Japanese Shoes: Bespoke & RTW Super Thread

@NC
thanks for your reply, wow i didn't expect the lead time for MTO takes up to 3-4months depending the maker.
How about Saion MTO? does they take that kind of time too? i thought in my mind i could have them finished in 1 week
Does Spigola / il Quadrifoglio have RTW line? In your opinion what is the best japanese RTW you can get under 75K yen?
i like the Corno blu offering, do you know another artisan that make italian style japanese RTW?
sorry for the dozen question

thanks



bozzkeren said:

@NC
thanks for your reply, wow i didn't expect the lead time for MTO takes up to 3-4months depending the maker.
How about Saion MTO? does they take that kind of time too? i thought in my mind i could have them finished in 1 week
Does Spigola / il Quadrifoglio have RTW line? In your opinion what is the best japanese RTW you can get under 75K yen?
i like the Corno blu offering, do you know another artisan that make italian style japanese RTW?
sorry for the dozen question 

thanks

Click to expand...

Yeah some makers take 3 months or longer for MTO shoes, but you can have them shipped.

Saion MTO takes only 2 months to complete, but they require a fitting session so I didn't list it on the previous post.
Unfortunately, Spigola and IQ don't offer a RTW line.

For Japanese RTW shoes under ¥75K, Miyagi Kogyo, Central Shoes, and Corno Blu are my favorites, but you may want to check out other RTW brands too.
http://www.styleforum.net/t/342761/...utcracker-japanese-shoemakers-brand-catalogue

Other than Corno Blu, Perfetto makes fine Italian styled RTW shoes. Madras is another one (but they only blake constructed shoes)
Hiroki Imai used to do RTW, but I think they only do MTO nowadays.

nutcracker said:

Yeah some makers take 3 months or longer for MTO shoes, but you can have them shipped.

Saion MTO takes only 2 months to complete, but they require a fitting session so I didn't list it on the previous post.
Unfortunately, Spigola and IQ don't offer a RTW line.

For Japanese RTW shoes under ¥75K, Miyagi Kogyo, Central Shoes, and Corno Blu are my favorites, but you may want to check out other RTW brands too.
http://www.styleforum.net/t/342761/...utcracker-japanese-shoemakers-brand-catalogue

Other than Corno Blu, Perfetto makes fine Italian styled RTW shoes. Madras is another one (but they only blake constructed shoes)
Hiroki Imai used to do RTW, but I think they only do MTO nowadays.

Click to expand...

i see.. on another topic, do you know how long does isetan sale last? u mention they start at 17 july.
many many thanks for your opinion



bozzkeren said:

i see.. on another topic, do you know how long does isetan sale last? u mention they start at 17 july.
many many thanks for your opinion 

Click to expand...

Glad I can help.
I recall last year's sale going on for at least a month, even after the Fall/Winter stuffs start hitting the shelf. Sale experts tend to visit periodically to check for restocks, or for additional markdowns (towards the end)

nutcracker said:

bozzkeren said:

@NC
thanks for your reply, wow i didn't expect the lead time for MTO takes up to 3-4months depending the maker.
How about Saion MTO? does they take that kind of time too? i thought in my mind i could have them finished in 1 week
Does Spigola / il Quadrifoglio have RTW line? In your opinion what is the best japanese RTW you can get under 75K yen?
i like the Corno blu offering, do you know another artisan that make italian style japanese RTW?
sorry for the dozen question 

thanks

Click to expand...

Yeah some makers take 3 months or longer for MTO shoes, but you can have them shipped.

Saion MTO takes only 2 months to complete, but they require a fitting session so I didn't list it on the previous post.
Unfortunately, Spigola and IQ don't offer a RTW line.

For Japanese RTW shoes under ¥75K, Miyagi Kogyo, Central Shoes, and Corno Blu are my favorites, but you may want to check out other RTW brands too.
http://www.styleforum.net/t/342761/...utcracker-japanese-shoemakers-brand-catalogue

Other than Corno Blu, Perfetto makes fine Italian styled RTW shoes. Madras is another one (but they only blake constructed shoes)
Hiroki Imai used to do RTW, but I think they only do MTO nowadays.

Click to expand...

