Foster and Son brogues

[Avebury]

Just wondering if anyone has bought the Foster and Son "Cavendish" on the 88 last, Edward Green made? I believe it's the Foster and Son/EG version of the "Ashwood", made by Crockett and Jones. Pics would be great. It's in the EG price range, so top end. Foster and Son have also got a full brogue "Thornham" and a semi-brogue "Sandringham" on the 337 last. Not sure of the colour range, but I know you can get brogues in chestnut, which is a major + for me personally. Outside of this there's the bench-grade CJ "Finsbury" (I think) and the EG "Malvern". May be something new there - I haven't popped in recently. Or could be purely EG. Don't know.

 

[Ich_Dien]

I was of the opinion that they were phasing out the Edward Green's? Although I may have got this confused with New & Lingwood. I can check tomorrow morning when I get my hair cut at Geo F. Trumper.

 

[Avebury]

I had an e-mail from Foster and Son t'other day saying that they had re-introduced the EG version. The "Thornham" and the "Sandringham" may be new semi/brogues on the block. I'm going to bite the bullet and get an EG made one at some point - chestnut, and not 337.

 

[bengal-stripe]

Originally Posted by jimmyoneill

I was of the opinion that they were phasing out the Edward Green's?

Foster started last season to offer a range of EG shoes as their top range. Although, I believe, the shoes are labelled as "˜Foster & Son', the company is quite open about these shoes being made by EG. As far as I can see, the designs are basic EG: I recall Malvern, Chelsea, Dover. They might have different names under the Foster label, there also might by slight design-changes (different medallion for example). Very similar in principle to the RLPL ranges.

The lasts on which Fosters ordered those shoes might be different from what EG uses as default for a certain style. I believe, the 88 last was initially created for Foster. Although EG did use that last for their own shoes, they do not use that last at present (unless for special orders). EG did replace the 88 with the 808 and more recently with the 888.

If you can go to the shop and try on for fit, no problem. Otherwise I would sa,y the 88 is a bit shorter and a bit tighter across the toes and over the instep than most other EG lasts. I would say, that last runs about ¼ size smaller than the 202.

That said, 88 is one of the most beautiful lasts John Hlustik, the man who rescued EG from the brink of bankruptcy, allegedly always spoke about "the great 88".

 

[speedster.8]

The models "Highclere" and "Sandringham" are made for them to Fosters patterns on the Crockett & Jones 337 last. "Cavendish" & "Portman" are on the Edward Green 88 last, which they have used for many years and "Hamble" Monk strap and "Fitzwilliam" Cambridge shoe are on the EG 606.


HTH
Speed
PS can post pictures of these later ....

 

[Ich_Dien]

Went this morning. Fairly simple range, no full brogues i believe and mostly cap toes. Nice antiquing as you'd expect from EG. All the necessary hallmarks there, and would consider buying from them, but seems a bit silly not to just walk a further one hundred metres down the street.

 

[culverwood]

From an old e-mail:
"We have selected the 88 last to give a timeless elegance to the Cap and Full Brogue Oxfords, and the 888 last with a sharper profile for our Semi-Brogue and 2 tie Derby. Our Cambridge and single buckled Monks are on the 606."

 

[emorse]

Are the prices in line with EG? Or does WS Foster give a little more bang for the buck since they are rebranding?

They are visiting Chicago next month and I am thinking of stopping by to pick up some RTW models. Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[Ich_Dien]

Similar prices to EG I believe.

 

[Avebury]

May be a tad more. I think the EG brogue retails at £510, the F&S at £565. Can't be sure though.

 

[emorse]

Why would they cost more? That doesn't make sense. If Foster doesn't produce the shoes, how could they command a higher price for than the actual (probably more exclusive) maker?

 

[Ich_Dien]

Presumably, they have to buy the shoe off EG, and therefore do not have the same mark up as their costs are different.