Early '90s Ralph Lauren English Benchmade and Italian Shoes?

[Aquafortis]

I'm new here and didn't see a shoe-specific board to post this on so if this is in an inappropriate spot, no problem for one of the moderators to move it.

Anyhow, I'm reinvigorating some of my sartorial interests and taking inventory of higher quality items in my wardrobe from when I started to first make some significant investments.

I have these two pairs of Polo RL shoes and am interested if anyone here might know which makers/cobblers RL may have been contracting with in the early 90's? I believe both these pairs were purchased between '91-'93 at RL boutiques.

The Penny Loafers say "Benchmade in England", and the Cap Toe Derby's are "Made in Italy".

Both are calf, and I realize may be more of a higher volume factory production shoe than the RP price tags back then would have reflected.

Thanks for any insights and looking forward to continued learning from all the community knowledge here.

Cheers.

 

[SpooPoker]

Id be willing to bet the English ones are Crockett & Jones, the Italian ones, no idea - but hard to say without the pics of the inside shoe walls.

 

[Aquafortis]

Thanks much. It appears you're most probably right about the English made ones being Crockett & Jones.

http://www.classicshoesformen.com/manufacturers/ralph-lauren

A pleasant surprise to discover I have a C&J pair in my shoe closet that I didn't realize until now. And a quick google search led me to the classicshoesformen site which looks to be a good resource.

For the Italian made ones, what would be the distinguishing features in the inside lining that would help identify them?

Also, any idea who was making Cole Haan's Bragano line of the same vintage (early 90's) also made in Italy? I have several pairs of those as well. Thanks.