Bespoke Shoes

Here's a couple of videos about bespoke shoes. Pierre Corthay is a shoe maker's shoe maker. This guy is the real deal. As is Anthony Delos. The parallels of what they do compared to frame building are substantial. I find a lot of inspirational stuff in what these guys do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umHOjP9MUDE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c7AikprQ6o

Bespoke shoes make me think custom bicycles are too cheap.

I am wearing a pair of pretty decent Alden longwing shells today. Retail on those is probably $635, though I didn't pay that. A pair of Corthay bespoke shoes, which would admittedly perhaps fit just a tiny bit better, have substantially better finishing, and use marginally higher grade materials would run somewhere between $4,000 and $8,000.

Run the numbers of a nice production frame vs. a bespoke frame, and the difference in price is not nearly the same.

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Originally Posted by christian

Bespoke shoes make me think custom bicycles are too cheap.

I am wearing a pair of pretty decent Alden longwing shells today. Retail on those is probably $635, though I didn't pay that. A pair of Corthay bespoke shoes, which would admittedly perhaps fit just a tiny bit better, have substantially better finishing, and use marginally higher grade materials would run somewhere between $4,000 and $8,000.

Run the numbers of a nice production frame vs. a bespoke frame, and the difference in price is not nearly the same.

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The cheapest bespoke shoe I've found in America still starts at $1200.
But, unlike most bike brands, most mass shoemakers offer a wide range of sizes and lasts down to the half-size.

Shoe nerds should visit Carreducker.blogspot.com. First post here. I Love this site. I have a crappy old, gearless bike no one would ever nick, but I love looking at beautiful, well- designed things!

Spring is coming and that means sandals for me. I am going to try for a custom made pair from Barbara Shaum.

barbara shaum leather custom made sandals | cherrypatter nyc- where to shop and eat at the best little places in new york city

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Originally Posted by j44ke

Spring is coming and that means sandals for me. I am going to try for a custom made pair from Barbara Shaum.

barbara shaum leather custom made sandals | cherrypatter nyc- where to shop and eat at the best little places in new york city

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My firewall at work blocks this site as pornographic! Shoe porn?! I've never had an urge to get custom shoes made. I guess I'm a fairly standard size and width. At least in English shoes (which tend to run wider than their effete Italian cousins. I've been very happy with Loake, Grenson and Trickers over the years.

I have skinny feet, but mostly this impulse for custom sandals is because no one makes good sandals for men. Most of them are just shoes with holes in them. Or they are made out of large chunks of black rubber.

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Originally Posted by j44ke

no one makes good sandals for men.

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There is a reason for this.

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Originally Posted by chasea

The cheapest bespoke shoe I've found in America still starts at $1200.
But, unlike most bike brands, most mass shoemakers offer a wide range of sizes and lasts down to the half-size.

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At least one of the Drago Shoes locations in the city - the one in Morningside Heights - used to (as of 4 years ago) make semi-bespoke shoes that I believe started at about half that price. More an assemblage of preformed parts, but could in any event take in to consideration foot size or volume discrepancies, etc.

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Originally Posted by j44ke

I have skinny feet, but mostly this impulse for custom sandals is because no one makes good sandals for men. Most of them are just shoes with holes in them. Or they are made out of large chunks of black rubber.

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This guy makes some nice stuff, including sandals.

Freeman steps into shoemaking niche | Addison County Independent

Sandals are for the beach, not the uptown local train.

Thanks for this thread, and the links. I've worn Cole-Haan, and Church. Well... not bad but high-end cheap is still high end cheap. I'm looking at hiking boots. I don't mind the price if I get quality. People are happy with Asolo, but I'd gladly pay $400 for a decent set of long life boots as opposed to $200 for something that may or may not last a while. I need fit and long life.

-Max

^limmer boots. but the wait list is years i believe.

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Originally Posted by brunop

^limmer boots. but the wait list is years i believe.

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Not so, unless you need custom. Standard

Mine are turning 5 this year and should last me the remainder of my life.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8191/8...3d54bddef0.jpg

Attachment 47320

limmer lightweight and standard weight. non-bespoke. great boots.

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Originally Posted by christian

Bespoke shoes make me think custom bicycles are too cheap.

I am wearing a pair of pretty decent Alden longwing shells today. Retail on those is probably $635, though I didn't pay that. A pair of Corthay bespoke shoes, which would admittedly perhaps fit just a tiny bit better, have substantially better finishing, and use marginally higher grade materials would run somewhere between $4,000 and $8,000.

Run the numbers of a nice production frame vs. a bespoke frame, and the difference in price is not nearly the same.

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Leffot's made-to-order program is an interesting alternative to custom shoes:

Leffot MTO Program