Japanese Shoes: Bespoke & RTW Super Thread

[nutcracker]

A Visit to Il Quadrifoglio, Kobe

I finally had an opportunity to visit the good folks of Il Quadrifoglio at their hometown of Kobe. A short distance from the scenic harbour area, their atelier is located on the 2nd floor of Knocks Bespoke, a co-op workshop they founded with several other shoemakers. Both Yuka and Atsushi Qnai spent some years working in Florence, and they must have brought back a little bit of Italy with them to decorate their charming little space. Enjoy the pics!

A shoemaker`s workshop.

Bespoke samples on display.

A new wholecut model in a sharp chiseled last, paired with burgundy Radica calf. With a beautiful last such as this, it`s not hard to see why Wholecuts are the #1 seller for Il Quadrifoglio.

Natural sole

Trial shoes

Shoes in the making

Lots of vintage tools, collected from trips to Europe (such as from flee markets)

Master and his student. Atsushi-san has an apprentice of his own now

An assortment of gorgeous leather accessories

Coin cases, card cases, cigar/pen cases

Yuka-san hard at work (and a little cameo by the apprentice)

Il Quadrifoglio is located on the 2nd floor of Knocks Bespoke.

Atsushi Qnai (shoes) and Yuka Qnai (leather accessories)

My thanks to the Qnai`s for their hospitality!

Il Quadrifoglio
2-1-3 Kamijo Douri
Hyogo-ku, Kobe City
http://ilquadrifoglio-kobe.com
[email protected]

 

[PCK1]

Those burgundy wholecuts are soooo sexy! I want a pair!

 

[venividivicibj]

I just wish they weren't so elongated/pointy.

 

[Gianni Cerutti]

A Visit to Il Quadrifoglio, Kobe

I finally had an opportunity to visit the good folks of Il Quadrifoglio at their hometown of Kobe. A short distance from the scenic harbour area, their atelier is located on the 2nd floor of Knocks Bespoke, a co-op workshop they founded with several other shoemakers. Both Yuka and Atsushi Qnai spent some years working in Florence, and they must have brought back a little bit of Italy with them to decorate their charming little space. Enjoy the pics!


A shoemaker`s workshop.



Bespoke samples on display.


A new wholecut model in a sharp chiseled last, paired with burgundy Radica calf. With a beautiful last such as this, it`s not hard to see why Wholecuts are the #1 seller for Il Quadrifoglio.


Natural sole


Trial shoes


Shoes in the making


Lots of vintage tools, collected from trips to Europe (such as from flee markets)


Master and his student. Atsushi-san has an apprentice of his own now


An assortment of gorgeous leather accessories


Coin cases, card cases, cigar/pen cases


Yuka-san hard at work (and a little cameo by the apprentice)


Il Quadrifoglio is located on the 2nd floor of Knocks Bespoke.


Atsushi Qnai (shoes) and Yuka Qnai (leather accessories)

My thanks to the Qnai`s for their hospitality!

Nice reportage

 

[Alter]

Nutcracker, Great report! Hope you enjoyed Kobe...I really ought to get myself over to their studio. I am in need of a new card case and those look excellent.

 

[gambit50]

Another fine post, Nutcracker.

So, if things turn up for me and I get back to Japan sometime soon you have been nominated to take the trip out to Kobe and Il Quadri with me, haha.

Out of curiosity are there wallets available?

Cheers

 

[nutcracker]



Another fine post, Nutcracker.

So, if things turn up for me and I get back to Japan sometime soon you have been nominated to take the trip out to Kobe and Il Quadri with me, haha.

Out of curiosity are there wallets available?

Cheers

No, they only make hard leather goods that are made from wooden form.

Bellago, also from Kobe, and a buddy of Qnai-san, makes great looking order-made bags and wallets.
http://www.bellago.jp

 

[nutcracker]

A Visit to Spigola, Kobe

How can I complete my visit Kobe without making a pilgrimage to Spigola? A short drive from Il Quadrifoglio, the `temple of shoes` as some like to call, is a lovely, yet imposing structure that they built from the ground up. Koji Suzuki (last making, bottoming), brother Etsuo (upper), and 3 apprentices work hectically around the clock, churning out about 20 pairs of shoes each month. A bespoke powerhouse by any standard, Spigola is ready to take on the world with orders coming in from Hong Kong and soon, New York.

La Spigola mansion

Visitors are greeted by a large central atrium, with stairs leading up to the showroom. The first floor houses the bottoming room and the uppers room.

Exotic hides slung over the 2nd floor rails

Orders are taken at the upstairs showroom

Etsuo-san

A lovely wingtip derby with Russian reindeer saddle

Old shoes brought in for repair

Spigola MTO samples

Orders waiting for the final touches

New red boxes for the lucky customers

View from the upstairs: An apprentice hard at work

The bottoming room: Koji-san at the helm

An early Spigola model (left) and freshly made shoes

Wall of lasts

My thanks to Koji-san and Etsuo-san for their hospitality!

La spigola
5-2-16 Hosoda-chou
Nagata-ku, Kobe City
www.spigola.jp
[email protected]

 

[clee1982]

very nice, though some of the chiseled toe are too much for my taste

 

[nutcracker]



very nice, though some of the chiseled toe are too much for my taste

Qnai-san`s basic style (both square and round) are indeed sharp, but less edgy / pointy than those new whole cuts. Recently he`s been getting more requests for aggressive shapes though.... (such as those seen in the pictures)

 

[BespokeMakers]

A Visit to Il Quadrifoglio, Kobe


A new wholecut model in a sharp chiseled last, paired with burgundy Radica calf. With a beautiful last such as this, it`s not hard to see why Wholecuts are the #1 seller for Il Quadrifoglio.



Il Quadrifoglio
2-1-3 Kamijo Douri
Hyogo-ku, Kobe City
http://ilquadrifoglio-kobe.com
[email protected]

Good job!

 

[Gianni Cerutti]

Good job!

Nice colors...

 

[Bams]

Hi
I am not clear about the construction of the Spigola MTO shoes and would appreciate any input as I might be interested in purchasing a pair.
The construction seems to be referred as hand sewn welt but machine stitched for the front part of the sole. Anyone could give any light on what that means? Is it similar to for example Saint Crispin and the bespoke offering from say Gaziano Girling?
Or is it like the traditional RTW from the british makers, meaning goodyear welted with gemming?

Thank you!

 

[ThinkDerm]

amazing posts! keep it up!

 

[BespokeMakers]

A Visit to Spigola, Kobe

Old shoes brought in for repair


Spigola MTO samples



La spigola
5-2-16 Hosoda-chou
Nagata-ku, Kobe City
www.spigola.jp
[email protected]

Spigola on japanese TV program.

http://www4.nhk.or.jp/ippin/x/2014-03-25/10/32748/