The RTW shoes are all made in the same workshop as Bemer bespoke. This was always the case: they used to be stocked in a shop around the corner from the old workshop, and everything is now housed in the chapel on Via San Niccolo in Florence – the company’s headquarters since it was bought by Scuola del Cuoio last year.
The RTW shoes are all made in the same workshop as Bemer bespoke. This was always the case: they used to be stocked in a shop around the corner from the old workshop, and everything is now housed in the chapel on Via San Niccolo in Florence – the company’s headquarters since it was bought by Scuola del Cuoio last year.
what is ‘basketball leather’ simon?
£1350 is a lot for a RTW shoe, I would have thought that those with serious money to splurge on shoes would probably choose to go bespoke .. wonder who the likely customer base is for these, are there many rich guys in London in a serious rush for a pair hand made shoes?
Andy
Bespoke doesn’t start much south of £3000 these days though, and high-end RTW such as G&G’s Deco or EG’s Top Drawer are the same kind of price, but with no hand stitching. Better finishing, but no handwork. So it’s a question of what you value.
Oh, and I think the leather for basketballs (at least some of it) is made by Horween. Bemer uses the same stuff for some shoes, nubbins and all. Not my cup of tea really, but if you’re into basketball perhaps…
wow .. how the other half live huh. think I may start going down to local socialist worker party meetings .. in my 10 year old C&Js. Andy
Dear Simon, it’s been a pleasure meeting you and it’s (again) an honor receiving your attention. You made the point: we have embraced a challenge, which is delivering to London consumers a RWT which is, by most means, a Bespoke quality shoe on a standard last! Wish us luck 😉
That is a very nice outfit you have on. Who made the suit and shirt?
Thanks. Suit by Cifonelli, shirt by Turnbull & Asser
Simon, can you recommend a good cobbler in London? I have some Cleverly RTW’s that need resoling. Cleverly themselves want £155 to do it, which seems a bit much. I dont mind paying £180 to have my semi bespoke done with them, but for their benchmade RTW £155 seems a bit steep. Especially since C&J charge £105 for pretty much the same shoe/work.
I was toying with the idea of http://www.leathersole.co.uk/ have you ever had any experience with them ?
Afraid not, I only ever use the brand that sold them. But I agree about the price
Do you think an independent cobbler could ever be as good as the factory ?
Yes, though in my experience the standard of even good cobblers is not that high. There’s simply no money in specialist requests or high-quality repairs
Dear Simon, please try to understand better the italian market of shoemakers, you are too much young to distinguish what is made to measure, bespoke and…rtw
I have had bespoke shoes from five different Italian makers, made to measure from four, visited eight different factories or ateliers and covered every single significant maker as a journalist. Most importantly, the heads of most of those makers are personal friends. All of whom would happily tell me things about the market that no customer would ever learn.
I understand the difference