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Usually exotics aren’t really my thing, but this exquisite vintage lizard leather in a subtle dark brown really spoke to me. The pair is made by the Italian shoemaker Calzoleria Carlino, who currently runs a campaign with no upcharge on orders of lizard leather for their MTO, MTM or bespoke.
Certainly aesthetically pleasing, albeit maybe not the most feet accommodating shape, but the backs of the now sadly deceased Italian shoemaker Riccardo “Freccia” Bestetti certainly stood out. This photo is of a sample where the shape was even more exaggerated, but also on regular customer shoes the backs were very curvy.
If you’ve been interested in getting a pair of really nice handmade shoes in alligator leather, but been hesitating due to the often hefty price tag of these, now might be your chance. The Italian maker Calzoleria Carlino offers their fully handmade MTO, remote bespoke or full bespoke made in alligator leather, to the same price as calf leather.
Yesterday the Italian shoemaker and factory manager Enzo Bonafè passed away, 88 years old. The man behind one of the most acclaimed brands in the Italian quality men’s shoe industry, who worked together with his family in their factory in Bologna until just recently, which he started 60 years ago.
The Italian brand Stefano Bemer has just introduced a new innovation within the world of classic footwear, where an NFC tag embedded in the shoe makes it possible for customers to scan any shoe with a smartphone and apart from regular product info also find info on the specific materials used, where it’s sourced and so on.
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Calzoleria Carlino is an Italian maker who slowly but steadily started to make a name of itself domestically and internationally in recent years. An old-school, traditional Italian style enhanced by the extensive use of some amazing vintage leathers, combined with a good price tag, makes them highly interesting. Here’s a buyer’s guide to the brand, with a pair of remote bespoke lazyman oxfords in vintage pigskin they’ve made for me as a base.
The bespoke shoemaker Akira Tani, from Japan but based in Italy, has a lot of things that point towards soon being one of the most hyped makers in the industry: A slightly more casual house style highly suitable for how more and more people dress today, some of the best finishing in the world, and a price tag of just €2,300 (including VAT) for full bespoke. Shoegazing visited him in Florence.
I regularly meet people from the shoe world and talk about things that may not fit in a big report or touch on any news or the like, but which can still generate interesting posts, so I’m starting a new article series with interviews of people from the shoe industry. First out is Marco Facchinetti, the Milanese who took over the company when his friend Riccardo Bestetti passed away last year.
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.
Just over a week ago the Italian shoemaker Riccardo Freccia Bestetti tragically passed away, after a period of illness (read more in this post). As always in situations like this with a small business with one clear mastermind, it was a great uncertainty about what would happen to his company. It is now clear that the brand will continue to operate.
