An interview

DWFII · Feb 24, 2013

I was recently asked to do a long distance interview with a gentleman--Mr. Ville Raivio--who operates a blog out of Finland addressing classic men's styles. The interview arose just as he is taking the blog international.

Some of his previous interviews have been with Bernhard Roetzel, G. Bruce Boyer, Karl Matthews, Alan Flusser, Will Boehlke and Luca Rubinacci , among others. And while those names don't mean much to a rather isolated, semi-retired old snab such as myself, the names will resonate with core Style Forum members, I'm sure.

It occurred to me that some here might enjoy it--KEIKARI.COM 24 Feb.2013

bboysdontcryy · Feb 24, 2013

Doesn't he post here? Vraivio?

nutcracker · Feb 24, 2013

Wow, very insightful read..love the pics too

and congrats to Vraivio for scoring an excellent interview. excellent new blog/site :fonz:

bubba04 · Feb 24, 2013

This is awesome, DWF. Thank you for all your contributions. Though I have never engaged you in conversation in this forum, I thoroughly enjoy reading all your posts. Cheers!

DWFII · Feb 24, 2013

Well, I just appreciated the opportunity. Thanks to Vraivio for that. I wish him well in taking his blog international.

Shawl Lapel · Feb 25, 2013

A very interesting read. Thanks for sharing your viewpoints with us

mimo · Feb 26, 2013

Having just read this and found out a little about you, I will read your posts with an even greater respect.

Your work looks exquisite. Thank you for sharing it.

DWFII · Feb 26, 2013

mimo said:
Having just read this and found out a little about you, I will read your posts with an even greater respect. Your work looks exquisite. Thank you for sharing it.

Thank you. The blog author (vraivio) at Keikari.com recently added the film clip from Oregon Public Radio's ArtBeat. I don't know when he did that but the interview wasn't originally published with it. Now that I see it again, I realized that the ArtBeat piece was probably 10+ years ago. I sure looked good.

Dang, time passes fast when you're having fun...or not looking. --

emptym · Feb 26, 2013

Thanks for posting that, DW. VRavio's has some great posts here. Didn't know he had a blog. This was my favorite part of the interview:

The customer commissions the work and we give them our best and most devoted attention…maybe even the best of ourselves at any given moment…but fundamentally we make shoes for the “dead guys”–the makers who preceded us and who made the Trade what it was and is, and who passed on their knowledge to the next generation. Of whom we are but the latest in a long line of given and received knowledge…master to student, generation to generation. I feel them at my shoulder sometimes. I have internal dialogs with them.

Mimo, in case you missed it, here's a thread about some wonderful boots DW made for me. And here's a couple pics:

Still enjoying them tremendously and looking forward to the next pair!

DWFII · Feb 26, 2013

emptym said:
Thanks for posting that, DW. VRavio's has some great posts here. Didn't know he had a blog.

This was my favorite part of the interview:
Mimo, in case you missed it, here's a thread about some wonderful boots DW made for me. And here's a couple pics:

Still enjoying them tremendously and looking forward to the next pair!

M,

Revisiting that thread...it was a good one wasn't it? Your photos then...and in this one...are excellent. I'm a poor photographer. I've read (and understood what I read) about cameras but It doesn't come natural to me. Sometimes close-ups work out for me but when it comes to aperture and exposure, I have to consult the manual every time. I just leave it on auto.

When VRaivio first contacted m, I didn't know who he was. I wasn't until someone on the forum identified him that I made the connection.

Xenon · Feb 27, 2013

I'll testify to the validity of the spirit of the article. The fact that DWFII is a keeper of knowledge and actively looking to transfer that knowledge is extremely evident on the Crispin Colloquy. We can all clearly see the skill and talent in his finished shoes or boots. I like the quote "In the end, the work must recommend itself" but getting there isn't so easy and if this were any other industry or person, the secrets to the finished shoe/boots would be tightly guarded.. Not so on the Crispin Colloquy, where DWFII has countless tutorials and tricks that are extremely helpful to newbs as well as advanced professionals. There is a tremendous amount of time and effort put into the CC and that will endure for a very long time.

DWFII · Feb 27, 2013

Xenon said:
I'll testify to the validity of the spirit of the article. The fact that DWFII is a keeper of knowledge and actively looking to transfer that knowledge is extremely evident on the Crispin Colloquy. We can all clearly see the skill and talent in his finished shoes or boots. I like the quote "In the end, the work must recommend itself" but getting there isn't so easy and if this were any other industry or person, the secrets to the finished shoe/boots would be tightly guarded.. Not so on the Crispin Colloquy, where DWFII has countless tutorials and tricks that are extremely helpful to newbs as well as advanced professionals. There is a tremendous amount of time and effort put into the CC and that will endure for a very long time.

Thank you!

:cheers:

emptym · Feb 27, 2013

Thanks DW. The thread had great subject matter. :satisfied:

Thanks about the pics too. I think yours look better, personally.

Their two year anniversary is coming up. I'll take some pics and bump up the old thread with them.

MoneyWellSpent · Feb 27, 2013

That is a fantastic article! Thanks for posting it. I have really enjoyed reading your posts and have learned an incredible amount of information about shoe construction from the many threads you have engaged in. I really enjoy learning what makes hand-welted and bespoke shoes better and why. I have also enjoyed reading threads in the Crispin Colloquy, but I didn't know you created it. It really is a wealth of information.

TheWraith · Feb 27, 2013

Well done to all involved.

An interview

Bespoke Boot and Shoemaker

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Senior Member

Bespoke Boot and Shoemaker

Distinguished Member

Pernicious Enabler

Bespoke Boot and Shoemaker

Moderator

Bespoke Boot and Shoemaker

Senior Member

Bespoke Boot and Shoemaker

Moderator

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Similar threads

Featured Sponsor

Definitely full canvas only

Half canvas is fine

Really don't care

Depends on fabric

Depends on price

Forum Sponsors

Forum statistics

FOLLOW STYLEFORUM ON: