New bespoke shoe option in Northern Ireland

[Nonk]

Carrying on from my advocacy of Smyth & Gibson of Belfast shirts recently, I thought I would make the members aware of a new bespoke shoemaker, also in Northern Ireland.

http://www.robinsonsshoemakers.com/a...ns_repairs.asp

Robinsons of Carrickfergus, a long established cobbler have expanded, and taken on an Eastern European chap and now offer a full-bespoke service.

Robinsons are trying to position themselves as a centre of excellence for shoes in Northern Ireland (Carrickfergus clientele will hardly keep them going, but they could steal customers from that place on Sandy Row, Belfast that people are too frightened to go to, and Bishops in Coleraine) and have swanky new premises, full of Church’s, Barkers and Loakes, but it is the man in the back that arouses the real interest.

They are very friendly indeed and I was invited to look around, saw the man at work and the small but expanding shelf of lasts that he has made for their customers.

His work looked beautiful, although I am no expert.

He even had a small supply of cordovan of which he was very proud and which seems to be a favourite here.

I will try to visit again soon and take some pics. I did advise the very helpful owner there (Mr Robinson?) to familiarise himself with the Style Forum, AAAC etc.

Any forum members passing along the Antrim coast should call in. Nice people and very willing to chat to visitors who are passionate about shoes.

Thank God I was wearing my Edward Greens and not Converses when I visited.

 

[adagio]

Hi Nonk,

Any indication of their prices? Not much info on their website.

Adagio

 

[Nonk]

I am reluctant to provide figures, as I would not want to damage someone's business by misquoting, but I seem to remember around £200-300 for the last and approx £500-600 for the shoes I think.

I have invited the owner to have a look at this thread and answer any queries.

Hopefully he will post some shoe Appreciation from my home town!

 

[adagio]

Thanks.

Some pics would be nice.

A

 

[distinctive]

Yeah, I can't believe they don't have any pictures of their work

 

[rob703]

Hello Firstly many thanks for yuor comments and taking the time to look at the website. Unfortuantly the site was set up in by-gone days and was never really updated. We have now invested in a new site and hope to add e-commerce to it in the coming months with even the possibilty of offering a fully bespoke service online. I would very much welcome any comments on our new site either postive or negative. Visit us now at www.robinsonsshoes.com With regards to price as you may have noted there is no indication as they do vary widely depending on the style of shoe. But as a basic guide we start at a one off last payment of £200, then Ladies shoes between £250-£600 and Gents starting at £500. I hope this information is of use to someone and if you have any question at all please feel free to leave a reply or send us a PM. Kind regards John Robinsons Shoemakers Carrickfergus.

 

[RJmanbearpig]

Originally Posted by rob703

Hello

Firstly many thanks for yuor comments and taking the time to look at the website. Unfortuantly the site was set up in by-gone days and was never really updated. We have now invested in a new site and hope to add e-commerce to it in the coming months with even the possibilty of offering a fully bespoke service online. I would very much welcome any comments on our new site either postive or negative. Visit us now at www.robinsonsshoes.com

With regards to price as you may have noted there is no indication as they do vary widely depending on the style of shoe. But as a basic guide we start at a one off last payment of £200, then Ladies shoes between £250-£600 and Gents starting at £500.

I hope this information is of use to someone and if you have any question at all please feel free to leave a reply or send us a PM.

Kind regards
John
Robinsons Shoemakers
Carrickfergus.
Welcome to the site!! The bespoke pictures look nice.

Do you get a lot of people singing the ballad "Carrickfergus" to you when they see your city name?

 

[I. Gentantithesis]

Bump update: RTW Irish Made Gunboats about which I know nothing other than the webprop.
www.robinsonsshoes.com

 

[Hobbs]

Pretty good price on Loake shoe trees, bearing in mind that they offer free worldwide delivery.

 

[Racing Green]

Browsed their Ebay shop a few times but only just seen the 'Made in Ireland' brogues. Kudos to anyone still making shoes in Ireland. These look very nice -

http://www.robinsonsshoes.com/robins...178-77-370.php

 

[HHD]

Are they still making bespoke? I might be in Ulster later in the year and I quite like the look of those Andrew Jackson brogues.

 

[I. Gentantithesis]

Originally Posted by Racing Green

.....Kudos to anyone still making shoes in Ireland....

Are these folk still funct? www.tuttyshandmadeshoes.com In the late '70s, Eire TV produced a series of half hour programs on Irish artisans titled "Hands" ( http://www.irelandstraditionalcrafts.com/hands.htp ). Tutty's was the featured bespoke bootmaker. In the '80s they had a RTW shop in Dublin's Powerscourt. (The featured tailor in the Hands series was Johnson's of Tullow > http://www.independent.ie/opinion/an...n-1923942.html

Paul Stuart's (NYC) best footwear line was made by Dublin's Winstanley until the early or mid '80s. PS's Winstanley was priced about 25% above the succeeding Edward Green line.

(US President Andy Jackson's (born in NC/SC or SC/NC USA) father was from Carrickfergus. That explains the brogue's name.)

 

[Racing Green]

Winstanleys are long gone I'm afraid. A famous name from my childhood along with Blackthorn in Dundalk who still have a shop but I'm not sure if they're still manufacturing.

Never heard of Tuttys, will have to do some investigating.

 

[upnorth]

What is the VAT rate in Ireland and are they refundable when shipped outside EU?

 

[Racing Green]

Originally Posted by upnorth

What is the VAT rate in Ireland and are they refundable when shipped outside EU?

21% in the Republic and I think it's back up to 17.5% in the North. VAT is refundable from both jurisdictions as far as I'm aware.