Info on Romano Martegani?

[designprofessor]

Nice looking shoes. Tried a couple on. I know nothing of this line and they are in the $500 range. Is this a rip off?

 

[Steve B.]

Ron Rider reps them. Send him an IM- he's RIDER here on the Forum.

 

[DocHolliday]

They certainly offer some handsome styles, and they're willing to customize for a small upcharge. I believe they're seeking to expand their presence in the U.S. Blake and blake rapid construction. Jcusey, shoe expert extraordinaire, has called them good but not excellent in his thread on RTW shoes over at Ask Andy.

 

[Roger]

Franco's:

http://www.francos.com/items/index.a...R.%20Martegani

Most Martegani calfskin shoes are well under $500 from Franco's and are, in my opinion, good value for money--if you like the Italian style in shoes. I bought a pair from Ron Rider in the Radica calf (mine are in the brandy color, with a very slight reddish tint, shown below in an austerity wingtip blucher--Martegani's color Radica 033), which, with its beautiful antiquing done at the tanning stage, is, in my opinion, a spectacular leather:

http://www.francos.com/items/item.asp?sku5=96679

Mine in this leather are a plain-toe balmoral, and I had them made by the Blake process so that I could have the soles cut back close to the uppers.

Most Martegani shoes, however, appear to be made by the Blake/Rapid process, and this ensures a sturdy, durable shoe--pretty much the equivalent, in this respect, of welting. Their special-order service allows the buyer to specify a number of design and construction details.

 

[designprofessor]

Steve, Doc, Roger, thank you for the information gentlemen. A big help. Ill take your suggestions and contact Ron.

 

[GQgeek]

Originally Posted by Roger

Franco's:

http://www.francos.com/items/index.a...R.%20Martegani

Most Martegani calfskin shoes are well under $500 from Franco's and are, in my opinion, good value for money--if you like the Italian style in shoes. I bought a pair from Ron Rider in the Radica calf (mine are in the brandy color, with a very slight reddish tint, shown below in an austerity wingtip blucher), which, with its beautiful antiquing done at the tanning stage, is, in my opinion, a spectacular leather:

http://www.francos.com/items/item.asp?sku5=96679

Mine in this leather are a plain-toe balmoral, and I had them made by the Blake process so that I could have the soles cut back close to the uppers.

Most Martegani shoes, however, appear to be made by the Blake/Rapid process, and this ensures a sturdy, durable shoe--pretty much the equivalent, in this respect, of welting. Their special-order service allows the buyer to specify a number of design and construction details.

how long did it take you to get your special orders?

 

[demeis]

Here check this thread out rider answers the questions on them

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

As for the shoes i own these: http://www.francos.com/items/item.asp?sku5=93971. They are a very nice shoe and it get lots of complements on them. They are anice soft leather with a very nice antiquing. I am probibly going to buy another pair sometime just don't know when. They are blake/rapid stiched and are very nice and have a nice tight stich to them. Def for the price i would pick up a pair if you like the styling. Plus Rider is great to deal with. He sent me two shoes (was going to get two at the time) to try on they didn't fit sent them back and he sent another pair plus he included trees with mine when iasked. Hes a great guy and wonderful to deal with and would highly recommend him as someone to buy from.

 

[Roger]

Originally Posted by GQgeek

how long did it take you to get your special orders?
I just got the one special order from Franco's, and it took a lot longer than the 4-5 weeks quoted--more like 11 or 12 weeks. However, this length of time is not unusual for special-order shoes. Edward Green quote 12 weeks, Vass, 8-10 weeks, and I know that many buyers have had to wait longer than the 12 weeks specified by EG.

 

[rm1891]

Well, RIDER does not seem to work any longer, so I will now be rm1891...

In OC, Parkway carries the line - just did a Trunk Show there 2 weeks ago so they have the program down pretty well now...see Mark, Ryan or Sherri.

