Shoe making...

[Lydia]

unfortunately, it is or will be.

I'm sure half of you come to Beijing at least once a year...

So, have any of you used the custom shoe-maker in the back of the forth floor in the new "silk alley" building?

I'm not an expert on shoes but some of their models looked quite attractive and they said they could copy anything (of course).

Any thoughts on the leather and quality of construction? The prices and apparent level of craftsmanship seemed a cut above that of the surrounding tailors, but I could be wrong. The woman who makes them was a bit arrogant.

 

[stache]

Best not to give $ to arrogant people, that means that you subsidize their behavior.

 

[Lydia]

But it's hard to find a size 11 in any kind of acceptable quality here.

 

[timekeeping]

The "silk alley" I remember from Beijing was a bunch of shacks good for dodgy gore tex jackets and fake polo ralph lauren shirts..

It must have gone quite a few notches upmarket with a proper building, bespoke tailors and shoemakers...

What's the asking price in RMB?

I suppose the question to ask is whether they custom make a last (a model or your foot) for each customer or do they just add to a pre-defined last to suit your feet. If they say a last is made for each customer, ask to see half a dozen.

Also ask about consturction technique - welted or glued, etc.

Bear in mind that I am not the authoritative source on shoes, by a long long shot.

Perhaps others will have better advice to offer.

And no, I wouldn't know what the shoe terms are in Chinese either.