Working Shoe for Young Exec

[Seannie]

The Japanese are really hitting the artisanal scene with full force and they are very good.

I must say the lack of publicity promoting these Japanese artisans are very beneficial(from a consumer POV) because I have heard and seen some works of bespoke and semi-bespoke fully handwelted Japanese shoes that can be had around the SGD1500 mark.

So, korean are not the ones who are hitting the scene with full force?

Where can we get these japanese shoes? 5-6k out of my reach, but 1.5k can still consider for me.

 

[Carnage]

Yes I have heard of him, Koji Suzuki.


He has been gaining a lot of momentum and press for his shoes. Which are beautiful and done by hand but the price is crazy, last I heard was around the 5-6k mark. The Japanese are really hitting the artisanal scene with full force and they are very good.


I must say the lack of publicity promoting these Japanese artisans are very beneficial(from a consumer POV) because I have heard and seen some works of bespoke and semi-bespoke fully handwelted Japanese shoes that can be had around the SGD1500 mark.


God are they beautiful.

Are they even available locally? Semi-bespoke for 1.5k sounds about right if they are really hand welted.

 

[Carnage]

Im back, and you are one of the 2 or 3 guys who throw the meanest remarks at me.

Dude, the only one taking offense at other people's words for the last 5-6 pages have only been you.

I only see 1 person pooh poohing other people's views and that's you. Everyone has been civil and kind to share advice to each other without any jibs or criticism except you.

Only you have been full of racour and lack understanding for other people's feelings throughout.

I've got a good mind to report you to the mods but I see it as a futile exercise since you haven't stepped on many people's toes. Yet.

 

[Seannie]

I've got a good mind to report you to the mods but I see it as a futile exercise since you haven't stepped on many people's toes. Yet.

Why should you be reporting me when most of the time i have not been using hoarse language or scolding or humiliating you here? Dont you use harsher tone and remarks on me? Others still have a joking tone in their words. But not you.

If you seriously dont like me, you can ignore me. You dont need to chip in with your snobbish sarcastic remarks.

 

[Kiton12345]

So, korean are not the ones who are hitting the scene with full force?

Where can we get these japanese shoes? 5-6k out of my reach, but 1.5k can still consider for me.

Nope I would think the Koreans are going for a mass market product rather than the artisanal route.

The Japanese have a lot of pride in craft and quality so they do it all by hand. Hand lasted, hand welted and handsewn.


These Japanese shoes are available in Japan or through direct contact with the shoemaker over email. Though it would still be best to travel to Japan to have them made considering they do some measurements and fittings.


They can allow you to tweak the lasts to fit your feet and you can discuss the design of the shoe.

Are they even available locally? Semi-bespoke for 1.5k sounds about right if they are really hand welted.

Unfortunately not available locally as they work out of a small workshop(think a shop house) so their products aren't mass produced.

Very, very old school and niche way of doing business which is rather romantic in sense.

1.5k is very reasonable considering it is made completely from hand when brands like G&G, EG, JL all charge you the same price for a shoe that has machine work.

 

[archangle13]

Maybe that guy who pushed the old lady off the bus had a bad day.

Bitter it might be, but i can differentiate who are the snobs now and who are not, just got to ignore the snobs and sourly accept the fact that there are people who are just purely obssessed about tailoring and shoes. Cant change their minds at all. All i can do was to put across a different idea.

I guess after my DW gets wilted in 6 months time, i will just have to find BATA shoes to fill my shoes needs. Being an ignorant lazy fool, maybe those quality shoes dont suit my lifestyle of not taking care of shoes.

It is not snobbish to retaliate against your unprovoked insults. Obsessed about shoes? You realise this is a shoe thread?

You can bring your angst to another place, just not here. Either you drop the bad attitude and just interact like a normal person, or everyone will ignore your 'trolling'.

 

[Kiton12345]

Those look exactly like the u and f lasts. Is he the guy that vass created those lasts for? Pardon my ignorance. Those are beautiful btw, thank you.

I thought bespoke makers create new lasts to suit each individual? Was expecting a very unique last shape.

Unfortunately not, the person who created the U and F lasts for Vass is an Italian maker called Ugolini who is another shoe maker.

This particular shoemaker is a Japanese and does bespoke shoes with a new Semi-bespoke line which has been introduced recently.

He has expanded his business size considerably though.

 

[archangle13]

Unfortunately not, the person who created the U and F lasts for Vass is an Italian maker called Ugolini who is another shoe maker.

This particular shoemaker is a Japanese and does bespoke shoes with a new Semi-bespoke line which has been introduced recently.

He has expanded his business size considerably though.

I thought vass created the lasts for him, not the other way around... Those look exquisite nonetheless.

 

[arctuates]

I suspect spigola wait times may be pretty drastic. Maybe like delos, wait 1 year that kind.

Alamak, that fella is back again ah. I really don't understand man. Is like stepping into Cut or Wooloomooloo and arguing with the clientele that Jack's Place is just as good. What's the point? Sure, different people got different tastes, but one is better than the other, and who's to fault the person who's willing to spend more on the better meal?

 

[almerickso]

I'm looking to get a Quarter Brogue Blucher in Walnut; do you guys have any recommendation on more affordable (<$250) options? Planning to wear it 1/5 work days so not keen on spending too much on it.

Here are some sample pics

 

[archangle13]

I'm looking to get a Quarter Brogue Blucher in Walnut; do you guys have any recommendation on more affordable (<$250) options? Planning to wear it 1/5 work days so not keen on spending too much on it.