As you might expect me to say, they are not a rip-off. Parkway has moderate stock now, with an expanded group on order for September delivery, and they have access to our archives thru my cdrom in the shop. Anything we make can be ordered thru them. Special orders are running about 4-6 weeks from Italy while Custom orders (requests for pattern changes, fit alterations, etc) always depend on the work load in the factory before delivery confirmation - right now about another 2-4 weeks. However, factories are really not set-up to make too many changes to existing work/patterns, so sometimes custom requests can take even longer to produce...this kind of work really must be left open-ended as far as delivery is concerned. We have an archive of over 1700 patterns, so we can usually find something the customer likes already detailed! In the last season and a half (since I took over the distribution and changed the philosophy of the business) we have taken over 600 special orders and delivered 80% on-time and accurate, 10% late and accurate, and 10% have been disasters. The 10% disasters we have learned from, and now will simply refuse as some things we just cannot do. So, for a factory (and not a Bespoke House) we do pretty well. And, really, we are trying to create something very unique for the shoe business....providing an entire archive database, swatches, tape measure girth alterations and allowing customers to detail shoes beyond the stock patterns, etc. My friends in the business think we are crazy, but I think it is the future. I interviewed a current wholesale man recently to take over the West for me and he just had no idea what I was doing...much too complicated when I explained my method of work and details that had to be learned. Anyway, we make an honest product at a fair price, and give you options beyond 'here is the catalogue and the 3 colors we make this in'...so, please go to your favorite local shop and ask about Martegani shoes! And feel free to email me any questions regarding the line or local sources for our shoes.

Ron

 

[Baron]

I'd also like to vouch for Ron - I have one pair of Franco's stock shoes, and one pair of custom order monks that came out perfectly and were done very quickly. I also made a second custom order for a monk boot that may be part of that "10%" disaster category, as it turned out that there was no existing pattern and it's taken quite a while. Despite this, I'm very happy with Ron's service. The allure of doing custom orders at a fraction of the cost of Edward Green is very seductive. Everytime I fall in love with a shoe from another manufacturer, I remember that I can order the same thing more or less from Ron, specifying a last I like and specifying all kinds of small details in the leather, sole, welt, brogueing, etc.

 

[italianshoesforlife]

Originally Posted by rm1891

Well, RIDER does not seem to work any longer, so I will now be rm1891...

In OC, Parkway carries the line - just did a Trunk Show there 2 weeks ago so they have the program down pretty well now...see Mark, Ryan or Sherri.

As you might expect me to say, they are not a rip-off. Parkway has moderate stock now, with an expanded group on order for September delivery, and they have access to our archives thru my cdrom in the shop. Anything we make can be ordered thru them. Special orders are running about 4-6 weeks from Italy while Custom orders (requests for pattern changes, fit alterations, etc) always depend on the work load in the factory before delivery confirmation - right now about another 2-4 weeks. However, factories are really not set-up to make too many changes to existing work/patterns, so sometimes custom requests can take even longer to produce...this kind of work really must be left open-ended as far as delivery is concerned. We have an archive of over 1700 patterns, so we can usually find something the customer likes already detailed! In the last season and a half (since I took over the distribution and changed the philosophy of the business) we have taken over 600 special orders and delivered 80% on-time and accurate, 10% late and accurate, and 10% have been disasters. The 10% disasters we have learned from, and now will simply refuse as some things we just cannot do. So, for a factory (and not a Bespoke House) we do pretty well. And, really, we are trying to create something very unique for the shoe business....providing an entire archive database, swatches, tape measure girth alterations and allowing customers to detail shoes beyond the stock patterns, etc. My friends in the business think we are crazy, but I think it is the future. I interviewed a current wholesale man recently to take over the West for me and he just had no idea what I was doing...much too complicated when I explained my method of work and details that had to be learned. Anyway, we make an honest product at a fair price, and give you options beyond 'here is the catalogue and the 3 colors we make this in'...so, please go to your favorite local shop and ask about Martegani shoes! And feel free to email me any questions regarding the line or local sources for our shoes.

Ron
Ron, can you help with the following. I already own a pair of brown lucca 2's. I would like a pair in cognac for my collection. Franco's clothiers no longer has my size 9 1/2 for any cognac colored shoes. If I cannot get the Lucca 2 design I'll go for something similar in cognac color.

 

[RIDER]

Originally Posted by italianshoesforlife

Ron, can you help with the following. I already own a pair of brown lucca 2's. I would like a pair in cognac for my collection. Franco's clothiers no longer has my size 9 1/2 for any cognac colored shoes. If I cannot get the Lucca 2 design I'll go for something similar in cognac color.

Hi. Wish I could help, but those look like they are long gone. Endless/Amazon would have been the last shot, but they sold a bunch when they went on clearance recently. That shoe and leather are now discontinued, I'm sorry to say.