Allow me to take you guys on a yearlong adventure to bespeak shoes. I was in the market for a pair of shoes and my friend was raving about this shoemaker and after inspecting a couple of his shoes, I figured I’d use him.
I sent him this picture of a pair of Japanese shoes and told him I wanted my shoes to look similar except that he should obviate the eyelets, have it made in brown. I also asked that my initials would be punched in the front of the shoes in place of the regular medallions. That was non-negotiable without which there would have been any deal.
Determining the size was perhaps the most harrowing out of the entire process. He had me put on shoes whose sizing system he was familiar with – Cleverley, John Lobb, Crockett & Jones, Vass and Meermin – and tell him my size in them, how I felt in them, and send him pictures of the shoes so he could, by looking at the flex-points and bulges, ascertain the size I’d need.
Here’s an example of a picture of well-worn Meermins I sent him
I also provided him with actual measurements. I’m kiasu that way.
Fast-forward 7 months later, and I didn’t have any updates. I was getting a little hot under my collar and at the same time, beside myself with anticipation.
I sent him an email and requested for pictures of the work in progress. To my horror, I realized that he didn’t make them to my specification. The language barrier had come in the way. He had punched ‘broguing’ details all around the shoes, whilst I had only requested them to punched in the front.
TBC .............