Handgrade - What does it mean?

[chuckseabreeze]

What's the meaning behind this term, referring to C&J?

 

[jjgold]

channeled sole,better leather, differently assembled...anyone else out there?

 

[lee_44106]

Just think of it as the best that C&J's got to offer.

 

[teddieriley]

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...ight=handgrade

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=3589

 

[card_richelieu]

Slightly off-topic, but I'm curious as to the exceedingly poor quality of the 'official' photos of C&J shoes. It's almost as if they choose the poorest possible lighting and the focus is often terrible. It's only been through SF members' pics that I realized how beautiful they are. My main point being that you could certainly never tell any difference via the photos on the company's web site (and which are duplicated on almost all of the retail sites). SF pics have been my best guide in terms of aesthetic considerations...

 

[observer]

Originally Posted by lee_44106

Just think of it as the best that C&J's got to offer.

+1

 

[Collector23]

Originally Posted by card_richelieu

Slightly off-topic, but I'm curious as to the exceedingly poor quality of the 'official' photos of C&J shoes. It's almost as if they choose the poorest possible lighting and the focus is often terrible. It's only been through SF members' pics that I realized how beautiful they are. My main point being that you could certainly never tell any difference via the photos on the company's web site (and which are duplicated on almost all of the retail sites). SF pics have been my best guide in terms of aesthetic considerations...

+1. In particular the chestnut calf shoes are more reddish in colour in real life than the pics would suggest.

 

[apropos]

Originally Posted by Collector23

+1. In particular the chestnut calf shoes are more reddish in colour in real life than the pics would suggest.
And a hint lighter as well.

 

[a tailor]

their saying that its their best grade. and an inference that its hand made?
i always suspect, when different grades of quality come out of the same workshop. how do you know what you are really getting?

 

[kfan]

Also, are the belgrave's handmade or not? I've heard varying opinions on this...

 

[apropos]

...

 

[apropos]

Originally Posted by kfan

Also, are the belgrave's handmade or not? I've heard varying opinions on this...
They are 'handgrade'. There is no 'varying opinion' on this. In print catalogues, in displays, on retail sites - the Belgrave is always a 'handgrade'. Polo Ralph Lauren had the Bentons a while back, which were C&J-made and looked like rebadged Belgraves - but came in a lighter shade of brown (tan?).

 

[Infrasonic]

Originally Posted by card_richelieu

Slightly off-topic, but I'm curious as to the exceedingly poor quality of the 'official' photos of C&J shoes. It's almost as if they choose the poorest possible lighting and the focus is often terrible. It's only been through SF members' pics that I realized how beautiful they are. My main point being that you could certainly never tell any difference via the photos on the company's web site (and which are duplicated on almost all of the retail sites). SF pics have been my best guide in terms of aesthetic considerations...


I think the same criticism can be made about most of the Northampton manufacturers and the UK shop/online retailers that use stock photo's. It amazes me that companies that expect customers to pay hundreds of pounds for their goods have such crappy marketing.

The exception is Lobb, who have great photo's on a great website. But then Lobb is Hermes who know a thing or two about luxury brand marketing...

 

[kfan]

Ah, sorry, I had meant the RL Bentons.

 

[NH_Clark]

Originally Posted by apropos

They are 'handgrade'. There is no 'varying opinion' on this. In print catalogues, in displays, on retail sites - the Belgrave is always a 'handgrade'.

Polo Ralph Lauren had the Bentons a while back, which were C&J-made and looked like rebadged Belgraves - but came in a lighter shade of brown (tan?).

A few months ago I snagged a pair of Belgraves off eBay. Topy with minimal wear. I never knew what the meaning of well-fitting quality shoes were until I wore these specimens of quaity shoes. Pure butter! My favorite shoe!