Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Men's Clothing › shoe repair/antiquing in toronto?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

shoe repair/antiquing in toronto?

post #1 of 19
6/11/10 at 9:36pm
Thread Starter 
I've got a pair of Santonis and a pair of EGs that are messed up. They both need some love. The Santonis are worse off than the EGs and they need a real pro. I'll mail them out to someone if I need to, but it would be nice if i could get them taken care of here... Pls only make recs unlesss you've used someone for a job involving high-end shoes. I don't want them to be butchered since they're both salvageable. The antiquing job on the Santonis in particular will be difficult, and there is some damage to the leather. Thanks.
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 19
6/11/10 at 10:48pm
Bring one of the pairs to Novelty on Yonge, just north of Adelaide and get their opinion. IMO, one of the best independents in the city. Failing that, try shoetherapy.ca on Bay, just south of Bloor.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 19
6/11/10 at 11:06pm
+1 for Novelty. http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl...11867355061067 Novelty Shoe Rebuilders Limited 119 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M5C1W4, Canada (416) 364-8878
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 19
6/11/10 at 11:30pm
GQgeek, aren't you in Montreal?
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 19
6/11/10 at 11:41pm
Thread Starter 
Have you guys actually used Novelty for high-end shoes? Shoetherapy doesn't inspire faith because of the pics in the before & after on their site (if they worked with high-end shoes why would the use the crappy shoes they picked for the pics?) I am paranoid because i've had shoes totally fucked up with a simple resole, but the Santonis need someone that can do good antiquing/polishing. The EGs are easier. They just have a bunch of black rubber marks on them from being worn inside of galoshes in the winter. And I have another pair of EGs that are a little banged up from the move. Again, an easy job. The santonis are the hard one b/c of the slight cracking along the punch holes on the toe and the special antiquing they did.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 19
6/11/10 at 11:43pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wes Bourne View Post
GQgeek, aren't you in Montreal?

I moved.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 19
6/12/10 at 12:17am
+1 again for Novelty. Though I have only used them to topy the sole and fix the heal in the past . Not sure if there are any places for high end shoes.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 19
6/12/10 at 1:13am
GQGeek, As for myself, I have used Novelty only on my AE's thus far, so in my case, no, not for high end yet. That is not to say they aren't competent, only that I haven't yet gotten them to resole anything higher than AE's, for which the work was done very well and to my satisfaction. I have a pair of Zegna loafers (Blake stitched sole) that need re-soling. Maybe I'll try Novelty out on those soon. I have never approached Novelty with regards to antiquing so can't comment on that part. There are plenty of SF members here from or in Toronto who have mentioned Novelty in the past, and to my memory, no complaints as yet. I just visited the 'Shoetherapy' site, and saw what you mean about the 'Before & After' shots they used to demonstrate their services. Damn those shoe photos would scare off customers. Someone should email them a heads up. Another thought; there is an American member here on SF named 'Ron Rider'. Many SF forumites highly recommend this gentleman for antiquing (and other services). Perhaps PM him if Novelty doesn't appeal to you? See this- http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...ight=ron+rider
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 19
6/19/10 at 11:58pm
I've dealt with Rob from Novelty only in purchasing products so far (polish, taps, etc...), he's quite knowledgeable.

As for Shoetherapy. Earlier this year I took a pair of Pal Zileri Sartoriale and Barker Blacks to have heel and toe taps put in. The Barkers were fine but the Pal Zilieris had fine cracks running up and down the soles. It must have been caused by a combination of hammering and the cold weather. It was enough that I don't plan on going there anytime soon.

+1 for Ron Rider. Never had any antiquing done by him personally but his service is excellent - other threads demonstrate this.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 19
6/20/10 at 8:02am
Thread Starter 
I dropped off my EGs last tuesday. Picking them up tomorrow. I guess i'll see how they look when I get them back.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 19
6/20/10 at 2:00pm
Does this guy still work out of Ottawa?




lefty
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 19
6/20/10 at 2:23pm
Thread Starter 
^^ I actually sent Dimitri an email this morning. I haven't heard back yet but hopefully i will. If i recall correctly, it was his father's shop.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 19
6/20/10 at 3:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Man Of Lint View Post
Another thought; there is an American member here on SF named 'Ron Rider'. Many SF forumites highly recommend this gentleman for antiquing (and other services). Perhaps PM him if Novelty doesn't appeal to you?
See this- http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...ight=ron+rider

Quote:
Originally Posted by Albern View Post
+1 for Ron Rider. Never had any antiquing done by him personally but his service is excellent - other threads demonstrate this.

Ron's been cutting back on antiquing, but a PM is worth a shot.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 19
6/23/10 at 4:58pm
Did you pick them up yet? I have some similar work I need done but am wondering who to use.

Thanks.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 19
7/24/10 at 12:40pm
Thread Starter 
Hey Ranjeev, sorry it took me a while to update the thread. Forgot about it. The work they did on my EGs was good. They touched up some scratches on the toes and gave them a polish as well. I am sending my Santonis to the guy the did the Maglis above though. I think novelty is probably fine for standard work but for special work on really expensive shoes you might want to go elsewhere. I say this because the guy at the front that takes your shoes didn't even know what antiquing was... That to me says they don't deal with a lot of it, and i'd rather someone with experience work on those shoes.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Men's Clothing
Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Men's Clothing › shoe repair/antiquing in toronto?