This is from memory so may not be wholly accurate, but my Miyagi Kogyo MTO took 1 week less than the minimum quoted time. If I remember correctly it took 5 weeks, they quoted 6 weeks as normal, but for me it was 6 to 8 weeks because it was just before a holiday period, Golden Week or Obon can't remember, but they were done in 5 weeks. These are not up to the standard of some of the beauties in this thread but they are well constructed and there is a wide variety of style choices maybe 30 or more basic styles that can be modified by mixing and matching leathers, stitching etc. They have 3 different lasts; chisel, and round toe, and one that seems reminiscent of the Alden modified last. (I think nutcracker san mentioned this last in this thread) There is also quite a large selection of leathers (some European some Japanese), soles, linings, stitching etc. I believe they will do exotics and cordovan on request for an additional fee.

I'm thinking of getting a pair of plain toe derbies in Japanese cordovan on their MD last, (Alden modified) (not shown on the English webpage) although I have not seen an example in real life yet. Again not the usual fare for this page but they do have a wide selection of styles that should appeal to many people. In the high 30,000 to mid 40,000 yen range I think they are an excellent buy.

These pictures are all 2E, so if you have a medium or narrow foot they will be sleeker.

Round (ES) last


Chisel (CS) last



And the one I'm considering

nutcracker said:

bozzkeren said:

i see.. on another topic, do you know how long does isetan sale last? u mention they start at 17 july.
many many thanks for your opinion 

Click to expand...

Glad I can help.
I recall last year's sale going on for at least a month, even after the Fall/Winter stuffs start hitting the shelf. Sale experts tend to visit periodically to check for restocks, or for additional markdowns (towards the end)

Click to expand...

I will be there for sure, I work 15 minutes walk from there twice a week.

@fang66

Please upload your miyagi kogyo for additional eye candy on this thread

Everytime i look at this thread i can't help but thinking how lucky japanese people that they pretty much have
almost every brand of any product sold there (shoes, apparel, alc)

In my country indonesia they only have few offering of shoes, like florsheim, church, trickers and they already considered high end here. Fortuna shoes brand Jalan Sriwijaya only sold in Japan or Korea, locals can't get them at all even if they come to the factory



Fang66 said:

This is from memory so may not be wholly accurate, but my Miyagi Kogyo MTO took 1 week less than the minimum quoted time. If I remember correctly it took 5 weeks, they quoted 6 weeks as normal, but for me it was 6 to 8 weeks because it was just before a holiday period, Golden Week or Obon can't remember, but they were done in 5 weeks. These are not up to the standard of some of the beauties in this thread but they are well constructed and there is a wide variety of style choices maybe 30 or more basic styles that can be modified by mixing and matching leathers, stitching etc. They have 3 different lasts; chisel, and round toe, and one that seems reminiscent of the Alden modified last. (I think nutcracker san mentioned this last in this thread) There is also quite a large selection of leathers (some European some Japanese), soles, linings, stitching etc. I believe they will do exotics and cordovan on request for an additional fee.

I'm thinking of getting a pair of plain toe derbies in Japanese cordovan on their MD last, (Alden modified) (not shown on the English webpage) although I have not seen an example in real life yet. Again not the usual fare for this page but they do have a wide selection of styles that should appeal to many people. In the high 30,000 to mid 40,000 yen range I think they are an excellent buy.

Round (ES) last

Chisel (CS) last

And the one I'm considering

Click to expand...

Yeah I forgot about the Miyagi Kogyo MTOs. In terms of choices/variety, they're probably the best. Fang, you may want to try a new store in Aoyama called FANS. They are the official carrier of Hiroshi Arai MTO shoes. Arai shoes are made by Miyagi Kogyo, and has the same selection of leather (+ cordovan), same price and lead time. But there are 5 new lasts to choose from, and a bunch of designs (including plain toes) . You also have a choice to upgrade to handsewn welting, or coloring (patina)

Fang66 said:

I will be there for sure, I work 15 minutes walk from there twice a week.

Click to expand...

Isetan Shinjuku you mean? doesn't the Sale available on all isetan branch ?

bozzkeren said:

Fang66 said:

I will be there for sure, I work 15 minutes walk from there twice a week.

Click to expand...

Isetan Shinjuku you mean? doesn't the Sale available on all isetan branch ?

Click to expand...

