great meeting place for those interested in classic shoes and menswear.
Apart from the exhibitors, there will be several highlights on the stage area. Already 15 minutes after the doors open, the World Championships of Shoe Patina kicks off, organised in collaboration with Saphir and Bridlen, where three finalists will paint a pair of uncoloured crust leather shoes throughout the day. At 15.00, the final of the World Championships of Shoe Shining takes place, where three finalists will polish a Bridlen shoe as beautifully as possible in just 20 minutes using Saphir shoe polish. Read more about the contests in this article – qualification is open until Sunday March 9.
A pair of crust leather Bridlen adelaides will be given a whole new look by the patina contestants, using Saphir dye, cream, and polish. Here’s from the patina exhibition at the New York super trunk last year.
From last year’s shine final.
New this year is that we’ll also have a mirror shine masterclass, hosted by probably the most famous shoe shiner in the world, Yuya Hasegawa of the shoe shine bar Brift-H which now is part of United Arrows. He also won the first shoe shining world championships back in 2017, and has been an important ambassador for the shoe shining craft. Yuya will showcase how one shine a pair of shoes really glossy with Saphir products, give tips and tricks on shining and shoe care, and answer questions from the audience. Will be a really informative and interesting session.
Yuya Hasegawa will share his shoe shining knowledge.
On display will also be all entries, likely around 25-30 shoes in the World Championships of Shoemaking, sponsored by Kirby Allison, Gary Tok’s book project Master Shoemakers, and Parker Schenecker (brother of the late shoe enthusiast Edmund Schenecker, co-founder of the contest). This year, the challenge is to create a double monk strap, and as always, some of the finest craftsmanship in the world is expected. At 17.30, the winners of the shoe patina contest will be announced, followed by the top ten shoemaking entries presentation. The top three shoemakers will share a prize pool of £6,000 (€7,200 / $7,700), receive a handmade shoemaking awl by Phil Norsworthy, and have their shoes showcased on a world tour at over ten locations, including Isetan Men’s in Tokyo. All info about the shoemaking world champs can be found here.
The display of all entries in the world shoemaking champs is always a treasure for shoe lovers. Here’s from last years contest when a loafer were to be made.
The medals that the contestants are after.
Another brand new thing is that we’ll introduce the Super Trunk Sweepstake, a raffle where we’ll give away great prizes from many of the exhibitors, all from shoes to great shoe care packages. Much more info will come in a separate article a bit later on, but so you know, everyone can enter the raffle also you who read the blog but can’t visit, although all visitors gets an extra spot for a greater chance to win. Winners will be announced at after shoemaking winners during the last stage session.
Don’t forget to follow the Facebook page for the event, let us know you’re coming, and help spread the word. We’re excited to welcome everyone with an interest in quality shoes and menswear – hope to see many of you on Saturday, May 10. Mark your calendars, book your flights, and get ready – it’s a day you don’t want to miss!
Below you’ll find information about all the exhibitors who will be part of making this a great event, even more new ones than usual this year, together with some great favourites that have been part before.
Platinum sponsor
Saphir
Saphir Medaille d’Or Creme Pommadier, a favourite shoe cream for millions around the globe.
Saphir and their premium shoe care range Saphir Medaille d’Or are widely regarded as the gold standard of shoe care products worldwide – the brand that others are all measured against. It all began with their renowned wax polish, introduced in the 1920s, which is still made using the original recipe. Over the years, the range has expanded to cover virtually every type of shoe care product imaginable, all developed in their impressive laboratory and produced in their own factory in France.
One of many classic Saphir products is their suede cleaner Omni’nettoyant.
Saphir products are known not only for providing excellent care and protection, but also for being easy to use. Once you’ve tried the Crème Pommadier shoe cream, it’s hard to go back to other alternatives. The Medaille d’Or range contains natural ingredients such as beeswax, carnauba wax, turpentine essence, lanolin, mink oil, and vegetable oils, offering both performance and sustainability. Read more about Saphir in this article from a visit to their factory.
Bridlen
Bridlen has established themselves as one of the main Asian players on the welted shoes market.
Bridlen has become one of the leading names among Asian brands in quality men’s footwear, earning a strong reputation far beyond its home country of India. The company operates its own shoe factory, which has been producing shoes since 1986, and the Bridlen brand was created in collaboration with the team who introduced Meermin in Japan – Bridlen’s first market. Today, they’ve helped shine a light on India’s capabilities in welted shoe manufacturing, combining skilled making with well-balanced designs.
Black plain cap toe from the new updated Founders line.
A key feature that sets Bridlen apart is their use of a more traditional Goodyear welted construction, where the welt is stitched directly to a full leather insole – without the use of gemming (a canvas rib glued to the insole, which is common in most modern production). The brand also pays close attention to details in the uppers, using real leather backings and construction methods that align more closely with bespoke shoes. Their new updated Founders range is a testament of how they keep pushing things.
Gold sponsors
CNES
CNES versatility as a shoe producer is outstanding.
CNES is one of Vietnam’s largest producers of quality men’s shoes, with a long history in Asian markets and a growing presence in Europe and the US. They offer a wide range of styles, from sleek, elegant dress shoes – sometimes finished with patina – to chunkier casual models. The brand works with several constructions, including Blake, Bologna, Goodyear welted and hand welted shoes. Regardless of method, CNES is known for offering a lot of value for the price. Goodyear welted shoes start at £190 / €220, with hand welted options available at a higher price point.