Here are some sample pics

Buy used ones online. Try eBay, or styleforum. Depending on your size, there may be one on styleforum right now that's damn cheap but high shipping costs. That's why I'm not buying it.

What size is your foot?

 

[Seannie]

I suspect spigola wait times may be pretty drastic. Maybe like delos, wait 1 year that kind.

Alamak, that fella is back again ah. I really don't understand man. Is like stepping into Cut or Wooloomooloo and arguing with the clientele that Jack's Place is just as good. What's the point? Sure, different people got different tastes, but one is better than the other, and who's to fault the person who's willing to spend more on the better meal?

All right im gone soon dont worry im finished here. Im not going to spoil the taste of your high executive lunch. I dont think that a costlier meal means a better meal.

 

[Seannie]

The Japanese have a lot of pride in craft and quality so they do it all by hand. Hand lasted, hand welted and handsewn.

These Japanese shoes are available in Japan or through direct contact with the shoemaker over email. Though it would still be best to travel to Japan to have them made considering they do some measurements and fittings.

They can allow you to tweak the lasts to fit your feet and you can discuss the design of the shoe.

Do they have a local agent in sg? I also like the craftmanship & quality of the japanese but travel to japan bit far-fetched for me at the moment, not to say the price. But i will take note & in future if i have the chance to go there i go find a shoemaker who can speak english.

 

[KennyDagrish]

quite a few makers create lasts that have that elegant shape with a slim and beveled waist. well give or take a few differences. in the future i may look into getting plain oxfords from his semi bespoke.

 

[Seannie]

It is not snobbish to retaliate against your unprovoked insults. Obsessed about shoes? You realise this is a shoe thread?

You can bring your angst to another place, just not here. Either you drop the bad attitude and just interact like a normal person, or everyone will ignore your 'trolling'.

all right sir, i will drop my attitude & be really serious now. Please dont take my words to heart. I apologised. I will post either meaningful comments or just keep my damned words & thoughts to myself.

 

[Kiton12345]

I thought vass created the lasts for him, not the other way around... Those look exquisite nonetheless.

Ugolini designed the lasts as a collaboration with Mr Vass.

Their house style and lasts that they have been making for years before Ugolini were always the clunkier 3636, New Peters etc.

Classic hungarian shoestyles.

I suspect spigola wait times may be pretty drastic. Maybe like delos, wait 1 year that kind.

Alamak, that fella is back again ah. I really don't understand man. Is like stepping into Cut or Wooloomooloo and arguing with the clientele that Jack's Place is just as good. What's the point? Sure, different people got different tastes, but one is better than the other, and who's to fault the person who's willing to spend more on the better meal?

That was what I heard too. A certain forum cited a waiting time for bespoke shoes from Koiji to be 1-2 years during 2008.

Now that his business has expanded so much I'm willing to wager it is going to be longer unless he has began taking in a lot appretentices.

 

[archangle13]

Ugolini designed the lasts as a collaboration with Mr Vass.

Their house style and lasts that they have been making for years, before Ugolini were always the clunkier 3636, New Peters etc.

Classic hungarian shoestyles.





That was what I heard too. A certain forum cited a waiting time for bespoke shoes from Koiji to be 1-2 years during 2008.

Now that his business has expanded so much I'm willing to wager it is going to be longer unless he has began taking in a lot appretentices.

No matter how good he is, who will wait so long for shoes? Sounds more like a collector's item than for true business wear.

 

[Kiton12345]

Do they have a local agent in sg? I also like the craftmanship & quality of the japanese but travel to japan bit far-fetched for me at the moment, not to say the price. But i will take note & in future if i have the chance to go there i go find a shoemaker who can speak english.

Nope. Most of these Japanese makers operate out of a small workshop and dont produce enough shoes to be supplied.

Some workshops produce no more than 10 pairs a month.

Though there is a slight chance that a Malaysian friend of mine may develop an agency relationship with Koji when he visits Japan this year. Opening doors to his semi-bespoke route. No confirms though.


I myself would like to plan a trip there to visit the lesser known artisans but I dont see it anytime soon. Though I have already created a translated script to convey my ideal shoe to the maker.

quite a few makers create lasts that have that elegant shape with a slim and beveled waist. well give or take a few differences. in the future i may look into getting plain oxfords from his semi bespoke.

The Spigola?

If you do indeed plan to travel to Japan I would recommend going to the unknown small shoemakers to maximize what your money can buy.

Many undiscovered gems there and I hear there is a very vibrant youth artisanal community going on.

Many youths are taking interest in such craft which means

 

[Seannie]

Nope. Most of these Japanese makers operate out of a small workshop and dont produce enough shoes to be supplied.

Some workshops produce no more than 10 pairs a month.

Though there is a slight chance that a Malaysian friend of mine may develop an agency relationship with Koji when he visits Japan this year. Opening doors to his semi-bespoke route. No confirms though.


I myself would like to plan a trip there to visit the lesser known artisans but I dont see it anytime soon. Though I have already created a translated script to convey my ideal shoe to the maker.

Hmm means there is no japanese maker that is currently large enough to supply out of their country yet? Yea yea please keep me informed if your friend manages to open route. I adore this kind of exclusivity. wow still need to find a translater ah.. hais.

 

[almerickso]

Buy used ones online. Try eBay, or styleforum. Depending on your size, there may be one on styleforum right now that's damn cheap but high shipping costs. That's why I'm not buying it.

What size is your foot?

US 8.5EEE or US 9E depending on last.. I have wide feet and short-ish toes