Japanese Shoes: Bespoke & RTW Super Thread

[DorianGreen]

Split toe derby Cassady by Seiiji Mccarthy.

 

[Cartier_Joe]

Offering it on SF for $1000 + ship. 8UK Yohei Fukuda. Absolutely gorg shoe, museum patina, barely worn. Wish I could hi-shine, as this doesn’t do it justice. Almost brand new life on original outsoles. Expensive lesson of me learning I was an 8.5UK ~ I ordered the new pair over 6 months ago, tried for months at minimizing the $2500 retail loss on this one, but honestly ~ I want to order another pair from YF, but said I couldn’t until I sold these. Looking to offload stat. Comes with wooden box, all shoe bags + there is a larger shining blanket (same material as bags). I broke one of the shoelaces after one of my many shots at convincing myself it will fit (while wearing inside). Wore outside prob 3-4 times total. No salt or snow.

 

[JohnMRobie]

This thread deserves more action. Lazymans from Seiichi Yoshimoto today with this navy suit

 

[dawei94]

Wholecut chelseas from YF completed and inbound...more detail to follow

 

[Ikkyu0108]

Does anyone have a list of all Japanese bespoke shoemakers that offer an MTO service to overseas clients?

 

[Wild Strawberry Rabbit]

The design and color of these is not very universal so I wear them rather rarely, but every time I do it brings me joy. Corno Blu.

 

[epsilon22]

They're finally coming!

 

[DorianGreen]

They're finally coming!

No pictures visible.

 

[epsilon22]

No pictures visible.

That's weird, I'll try to replace it with imgur links later. Thanks for letting me know.

Edit: added imgur images.

 

[Ilkless]

Rendo Asakusa 7702 punched-cap oxford in their domestic calf and Dainite sole.

I have quite difficult feet to fit, with several RTW shoemakers indicating that I need to go MTM if not bespoke. Due mostly to low arches, a very high and voluminous, yet relatively short instep that splays outward, a slender heel, as well as a saddle bone deformity and 0.25-0.5 size larger on the right foot.

However, I've been shopping around for a nice midrange GYW shoe that gets close enough to hopefully split the difference.

On my recent holiday to Tokyo, I managed to pop by Rendo in Asakusa. While I didn't make an appointment, owner and designer Teppei-san was around. He was fluent in English, having studied at Cordwainers College in the UK (Hiro Yanagimachi was a classmate) before stints back in Japan with various makers. It isn't often one gets to have a trained shoemaker fitting you on an RTW last he designed. We settled on UK9 on his No. 770 last. I didn't have room in my luggage but couldn't stop thinking of the shoes and subsequently shipped the pair over to Singapore.

It's not perfect but the fit gets better than I ever thought possible with RTW on my feet (though admittedly the lacing is being put under a lot of tension). It's hard to describe it, but irl the last has a very sculpted and sinuous bespoke-adjacent look characteristic of artisanal RTW.

I would probably ask for some minor last adjustments my next holiday to Japan (3300yen/adjustment), and pay the upcharge for Annonay Vocalou for my next order.

 

[jonathanS]

Well gentlemen, it looks like the days of the super weak jpy might be coming to an end. Oh well!

 

[DorianGreen]

An elegant boot by Rendo.

 

[Ilkless]

A better view of the colour and grain of the Japanese calfskin Rendo uses. What I especially like is the way the vamp flows down to the outside foot and the toe box:

This makes the shoe looks like very much an piece designed by someone with a bespoke background within RTW constraints IMO, lending it a shapely artisanal look.

 

[DorianGreen]

A lovely pair by Santari Tokyo.

 

[DorianGreen]

Another gorgeous split toe derby (yes, I have a weak for it) by Santari.