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Mannina is one of Florence’s oldest bespoke shoemakers, with a more restrained and conservative style than many other Italians. When the founder passed away two years ago it was first a bit uncertain what would happen to the business – today the workshop is at full capacity.
We often talk about the fact that we see a sort of a renaissance for classic shoes nowadays, and yet another example of this is how we more and more see shoes produced in ways tha is closer to art than products supposed to be worn. It’s also what Christophe Corthays new interesting project Tranchet Vif is about. Also info on an upcoming contest in the next newsletter where one can win a well filled shoe care valet box from Care of Carl.
He had what many would call a dream job as lastmaker at John Lobb in London, but wanted more and left the giant to make bespoke shoes under his own name – and succeeded. Meet Nicholas Templeman.
Yohei Fukuda and Marquess/Shoji Kawaguchi are two of the most well renowned bespoke shoemakers in Japan (and in the world, for that matter), who have a lot of similarities between them. Here’s a nerdy but hopefully interesting comparison between them and their versions of a faux full brogue.
In this post you will get to follow the manufacturing process and seeing the end result of my second pair from the Swedish bespokeskomakaren Janne Melkersson. For me, these are a bit extra special since my twin brother has made the hand sewn decoration stitch on them.
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There are several really good blogs about classic men’s style and shoes in Asia that are excellent sources of knowledge about the manufacturers on the continent. Unfortunately, the vast majority are written in Japanese or Chinese, which makes them more inaccessible even in these Google Translate times. The newly established Hong Kong-based blog The Prologue who is writing in English is a shining exception.
In the central parts of the shoemaking city Florence the self-willed Japanese Hidetaka Fukaya, aka Il Micio, has his showroom. He makes shoes with a very special look and is not afraid to experiment wildly. Shoegazing has paid him a visit.
Last week I had my second fitting for the bespoke shoes I’ve ordered from British Gaziano & Girling. Here a review of how it went, plus a glimpse of how it looks in the G&G’s “small factory”: Daniel Wegans home.
The British public service company BBC has madea pretty nice documentary about the famous British bespoke shoemaking company John Lobb Ltd. The 30 minutes long film gives a small overview of life in the premises of St. James Street in London.
Marquess is one of the brightest stars on the growing Japanese bespoke shoe heaven. When I visited Tokyo the past fall I met the married couple Shoji and Yuriko Kawaguchi who are behind the brand, and talked the 30’s, aesthetic balance and quality as a main weapon.
