The Allen Edmonds MTO Thread

[peppercorn78]



Allison told me it was dead.

Hmmm.

 

[suitntieguy]



Allison told me it was dead.

Same here. Was told MTO was coming back at some point but no plans of a trunk show

 

[CGKIII]

Allison told me it was dead.

Well that's unfortunate. Are there any other manufacturers that will ever get natural shell? Possibly in other names? I know Carmina has a cognac, but I was to understand that's a little darker than Natural. Writing off Alden as a pipe dream, given what I've heard about their other color shell availability. I've vaguely recall hearing long ago that St. Crispins uses Horween shell, can anyone confirm? Ugh. I have a feeling this next purchase is going to cost even more than I was anticipating.

 

[fairlynerdy]



Well that's unfortunate. Are there any other manufacturers that will ever get natural shell? Possibly in other names? I know Carmina has a cognac, but I was to understand that's a little darker than Natural. Writing off Alden as a pipe dream, given what I've heard about their other color shell availability. I've vaguely recall hearing long ago that St. Crispins uses Horween shell, can anyone confirm? Ugh. I have a feeling this next purchase is going to cost even more than I was anticipating.

Rancourt has natural shell.

 

[gatszu]

I inquired with Allison the MTO. It may not come back until after the new year she said. No details on what type of customizations would be allowed.

 

[mimo]

The whole "shell shortage" thing actually started in 2008/2009, and was particularly bad through about 2014 (the 2013 IKEA horsemeat scandal didn't help). My understanding is that the supply is actually going back up. It's not really a "new" phenomenon.

The thing about the trunk show, though, is that only one of the AE offerings (natural) is actually a "rare" shell. Natural shells have to be basically perfect ("clear") to be used, whereas darker shells (like the other AE offerings - Deep Dark Brown, Navy, and Dark Green) are much easier to produce, since they can dye over any imperfections in the shells.

Obviously, diverting production from normal shell colors like #8, Black, and Dark Cognac (the top three shell colors in terms of production), leads to somewhat of a shortage, but my sense is that Horween is making plenty of shells - still not as many as in the glory days of horsemeat consumption, but more than they have in recent years. The problem is that the demand for shell cordovan shoes has increased year after year.

Brown shell cordovan shoes are still very easy to acquire. The issue with AE is that they have suspended their MTO program indefinitely, as @garland mentioned. There are other makers (Vass, Crockett & Jones, and Enzo Bonafe, to name a few) that should be able to make an MTO shoe for you in some shade of brown shell. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until AE resumes its MTO program.

Yes, quite. By the "shortage" last year, I mean that it was other and smaller customers being told that there wasn't enough shell around. And the only unusual circumstance last year was AE's buying a **** load of extra shells. Even with the odd colours, it might not be more difficult, but it's a "SMU" to be made up by Horween nevertheless, different dye vats, different finishes, more time, etc. etc.

Anyway, back to the point: I hope AE get their MTO/SMU system back and give us a process for some more SF orders. But I'm also hoping that the delay and the lack of another shell trunk show, means that the likes of Carmina and other smaller companies can get more supplies and ramp up their own shell offerings again. I know Vass had a decent selection when I was there a few months ago, but even they were finding shells via UK and Italian merchants rather than direct from Horween at that point.

 

[Scarlet]

Wore the chocolate suede badlands today while enjoying this last blast of summer. The natural welt has aged in nicely.

Those are really great.

 

[fairlynerdy]



Those are really great.

Thanks! @watchidiot did a bang-up job designing them.

 

[BagleyBrown]

As a boot guy, I love this season.

2014 MTO Bourbon Daltons, medallion-delete, rubber Vibram, Independent collection lining. Recently black polished these.



Added:

Caught a chill last nite;
2014 MTO Chili austerity Daltons;
no perforations, rubber Vibram, independence collection lining.
These have only been wiped & brushed.


Added:

2014 MTO black shell Ashtons, stock except "Handcrafted Especially for <Jzrhwinnj>"




This was my first and only personalized pair before MTO rules began to tighten.

 

[peppercorn78]

x-post from AE thread

Natty Shell Dundee Chukkas.

 

[jcman311]

Someone here post those gorgeous dundees on ebay?

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Allen-Edmonds...10-5-D-Chukka-AE-USA-/321898874937?nav=SEARCH

I'd snatch em if I was a bigger fan of the natural edging and welt.

 

[peppercorn78]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of natty edge with color 8.

 

[Kahuna75]

I would grab them in a heartbeat as I like the lighter...however I cant be wearin no wee footed shoes

 

[Kahuna75]

x-post from AE thread

Natty Shell Dundee Chukkas.

Those are terrific

 

[Matthew Cruz]

@Kahuna75 These are beauties.. Definitely going to look amazing the more you wear it. I like these a lot more than the first ave's I got from the trunk sale.

I would grab those contrast edge color8 dundees in a sec if they were my size.