Paul Sargent (formerly Alfred Sargent) Appreciation Thread

[scurvyfreedman]

Moore, yes, but in burgundy.
It was a GMTO through A Fine Pair of Shoes of a couple years ago.

I have the same shoe from even longer ago when it was a stock item.

 

[comrade]

Wingtip ? Is that cockamamie club/mens shop still open?

 

[clintonf]

In Memoriam

I've left the boots out, but they were not the Handgrade/Exclusive Range.

Nicely made shoes in my opinion. Shame to see them go (if they really have gone).

Clint

 

[Luigi_M]

@clintonf all nice shoes, but the black/white spectators make me drool.
Any chance to get some live (i.e., while worn) pics?

 

[Schweino]

Beautiful boots! Where they MTO or did AS make all those varieties as RTW?

I've been considered a balmoral boot (only have the more common derby type boots). How does it feel compared to a derby boot? Is the fitting more snug and did you have to size up? Regarding your specific boots, how do you keep the suede from being stained when polishing the leather?

The full leather one is from the handgrade line. The bi-material ones were made for Herring shoes some years ago. I usually don't need to size up going from a derby boot to a balmoral boot.

The lighter suede one was difficult to polish and keep clean so have had them darkened by my cobbler last year.

 

[Schweino]

Shell cordovan handgrade MTO

 

[radicaldog]

they've gone bust

 

[clintonf]

@clintonf all nice shoes, but the black/white spectators make me drool.
Any chance to get some live (i.e., while worn) pics?

The pictures I take are terrible. I've never actually worn the Spectators (which are, in fact, green and white). I just have never found the occasion and my wife hates spectators.

I know, I know...

As for live shots, all I can send you is what I now spend 90% of my time in (for basically, the last year).

 

[Groover]

.

 

[Groover]

Shell cordovan handgrade MTO

View attachment 1558255

I recognise those.....

 

[Schweino]

I recognise those.....

Tell me more....

 

[Groover]

Tell me more....

I had a pair and sold them a few years ago....

 

[Schweino]

I had a pair and sold them a few years ago....

Might have been this pair then, sold as part of a larger batch?

 

[Groover]

How on earth Barker or Grenson are well while Alfred Sargent is almost dead? Such a shame. Something wrong with this world....

Barker have laid staff off and along with the other companies are struggling. Don't forget they only produce a small percentage locally, the majority of their uppers are cut & closed overseas and then shipped to the UK.

Grenson. Tim Little maintains a small factory/distribution center in the UK. Only G-One and specials with specific brands are made in the UK. Everything else is made in India. I was quoted a couple of years ago, 1 pair from india was c£15 cost, they then sell them for c£180 and they were selling a LOT of them.

Sargents is in the position it is because of money. All the staff are UK based, they have a largish site to maintain, they have to purchase the raw materials and so on. It requires very very deep pockets. These issues go back years, prior to the previous "going into administration". Sargents biggest customer was Bowen, hence why they reached out to them to take over last time.

The saddest part in all this is that people have lost their jobs, at a time when the industry is struggling and those people are now facing very difficult times.

 

[Tom Kyle]

The saddest part in all this is that people have lost their jobs, at a time when the industry is struggling and those people are now facing very difficult times.

Indeed, that is the saddest part: the skilled craftsmen who have probably lost their livelihood. I hope that Bowen or Herring Shoes would hire at least some of them. If I am not mistaken, the Herring Premier range was partially on AS lasts, and produced by Alfred Sargent staff. In addition, I think the Wildsmith-labelled shoes were also produced by Alfred Sargent. Maybe Herring can ramp up this line now.