The Styleforum x Archibald Sneaker GMTO

[ArchibaldRoh]

How is the new loafer coming along?

It's all ready - could launch it any moment to be honest. Just conscious of overloading the next batch given it is the holidays and we don't want to do anything that might cause delays again. Will have a think over today... looks like we have a lot to start announcing again come next week.

 

[NonChalant321]

It's all ready - could launch it any moment to be honest. Just conscious of overloading the next batch given it is the holidays and we don't want to do anything that might cause delays again. Will have a think over today... looks like we have a lot to start announcing again come next week.

How feasible would it be to include a woman's version run like this? Asking for a wife...

 

[ArchibaldRoh]

How feasible would it be to include a woman's version run like this? Asking for a wife...

View attachment 1675432

Very possible, just a matter of coming up with something I guess. I would imagine if the hardware is to be a certain level we would have to source it first. We have a wonderful place in Spain that does plated brass hardware (they make the Palladium plated brass hardware we use on the weekenders and briefcase).

Will put into motion.

 

[La Fin Du Monde]

We're finishing invoicing the last of our latest shipment of shoes, and there will be a few leftover that don't have current orders placed against them. At that point I can tell you specifically what is available in-stock in a size 43.

However if you would like something specific and know what it is now, you can pre-order it and we will keep you updated on when it is available!

@NatxArchibald @ArchibaldRoh - do you have any size 43 shoes available for purchase now?

 

[stephenaf2003]

Boy those newbie’s went fast

 

[ArchibaldRoh]

Boy those newbie’s went fast

Haha technical glitch, the batch with those will open at 10 am BST tomorrow.

 

[ArchibaldRoh]

So when we started this we got a lot of backlash about designing something with the community etc... some of you might remember the GQ article and the subsequent Reddit thread that mocked what we were doing.

Anyways, so I only own a white calfskin pair of SF-01 v1s (I actually took a pair that didn't pass QC due to the sidewall stitching but this is quite interesting to observe how issues seen in v1 which were improved through the collaborative, iterative process we have going on here helped us achieve the v3.

So full disclosure, these are the only shoes I have been wearing for a year now. I wear them every day, I have run in them (they aren't Nike's so I wouldn't recommend), have cleaned them once maybe just to test how the leather reacts for a customer, played football in them a few times, trekked, and effectively wear them for long walks, short walks, evenings out etc..

So we said the difference in the v1s over what the market was offering was that we had true craftsmen specialising in handwelted footwear aiding us in the construction of these (and despite what happened with Cappi and what he pulled through the pandemic - the expertise was ultimately there). The hand-cut uppers made a difference, as did the difference in the quality of leathers being used for the sneakers when compared to the traditional luxury market offerings. Then we had the silhouette - something we took a lot of stick for because it resembled the CP's - well, let's be honest... everything does in the minimalist white sneaker market but nevertheless there you had it. The aim was to provide top value for something better (in truth we set out to go create the best, regardless of value).

So we did it and the v1's were released. We had tongue-gate, the discovery on vegetable-tanned leathers and how the tannery eventually revealed the white calfskin was actually a combination tanned skin, and finally the footboard which was revealed when Rose Anvil cut them open. Now a fiber-board footboard is common and I have made this a habit that every time I am at a shoestore, I start to remove the insoles and check what they are made of. 9.9/10 it is a fibre board floorboard.

Discussions were had for the v2's, the tongue gate was solved and you all pushed for the floorboard to be improved to one made of leather. We went out there across Europe for the true veg-tan article and replaced the old combo tanned white with it and onwards we went. Once again we had help from RA who cut it open and found the floorboard used by Cappi this time was a split leather floorboard and that we could put some effort into improving that lining leather. So again, we had posts on the forum, private feedback etc and what we thought was a full-on success needed one more iteration.

The v3 - recently delivered and made by different craftsmen had the added advantage of having another (and much more honest) master craftsmen look at them and decidedly point out improvements we can make. So we had Adriano and Alessandro, the community who received them and used them, Rose Anvil cutting open v1s, Adriano and Alessandro again, community feedback again and Rose Anvil again AND a fresh set of eyes from another Italian master shoe-maker and his team.

So then we had the v3 - improved lining leather, a full-grain leather floorboard, slight changes to construction, a small amendment to help reduce heel slippage felt by some customers, and finally some changes at the ball of the foot for added comfort.

I promise this ramble has a point. If we didn't have you and we didn't proceed in an iterative process none of these improvements would have happened and we would be selling a luxury sneaker (just like everyone else's) that incorporated a few techniques to aid the construction, with hand-cut uppers and better leathers for a better price than incumbents...but the glaring fact is it would have been just like everyone else's in so many ways and would have taken us a much longer time, with many more units moved to realise what to improve.

So back to my v1s, see the floorboard in fibreboard a la pretty much every sneaker out there? It's a pretty important thing to look out for... I love these shoes, but even if I could re-sole them easily that one, important, element has put a finite lifetime on the pair. Leather floorboards are important.

But the point of all of this is that the process we have going - this iterative process of working together, incorporating feedback, and making improvements to develop and chase the ultimate version of a product works.

 

[XxLogo]

So when we started this we got a lot of backlash about designing something with the community etc... some of you might remember the GQ article and the subsequent Reddit thread that mocked what we were doing.

Anyways, so I only own a white calfskin pair of SF-01 v1s (I actually took a pair that didn't pass QC due to the sidewall stitching but this is quite interesting to observe how issues seen in v1 which were improved through the collaborative, iterative process we have going on here helped us achieve the v3.

So full disclosure, these are the only shoes I have been wearing for a year now. I wear them every day, I have run in them (they aren't Nike's so I wouldn't recommend), have cleaned them once maybe just to test how the leather reacts for a customer, played football in them a few times, trekked, and effectively wear them for long walks, short walks, evenings out etc..

So we said the difference in the v1s over what the market was offering was that we had true craftsmen specialising in handwelted footwear aiding us in the construction of these (and despite what happened with Cappi and what he pulled through the pandemic - the expertise was ultimately there). The hand-cut uppers made a difference, as did the difference in the quality of leathers being used for the sneakers when compared to the traditional luxury market offerings. Then we had the silhouette - something we took a lot of stick for because it resembled the CP's - well, let's be honest... everything does in the minimalist white sneaker market but nevertheless there you had it. The aim was to provide top value for something better (in truth we set out to go create the best, regardless of value).

So we did it and the v1's were released. We had tongue-gate, the discovery on vegetable-tanned leathers and how the tannery eventually revealed the white calfskin was actually a combination tanned skin, and finally the footboard which was revealed when Rose Anvil cut them open. Now a fiber-board footboard is common and I have made this a habit that every time I am at a shoestore, I start to remove the insoles and

Discussions were had for the v2's, the tongue gate was solved and you all pushed for the floorboard to be improved to one made of leather. We went out there across Europe for the true veg-tan article and replaced the old combo tanned white with it and onwards we went. Once again we had help from RA who cut it open and found the floorboard used by Cappi this time was a split leather floorboard and that we could put some effort into improving that lining leather. So again, we had posts on the forum, private feedback etc and what we thought was a full-on success needed one more iteration.

The v3 - recently delivered and made by different craftsmen had the added advantage of having another (and much more honest) master craftsmen look at them and decidedly point out improvements we can make. So we had Adriano and Alessandro, the community who received them and used them, Rose Anvil cutting open v1s, