Reflection

Reflection – Why U.S. removal of the de minimis makes sense

2025-09-14

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Now American customers have to pay customs and duties on all orders from abroad, also those below $800, as the de minimis exception has been removed. A big change for many US citizens who were used to the favourable rules, and also for many shoe companies in especially Europe and Asia who sell a lot to America. However, the termination of de minimis actually makes a lot of sense. But it’s messed up by other things.

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Reflection

Reflection – Are D2C shoe brands a dying breed?

2025-08-05

By

Jesper Ingevaldsson

Looking back five or ten years almost all new shoe brands were so called D2C brands, Direct to Consumer, and often made a big point of being such. Now it seems like the pendulum is about to swing as many of these brands ditch their original set-up and also use traditional retailers. Are D2C shoe brands becoming a thing of the past?

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Reflection - How the US tariffs will affect the shoe world

In-depth

In-depth – How the US tariffs will affect the shoe world

2025-04-04

By

Jesper Ingevaldsson

This week the Trump-administration in the US has stirred up a lot of uncertainties domestically and internationally with their new wave of proposed tariffs. In this article I go through how this will affect shoe industry, and also straighten out some common misconceptions. In short: American companies selling shoes made abroad will likely need to raise their prices, in some cases a lot, while private individuals buying shoes from abroad will still have no customs if price is below $800 and products aren’t from China or Hong Kong. For now.

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Reflection

Reflection – Will TikTok save the cobblers?

2024-04-21

By

Jesper Ingevaldsson

In an interesting turn of events, the ancient occupation that is cobblers which has been through many harsh decades, might now be saved by the most modern of phenomenon: the social media app TikTok. The past couple of years videos showcasing the transformation that cobbler’s can do on worn shoes has millions of views, and young people get their eyes open both for the magic cobblers can do and for the craft itself.

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Reflection

Reflection – Accept more blemishes on leather

2023-12-10

By

Jesper Ingevaldsson

Stricter animal welfare regulations in the European Union have changed the conditions of the skins that the tanneries receive, which in turn means that we customers need to change our mindset on what is a good skin and what is not. In this article I explain this further.

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Reflection

Reflection – The importance of unique shoe styles for retailers

2023-11-21

By

Jesper Ingevaldsson

With online shopping taking globalisation to a new level and everyone everywhere being able to buy everything everywhere, it’s increasingly important to offer something unique. This is particularly noticeable in the quality shoe sphere, where specific models exclusive to individual retailers are becoming more and more common.

Reflection – R.I.P. Janne Melkersson

2023-08-25

By

Jesper Ingevaldsson

Yesterday the legendary Swedish bespoke shoe and bootmaker Janne Melkersson sadly passed away. After over 45 years in the trade there wasn’t much about shoemaking he didn’t know, and he spent the last decades passing this knowledge on to others. A beloved man that will be truly missed.

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Reflection

Reflection – Save the world with quality shoes

2023-08-20

By

Jesper Ingevaldsson

There are many aspects favouring choosing traditionally constructed quality shoes – apart from the fact that they look nice and are of high quality. They are good for the animals, good for the environment, and produced in good working conditions. Shoegazing explains further.

5 Comments

Reflection

Reflection – R.I.P. D.W. Frommer

2023-02-03

By

Jesper Ingevaldsson

The American boot and shoemaker D.W. Frommer sadly passed away this week, at the age of 76 after more then half a century in the trade. He has played an important role in the shoemaking community for decades, not least in his work with passing shoemaking knowledge on globally through his books and work online.

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Reflection

Reflection – The era of soft footwear

2022-07-31

By

Jesper Ingevaldsson

In today’s day and age, people do their best to remove any type of hurdles and make ones existence as smooth and comfortable as possible. This goes for footwear as well, where the “soft and flexible” take over everything from classic RTW to bespoke shoes. Thoughts on this development in today’s article.

4 Comments

Reflection – Why U.S. removal of the de minimis makes sense

Reflection – Are D2C shoe brands a dying breed?

In-depth – How the US tariffs will affect the shoe world

Reflection – Will TikTok save the cobblers?

Reflection – Accept more blemishes on leather

From the archive

Buying tip – Shoemakers’ Toolmakers

The web tip – Documentary about John Lobb Ltd.

The picture – Lots of vintage shoes

Shoegazing Podcast – Ep. 4, Tom Brone, Sons of Henrey, about starting a new shoe brand

Reflection – The importance of unique shoe styles for retailers

Reflection – R.I.P. Janne Melkersson

Reflection – Save the world with quality shoes

Reflection – R.I.P. D.W. Frommer

Reflection – The era of soft footwear

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