Church's Appreciation Thread

[Schweino]

Does anyone know if the crepe sole on a Sahara desert boot is cemented to a leather midsole or is the crepe sole directly stitched to the welt?

 

[Mercurio]

Does anyone know if the crepe sole on a Sahara desert boot is cemented to a leather midsole or is the crepe sole directly stitched to the welt?

I own different chukka boots with crepe soles - Church's, Heschung, Clark's, Sanders - and none of them have their soles directly stitched to the welt, even though their varied type of construction: GYW, Norwegian stitch or stitch down.

You can see the bottom of my Church's Ryder just after their arrival a few years ago: no visible stitch in their sole. I believe that the Sahara would be similar.

 

[Schweino]

I own different chukka boots with crepe soles - Church's, Heschung, Clark's, Sanders - and none of them have them directly stitched to the welt, even though their varied type of construction: GYW, Norwegian stitch or stitch down.

You can see the bottom of my Church's Ryder just after their arrival a few years ago: no visible stitch in their sole. I believe that the Sahara would be similar.

Thank you for your reply. I want to convert some of my Sahara boots from crêpe to Vibram Eton and wondered if the outer (cemented) crêpe sole can be removed to whatever (GY welted) midsole it is glued onto, and have the Eton sole glued to that midsole.

My question is, what material is the midsole made of? If I look at my Sahara boots I cannot find any proof of a leather midsole, so I suspect the midsole might be crêpe too?

Maybe @Nick V. has some experience with this?

 

[Mercurio]

Thank you for your reply. I want to convert some of my Sahara boots from crêpe to Vibram Eton and wondered if the outer (cemented) crêpe sole can be removed to whatever (GY welted) midsole it is glued onto, and have the Eton sole glued to that midsole.

My question is, what material is the midsole made of? If I look at my Sahara boots I cannot find any proof of a leather midsole, so I suspect the midsole might be crêpe too?

Maybe @Nick V. has some experience with this?

I would think that you will not know for sure until a good cobbler removes the crepe sole and see what it's inside.

I found a video that can give you an idea of what to expect if they are GYW, even though they are using a Dainite sole for the recrafting:

 

[Voidoid]

Found some strange Church's.
The guy selling them pretty cheap, but he's kinda dumb and cant take good pictures.
Maybe someone know the name for that model, cause googling "theodore" just doesnt give results.

 

[shoefan57]

Found some strange Church's.
The guy selling them pretty cheap, but he's kinda dumb and cant take good pictures.
Maybe someone know the name for that model, cause googling "theodore" just doesnt give results. View attachment 1902701 View attachment 1902703 View attachment 1902705

I’m not great with taking pictures either but that range of Church’s is from 1970s I believe, maybe late 60s? The style is a 1970s style too.

 

[Nikola]

Gents,

If someone is looking for a nice pair of Church's iconic sneakers I got a brand new in box pair of Mirfield / Boland sneakers in size US 10 / UK 9 / EU 43 with extra white laces and extra pair of bags.. They are now 830,00 EUR in Europe and I can get them at more than 70% OFF that price!

These fit exactly same as any other Church's in UK 9

 

[Mercurio]

Church’s RYDER

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[Mr Knightley]

Returning to soles, has anyone had an issue with Italian-made soles coming unstuck? I noticed recently that the sole on my Church's Glen ankle boots was coming away at the left toe. I took them into my local repair man and he said he would remove both soles completely and reattach them. There is still a little residue of glue in places, which I am working on:


On the subject of repairs, I note the cost of a full factory repair is now a massive £290! For those in the UK, has anyone found a good, less expensive alternative to returning them to Church's for repair?

 

[shoefan57]

Returning to soles, has anyone had an issue with Italian-made soles coming unstuck? I noticed recently that the sole on my Church's Glen ankle boots was coming away at the left toe. I took them into my local repair man and he said he would remove both soles completely and reattach them. There is still a little residue of glue in places, which I am working on:
View attachment 1918821

On the subject of repairs, I note the cost of a full factory repair is now a massive £290! For those in the UK, has anyone found a good, less expensive alternative to returning them to Church's for repair?

Yes. I send them to Kokos who are Church’s approved repairer. Just Google them and go to their “send a repair” page, unless you live near East Finchley and can call into the shop. They do a great job.

 

[Mr Knightley]

Yes. I send them to Kokos who are Church’s approved repairer. Just Google them and go to their “send a repair” page, unless you live near East Finchley and can call into the shop. They do a great job.

Thank you. I have read about Kokos on Instagram but not had a specific recommendation. I shall try them.

 

[shoefan57]

Church’s website is in a bad way. Lots of links not working. Does anyone know if Church’s are going under? It just seems a matter of time.

 

[bengal-stripe]

Does anyone know if Church’s are going under? It just seems a matter of time.

You might well be right. That absurd price increase of a year or two ago did make matters only worse.
They certainly are not in a good place:

Luxury shoe brand Church's down at heel as sales slide

That was 57 per cent down over the year before. Annual accounts showed pre-tax losses for the 149-year-old company widened by 53 per cent to £24.7m.

www.thisismoney.co.uk

 

[BearStearns]

I know this is a long shot since these shoes are very unpopular but does anyone know how Church's Shanghai fit? The website advises to go down a half-size and I wanted to know if this was actually the case or not?

 

[Woofa]

Found these beauties at an estate sale. Can't wait to give them a go.