The (20) bespoke shoemakers I have known
The Ugolini workshop in Florence This article was originally written in 2014, then updated in 2021, and is now freshly updated for 2026. It feels like a good time to do so – I have four new shoemakers to add, but no plans to try new ones so...
The (20) bespoke shoemakers I have known
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Thanks, yes I agree...
Tokyo: A sartorial shopping guide – 2023 Up...
Tokyo is one of the most varied, creative and stimulating retail experiences in the world. Not only is the city huge, but each area has a distinct feel and atmosphere, reflected in its shopping. There are small, niche brands everywhere, as well as wo...
Tokyo: A sartorial shopping guide – 2023 Up...
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Yes, good point Davide, his work is great...
The struggles with shoemaking in Japan
Five or six years ago, it was easy to find young people that wanted to be shoemakers in Japan. The wave of enthusiasm for both craft and menswear elsewhere in the world had washed up here just as strongly. Today, with Covid having only just effecti...
The struggles with shoemaking in Japan
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Thank you Nezar...
Inspiring Japan: The 2023 trip
Last week I was in Japan for 10 days, mainly in Tokyo but also travelling around to Kobe, Osaka and Wakayama prefecture. It was the fourth time I’d been to Japan, but only the third for PS, and one of those had been for only a few days around ...
Inspiring Japan: The 2023 trip
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Only a handful of craft places - see article here...
New black bullskin tote, and angled DBs
A new black version of our bullhide tote, a collaboration with Frank Clegg, goes on sale today. It’s available on the Frank Clegg site (not ours) alongside a restock of the dark brown. I shot some pictures of it with Alex last week, and it re...
New black bullskin tote, and angled DBs
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For some combinations of those things, no it would be fine. But probably not for all of them. Eg black jeans, nice ecru knit, white tennis shoes, would be lovely with it. But less so blue jeans and an old T-shirt. So it'...
Kenjiro Suzuki bespoke, Paris: Review
Kenjiro Suzuki is a superb technician. I think that’s the key take away from this review, aside from the normal points of fit, style and make. The work that went into this cotton suit he made me is just palpable, both in the handwork visible...
Kenjiro Suzuki bespoke, Paris: Review
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Unfortunately, Kenjiro had insufficient assets and went into liquidation in France. It is truly a shame. https://www.actu-juridique.fr/annonces-legales/kenjiro-suzuki-sur-mesure-paris-jugement-tc-procedures-collectives/...
Yohei Fukuda bespoke shoes: Review
As mentioned in my recent article on Yohei Fukuda, I ordered a pair of bespoke shoes from him last year, when I was in Tokyo. However, I opted for bespoke without a fitting. Why? Well, at the moment I seem to be getting to Tokyo every three years ...
Yohei Fukuda bespoke shoes: Review
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No, I wouldn't say they have aged differently, but Yohei, like quite a lot of other makers these days, put a definite patina on them to start with. Cleverly had nothing, I'm not sure if they do so today...
Yohei Fukuda bespoke shoes: The style and shop today
Yohei Fukuda is one of the finest shoemakers in the world. And given his longevity - he set up on his own 12 years ago - he’s been at the forefront of Japan emerging as the primary world force in bespoke. But like many Japanese, it's taken hi...
Yohei Fukuda bespoke shoes: The style and shop today
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Many thanks. Excellent point....
The Japanese Bespoke Symposium, Tokyo
I was more nervous than usual at this, our first Symposium in Japan. Partly I think it was because of the speakers: sitting alongside Kamoshita-san (above) is intimidating for anyone. But mostly it was cultural. I was very conscious of being the onl...
The Japanese Bespoke Symposium, Tokyo
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I don't know of any Dominic, no, and to be fair haven't tried Yamagami's work either. I think it's fair to say that the shoemakers have really stood out for delivering work better than some places they trained with - tha...
Robb Report: The beauty of bags, and Japanese art...
The most recent issue of Robb Report UK included a couple of my pieces: a column singing the praises of good leather accessories, and a feature highlighting the Japanese artisans we visited last year. I have reproduced the column below. The detail ...
Robb Report: The beauty of bags, and Japanese art...
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Definitely dark brown... I know tan is tempting, but brown will be so much subtler and still have a nice deep colour over time...
Japanese shoemakers: Yohei Fukuda, Marquess, Yuki...
There is a bewildering number of shoemakers in Japan, somewhere between 35 and 40 depending on how you count. Although many have people working for them, they are all essentially sole operators. One person founded the house, is in charge, and there ...
Japanese shoemakers: Yohei Fukuda, Marquess, Yuki...
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I'm afraid I don't have anything to add there, Philip. I haven't used or visited them, or have friends that have...
