Carmina vs Meermin

[radicaldog]

I have two pairs of Carminas and really like them. Excellent value. Now I hear all this talk of their sub-brand Meermin. The pictures look quite good, but how are they so cheap? What are the differences?

I reckon this must have been discussed elsewhere, but the Meermin thread is enormous so I'm a bit lost. There's this thread, but it's not very systematic. Does anyone have substantial insight about differences in construction and leather quality? Cheers.

 

[DavidGD]

Not sure if you've seen this, but it may help answer some of your questions:


http://putthison.com/post/27986276299/we-got-it-for-free-meermin-shoes-exaggerations

 

[Cantabrigian]

It's not a sub brand. They're different firms though run by relatives.

Some Meermins are hand welted - don't know if that's the case with Carmina but it's something that IMO makes a shoe a bit more comfortable.

 

[Ricini]

One significant difference is that the finishing on Meermins is consistently poor. I know many on the forum love the brand, but the five or six times I've been in the Claudio Coello shop I've left thinking one is better off with a pair of Allen Edmonds (shapely lasts be damned). This is not to say that the finishing on a pair of Carminas is without fault. I've seen seconds on display as firsts in every Madrid shop, but they are still not so obviously poorly finished as those from Meermin,

 

[bboysdontcryy]

Yes Meermin's finishing is honestly, rather poor. I had leather shoes with black blotches everywhere, and had to have it exchanged. I think Carmina's quality control is more stringent.

 

[gyasih]

Meermin needs to work on their QC. The fact that I received an MTO shoe with issues that should have been caught is a concern, although not a big one because of location. My classics also had a problem

All my Carmina shoes have been flawless.

Take all this with a grain of salt though, people usually post when they have issues, so I am sure there are more satisfied than unsatisfied customers.

 

[bboysdontcryy]

Meermins are not that bad for their price. I turn to them (classic models) as my shoes I don't mind getting dirtied, or 'trashed up'.

But yes, it'd help if they improve their QC, and quit increasing their prices so rapidly.

 

[bboysdontcryy]

Gyasih, what shoes are those in your profile pic? Girling?

 

[chogall]

Meermin Linea Maestro shoes is probably one of the lowest priced hand-welted shoes. Visual quality is probably between AE and Alden. But then again hand-welted shoes will have stronger construction than gemmed.

 

[gyasih]



Gyasih, what shoes are those in your profile pic? Girling?

AS Exclusive Moore in oxblood

 

[bboysdontcryy]



AS Exclusive Moore in oxblood

What last is that on?

 

[bboysdontcryy]

Ignore that. I think it's the 724.

 

[Brenner]

Carmina is a better product

 

[007Bond]

This is a pic of a pair of brand new out of the box Meermin boots I bought you be the judge.

Also such dirty and sloppy work.

As you can see for quality Meermin really Nailed it!

 

[BColl_Has_Too_Many_Shoes]

Main difference between the two is leather quality, and where the shoes are made. Carmina makes shoes in Spain with better leather uppers. As others have mentioned, Carmina does have excellent QC, and customer service.

Meermin makes the shoes in China with some finishing in Spain. Harder to break in leathers with sub optimal leather quality. Their hand-welted shoes are very fairly priced when compared to the market.
For the price, and if you can find your size, go get yourself some Meermin seconds on the bay! Simply unbeatable prices.