JR Rendenbach Closing

[JohnMRobie]

As @Jmr928 Was saying earlier, I think men would be better off not buying Allen Edmonds 4x times a year, and buying a better shoe.

Vass is easy to order now, and much better.

I can dig through my storage closet and see if I’ve got any old pairs of AE laying around any more. I don’t think I do but if I find one I’ll dissect the pair and we can count how many corners were cut.

 

[ValidusLA]

They sew them in Poland/Romania/India, like all good British brands these days. ?

Would be interested in where you've come upon that information.

 

[JohnMRobie]

Third closet’s the charm. Found a pair. I’ll cut these guys open.

 

[Commisar]

As @Jmr928 Was saying earlier, I think men would be better off not buying Allen Edmonds 4x times a year, and buying a better shoe.

Vass is easy to order now, and much better.

Ok, yet 3-4 AE are as many and as much "shoe" as most men will ever need or even want. Black cap toe Oxford, brown/oxblood quarter brogue, a wingtip and maybe a boot/loafer. That's it.

Wear them, get them resoled 1-2 times and it's now 10-20 YEARS later and they're in a hip new "casual" office so they wear sneakers to work all day and at home.

Most people seem to top out at Alden/Carmina/C&J or go far beyond to hand lasted offerings. Hell, your average billionaire wears some wool sneakers around all day and maybe has a few pairs of "technical" shoes and boots when he/she goes hiking their private island. The days of every colleges educated man working a white collar job wearing fine leather shoes to work (so he then needs 3-5 pairs or so) died decades ago. Last places you'll actually see that are at law firms and maybe certain consultants or people in banking/financial institutions.

 

[Commisar]

Would be interested in where you've come upon that information.

I forgot the /s but I'd they could do that, they probably would..... Everyone is cost cutting these days once they get big enough.

 

[Nobilis Animus]

The days of every colleges educated man working a white collar job wearing fine leather shoes to work (so he then needs 3-5 pairs or so) died decades ago. Last places you'll actually see that are at law firms and maybe certain consultants or people in banking/financial institutions.

Agreed if you mean needing to wear those shoes to work, but plenty do by choice in other professions too.

 

[Mercurio]

They sew them in Poland/Romania/India, like all good British brands these days. ?

I forgot the /s but I'd they could do that, they probably would..... Everyone is cost cutting these days once they get big enough.

You should know for sure when you sustain that brands that advertise their shoes as Northampton made are outsourcing their production elsewhere, otherwise, you are making doubtful and feckless affirmations.

It's known that some lower-cost ranges from Loake or Grenson are stitched in India, but they are absolutely transparent about it. On the other hand, as an example, Cheaney's advertising says "Their family has been making fine shoes for five generations, and they are fully committed to producing the finest footwear entirely made in England".

 

[dieworkwear]

Area Man Ponders the Best Way to Resole His 400 Pairs of Shoes

 

[JohnMRobie]

Area Man Ponders the Best Way to Resole His 400 Pairs of Shoes

I thought you’d solved that by wearing cemented shoes over your Goodyear welted shoes and tucking the bespoke, handwelted goodness inside those so they stay pristine?

 

[dieworkwear]

I thought you’d solved that by wearing cemented shoes over your Goodyear welted shoes and tucking the bespoke, handwelted goodness inside those so they stay pristine?

I walk like this, so I can get more mileage with fewer resolings.

 

[JohnMRobie]

I walk like this, so I can get more mileage with fewer resolings.

View attachment 1686839

Could do this if you got your toe plates and stretch it further. Free up funds for a shirt from Kabbaz instead of a resole from Lobb

 

[JFWR]

No, I mean for all shoes. If you were getting a GYW shoe resoled, wouldn't you also want it done on the original last?

I don't think the original last is worth the price and hassle. Plus, I get better work from my cobbler than what I can get from at least ae and Alden. I've never tried crockett and jones and Edward green.

 

[ValidusLA]

I forgot the /s but I'd they could do that, they probably would..... Everyone is cost cutting these days once they get big enough.

So it's an unsustainable assertion, got it.

Whereas with AE, the CEO was asked about offshore practices directly in an AMA and didnt deny it.

CJ and EG are not sewing uppers in India or Poland.

I would be more than willing to see evidence to prove me wrong.

But asserting that they are so out of thin air, assertions I've never even heard whispers of anywhere else, so you can say they are the same as AE - a shoe brand that now sells its leading seller, the Park Avenue, on sale for $220 multiple times a year - is beyond absurdity.

 

[ValidusLA]

Third closet’s the charm. Found a pair. I’ll cut these guys open.
View attachment 1686791

Honestly would be really interesting if we could get Park Avs from like 2000. I have a 2014, and then buy new ones (on sale of course).

Cut them all up to compare.

Adding a 80s one would be interesting but a shame, as that's likely a damn good shoe.

 

[ValidusLA]

Ok, yet 3-4 AE are as many and as much "shoe" as most men will ever need or even want. Black cap toe Oxford, brown/oxblood quarter brogue, a wingtip and maybe a boot/loafer. That's it.

Wear them, get them resoled 1-2 times and it's now 10-20 YEARS later and they're in a hip new "casual" office so they wear sneakers to work all day and at home.

Most people seem to top out at Alden/Carmina/C&J or go far beyond to hand lasted offerings. Hell, your average billionaire wears some wool sneakers around all day and maybe has a few pairs of "technical" shoes and boots when he/she goes hiking their private island. The days of every colleges educated man working a white collar job wearing fine leather shoes to work (so he then needs 3-5 pairs or so) died decades ago. Last places you'll actually see that are at law firms and maybe certain consultants or people in banking/financial institutions.

Go over to the AE thread and you will see guys with way more than 4 shoes. All sorts of crazy colors and a styles too.

The point I was making is that instead of doing that, they would be better off buying a better shoe instead of many ho hum shoes.

Especially if we give in to the idea you only "need" 3. If that's the case, def do better!