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The bespoke workshop of John Lobb Paris is a legendary place for shoe aficionados, known to be one of the largest and most well-trimmed shoemaking workshops in the world. Everything is done in-house in the 600 square meters large premises on Rue de Mogador in the heart of Paris. Shoegazing paid it a visit.
To make really unique dress shoe designs isn’t really that difficult, to make really unique designs that are beautiful is much more difficult, and to make really unique designs that are beautiful and just as wearable as the classic models is very difficult. Few do this as well as John Lobb Paris.
It’s becoming a tradition that I once a year highlight the news that has emerged in the market of quality sneakers. This isn’t Shoegazing’s focus area, but the interest is great, and as the quality of many of the sneakers has increased and now as more and more cobblers are offering resoling of the so-called Margom sole types, they have parts in common with classic quality shoes.
Yesterday this quite dramatic news was spread around the world, that the British bespoke shoemaker John Lobb Ltd. were threatening to take legal action against luxury group Hermès, owner of John Lobb Paris, over the right to use its name. Here’s (likely) the reason why.
The big luxury fashion houses often get a lot of criticism from us in “menswear” and classic shoes. Sometimes well deserved, but they also do a lot of good. In fact, as things stand today, we probably would have had significantly fewer really good shoes in the world without them.
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It is one of Northampton’s most reputable shoe factories, producing shoes for what’s probably the strongest brand. Shoegazing visited John Lobb Paris’ well-trimmed complex and documented the production in text and lots of images.
In John Lobb Paris’ flagship store, in Paris, there’s now a smaller exhibition held with black bespoke samples, different models from different decades. Here is a photo gallery showing some of the shoes, including a double monk with a sole covered in 24K gold.
I’ve spent the past week in Northampton, where among other things I visited several factories. Heres some curiosities that I snapped up during these visits. Among other things about buying hides from the right season, the emergence of the modern version of the Scotch grain leather, and why John Lobb Paris had to redo all their patterns.
More and more patina services are offered around the world, due to the increasing demand and growing interest. Last week the Swede Michael Håkansson inaugurated his new workshop for his project Magic Mike Patina, and is now accepting orders for all kinds of small and large patina jobs. Also about the fact that Skoaktiebolaget will waive the MTO fee for John Lobb Paris during a trunk show they have February 22-25.
Tonight the Swedish shoe store Skoaktiebolaget has its official grand opening for its new premises at Nybrogatan 23 in Stockholm, where they presented their latest addition to the brand flora: John Lobb Paris.