Not all Isetan branches were created the same. Shinjuku is the place to go if you are interested in nice shoes.



bozzkeren said:

Isetan Shinjuku you mean? doesn't the Sale available on all isetan branch ?

Click to expand...

+1 to Fang
Isetan MENS Store is the place you want to go.



bozzkeren said:

@fang66

Please upload your miyagi kogyo for additional eye candy on this thread

Everytime i look at this thread i can't help but thinking how lucky japanese people that they pretty much have
almost every brand of any product sold there (shoes, apparel, alc) 

In my country indonesia they only have few offering of shoes, like florsheim, church, trickers and they already considered high end here. Fortuna shoes brand Jalan Sriwijaya only sold in Japan or Korea, locals can't get them at all even if they come to the factory 

Click to expand...

I have a pair of Jalan Sriwijaya very nice shoes.


Sorry about the crappy cellphone camera pic, (taken on their birthday) and the fact that they pale next to some of the offerings here. I do like them very much though, great fit, and they look almost new 4 years later even though I wear them at least 3 or 4 times a month. Actually they look better than new as the leather has some character now.

nutcracker said:

Fang66 said:

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

This is from memory so may not be wholly accurate, but my Miyagi Kogyo MTO took 1 week less than the minimum quoted time. If I remember correctly it took 5 weeks, they quoted 6 weeks as normal, but for me it was 6 to 8 weeks because it was just before a holiday period, Golden Week or Obon can't remember, but they were done in 5 weeks. These are not up to the standard of some of the beauties in this thread but they are well constructed and there is a wide variety of style choices maybe 30 or more basic styles that can be modified by mixing and matching leathers, stitching etc. They have 3 different lasts; chisel, and round toe, and one that seems reminiscent of the Alden modified last. (I think nutcracker san mentioned this last in this thread) There is also quite a large selection of leathers (some European some Japanese), soles, linings, stitching etc. I believe they will do exotics and cordovan on request for an additional fee.

I'm thinking of getting a pair of plain toe derbies in Japanese cordovan on their MD last, (Alden modified) (not shown on the English webpage) although I have not seen an example in real life yet. Again not the usual fare for this page but they do have a wide selection of styles that should appeal to many people. In the high 30,000 to mid 40,000 yen range I think they are an excellent buy.

Round (ES) last

Chisel (CS) last

And the one I'm considering

Click to expand...

Yeah I forgot about the Miyagi Kogyo MTOs. In terms of choices/variety, they're probably the best. Fang, you may want to try a new store in Aoyama called FANS. They are the official carrier of Hiroshi Arai MTO shoes. Arai shoes are made by Miyagi Kogyo, and has the same selection of leather (+ cordovan), same price and lead time. But there are 5 new lasts to choose from, and a bunch of designs (including plain toes) . You also have a choice to upgrade to handsewn welting, or coloring (patina)

Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip.



bozzkeren said:

@fang66

Please upload your miyagi kogyo for additional eye candy on this thread

Everytime i look at this thread i can't help but thinking how lucky japanese people that they pretty much have
almost every brand of any product sold there (shoes, apparel, alc) 

In my country indonesia they only have few offering of shoes, like florsheim, church, trickers and they already considered high end here. Fortuna shoes brand Jalan Sriwijaya only sold in Japan or Korea, locals can't get them at all even if they come to the factory 

Click to expand...

That is a real bummer

Fang66 said:

I have a pair of Jalan Sriwijaya very nice shoes.


Sorry about the crappy cellphone camera pic, (taken on their birthday) and the fact that they pale next to some of the offerings here. I do like them very much though, great fit, and they look almost new 4 years later even though I wear them at least 3 or 4 times a month. Actually they look better than new as the leather has some character now.

Click to expand...

Nice boots Fang!

Isetan has a great line up of Jalan Sriwijaya shoes, and for this Fall, they're bringing in some high end models to the lineup


Jalan Sriwijaya loafer in blue lizard skin

from M's Blog

nutcracker said:

That is a real bummer
Nice boots Fang!

Isetan has a great line up of Jalan Sriwijaya shoes, and for this Fall, they're bringing in some high end models to the lineup


Jalan Sriwijaya loafer in blue lizard skin

from M's Blog

Click to expand...

this is kinda nice, any idea on pricing and discount?
thanks