A morning at Horween Leather Company.

[NWTeal]

Speaking of shoemakers finishing shell themselves - Nick and I were chatting about this, and in his opinion, Carmina is the shoemaker that does the least to the shells they receive and make into footwear. So if you want the unadulterated shell, buy Carmina.

And speaking of Carmina - Nick confirmed with me that Carmina's "rubi" shell is indeed Color #2, as I suspected.

Very interesting since Carmina advertises themselves as specialists in shell cordovan. Not saying they aren't since I have some of their shell and I love it, but maybe doing little to the shell expresses their knowledge of the material.

I too assumed their Ruby was the same as color 2, but theirs has more of a shine than Alden's #2.

 

[JSO1]

Very interesting since Carmina advertises themselves as specialists in shell cordovan. Not saying they aren't since I have some of their shell and I love it, but maybe doing little to the shell expresses their knowledge of the material.

I too assumed their Ruby was the same as color 2, but theirs has more of a shine than Alden's #2.

As far as I know, Alden only used the #2 on the special 20th anniversary AoC LWB, and those were very matte in finish. I think AoC/Alden specifically requested that Horween not polish the shells for that makeup after dyeing them.

By contrast, all the finished shells I saw at Horween were quite shiny and glossy.

 

[Zapasman]

I have Horween shell from 3 different shoemakers. It seems that their shells are a bit different from each other: Alden #8 is coated, Vass and Carmina are really similar, C&J has different colours/patinas/dyes, etc.

So I wonder if Horween makes a different finish to its shells according to the specifications of its customers, or if it´s the shoemaker that finishes the shell with acrilics and or dyes?. Could it be possible that Horween treats differently the finish of their shells for each customer and on top of that the shoemaker applies another finish in house?

Any input?

 

[JSO1]



I have Horween shell from 3 different shoemakers.  It seems that their shells are a bit different from each other: Alden #8 is coated, Vass and Carmina are really similar, C&J has different colours/patinas/dyes, etc.

So I wonder if Horween makes a different finish to its shells according to the specifications of its customers, or if it´s the shoemaker that finishes the shell with acrilics and or dyes?. Could it be  possible that Horween treats differently the finish of their shells for each customer and on top of that the shoemaker applies another finish in house?

Any input?

From what Nick told me, all the shells leave Horween in the same finish, and it's only the shoemakers that apply their own dyes and finishes.

 

[Zapasman]

From what Nick told me, all the shells leave Horween in the same finish, and it's only the shoemakers that apply their own dyes and finishes.

Thanks JSO1, that is what I thought.