Summery loafers.
Twinkima.G
Nice sleek hand welted loafers.
Twinkima.G is a Chinese brand known for its sleek hand welted shoes with distinct ridge back bevelled waists and tapered heels. Founded by Meng Guan, they operate their own factory in Dongguan and are well-established domestically, now they have begun exploring international markets. The welted shoes often feature museum calf leathers with a lovely polished finish, priced around £480 / €570, another brand offering a lot of bang for your buck. They also have ranges of more casual shoes, for example a really nice merge of classic loafers, espadrilles and sneakers.
Even if the sleek shoes are their fame, the brand also has casual welted shoes and other construction styles.
Silver sponsors
100 Hands
Top-class shirts.
The Dutch brand 100 Hands made waves in the menswear world several years back with their exceptionally high-quality, fully hand-stitched shirts. Since then, they’ve grown into a respected name with a loyal following, and their own factory in India now employs 170 persons. Alongside their signature handmade shirts, they’ve expanded their range to include casual jackets and other garments – all offered at remarkably competitive prices considering the craftsmanship involved.
Arch Kerry
A selection of all the amazing vintage styled shoes that Arch Kerry offers.
Arch Kerry is a Japanese brand that reimagines American vintage shoes from the 1950s and 60s with great attention to detail. Their craftsmanship stands out, with features like the contrasting machine sole stitching that is perfectly aligned with the fudging, rare to see. The brand’s more casual vintage-inspired styles are well-suited for contemporary wardrobes while still carrying a sense of timeless charm. Goodyear welted cost from £400 / €470, hand welted from £800 / €950.
Blk Brd
Black shoes from Blk Brd, among the most affordable hand welted shoes you can find.
Blk Brd from India produces hand welted shoes and boots at highly impressive price points. Their range covers everything from sturdy workwear boots to Shell cordovan loafers, seamless wholecuts, and spiral wholecuts – showcasing both classic and more unique designs. Operating from their own factory in Agra in northern India, the brand has steadily built a reputation on the international scene. Prices for their hand welted shoes start as low as £115 / €130 – a rare find for this level of craftsmanship.
Bresciani
Comfortable high quality socks made in Italy.
Bresciani, founded in 1970 in the Italian city of Spirano, is renowned for its high-quality socks made from wool, cotton, silk blends, and luxurious options like 100% cashmere. Their reputation is built on exceptional fit and comfort, which has earned them loyal customers worldwide. While they offer some bold and playful designs, their signature products remain classic, thin dress socks – a staple for those seeking both style and quality. They recently also introduced a unique combined sock and slipper.
Charles Paige Atelier
A merge of classic and contemporary tailoring.
Charles Paige Atelier was established in 2019 by Samantha Leder and Lewis Malivanek in New York, drawing on their combined 15 years of experience in high-end fashion. With a shared passion for the industry, they decided to channel their expertise into creating their own brand. The atelier offers a range of bespoke tailoring, including both semi-handmade and fully handmade options, along with custom shirts, knitwear, denim, and outerwear for both men and women. They’ve been popular at the NYC super trunk, now they come to London for the first time.
Lennertson
More rugged boots from Lennertson.
Lennertson is a young Belgian brand founded by Robin Carlo and Robin Todde a few years ago. They have spent a lot of time and efforts to get both lasts, models and the quality level of the production right, being people with a high shoe interest they knew what they wanted. The boots and casual shoes are made in Portugal and are all Goodyear welted, designs go from more rugged workwear boots to classic casual derbies, often in interesting and durable leathers. They also have a selection of sneakers. Prices start at £280 / €340.
Optimo Hats
Optimo Hats are highly sought after around the world.
Founded in 1996 by Graham Thompson, Optimo was created with the aim of preserving and advancing the nearly forgotten craft of fine hatmaking. Based in Chicago, they operate their own workshop where they craft some of the finest hats in the world. Optimo offers a wide selection of ready-made hats, alongside bespoke options tailored to your precise preferences. They rarely travel to Europe, so we are glad to be able to include them in this year’s line-up in London, and I would expect many visitors will be as well.
Vogel
Vogel’s shoes and boots are made in their own US workshop.
Vogel, one of the oldest shoe and bootmakers in the US, is experiencing a revival under new ownership. With a huge store and workshop in central Manhattan, near Times Square, their goal is to become a leading name in custom-made footwear. Starting with equestrian boots, they’re now in the works expanding their offering of classic men’s shoes and boots, and to London they will bring parts of their new Icon collection. It’s great to see American shoemaking thriving again.
Yearn
Line-up of elegant handmade shoes from Yearn.
Yearn, based in Chengdu, stands out with its own factory of 10 employees, led by Jie Zeng, a veteran of the shoe industry. They craft elegant, often sleek shoes using hand-lasting, hand-welting, and fully handmade sole stitching. The uppers are made from high-quality European leathers, including Annonay, Bonaudo, and Weinheimer. Prices start from £400 / €470. Their UK agent Arterton will also showcase some hangers and other products.
Special partner: The Valet
Helping us in the organising team with lots of things is The Valet, where Tom Beecroft offers his acclaimed shoe care service – doing shines, patina as well as repairs – together with alterations tailors and dry cleaner expertise. A one stop place for all your shoe and garment care needs, housed in the Piccadilly Arcade in central London. They also host trunk shows with bespoke shoemakers, tailors and others regularly.
Yes, nice line-up, see you there!
Alfred: Glad you think so, and glad you are joining the event!