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Here’s a thorough look at a new pair I received from the Chinese maker Acme Shoemaker, a pair of MTM / semi bespoke split toe derbys with hand braided contrasting stitching. The special thing with Acme is that all their shoes are made to the same standard, from the main RTW range to the full bespoke offerings.
For those who don’t know, every year there’s a big “boot and shoe aging” contest called the Stitchdown Patina Thunderdome, where hundres of footwear lovers wear a pair and cover the aging progression during six months. This year I had a pair of Midas Bootmaker x Skolyx x Dr. Sole moc toe boots in natural semi veg tanned leather, here’s a picture special of how these developed during the past half year.
This week the top three shoes in the World Championships of Shoemaking 2022 are on display at the department store Isetan Men’s in Tokyo, and to kick it off there was a talk session with media and selected customers with myself and the three shoemakers who presented both their contest shoes and showcased some of their other work. Here’s some photos from the happening, with focus on the shoes present.
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For the third time, I set the spotlight on some of the finest made shoes you can see today, a collection that Crockett & Jones made for a major international exhibition in 1911. Here I show off a number of models not displayed here before.
Since it will take a while before I’m finished with the huge posts covering all the 30 contestant shoes of the shoemaking world champs, I always do a quick picture special showcasing the top three, to let folks mind at ease a bit. See the amazing craftsmanship of Wataru Shimamoto (1st), Ken Kataoka (2nd), and Kenjiro Kawashima (3rd).
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A while back I posted a picture special with a bunch of bespoke samples being made by the German bespoke shoemaker Patrick Frei and his partner Kazuya Kimura. During covid they had time to continue the samples production, so here’s a bunch of new amazing shoes highlighted.
Acme Shoemaker is the Chinese brand that has created the most buzz domestically and internationally the past year, rightfully so. Their RTW, MTO and bespoke are of absolute top class in all regards. Here’s a closer look at a new pair I received from them, and also briefly about Acme’s new website, which includes a webshop where you can order their RTW.
Split toes, especially split toe derbys, has seen a rise in popularity in recent years. The way to make the toe seam of this model vary a lot, from fully handmade stitches to fully machine-made, versions with different looks, versions that aren’t really split toes but with decoration seams, and so on. Here I show and explain most of the variants.
This week I bought a new pair of TLB Mallorca Artista shoes, a pair of reverse stitch toe derbys in dark brown hatch grain. A really great model, definitely worth it to share a bunch of pics of the goodies.
My latest acquisition is rather different from what I mostly wear, yet something rather intriguing, if you ask me. A pair of bespoke side seamed Wellington boots in Horween Chromexcel leather, where Swedish bespoke shoemaker Janne Melkersson of Melker Shoes & Boots have added a Scandinavian touch to a very traditional British model, and created a quite spectacular pair. Here’s lots of photos of both making and final pair.
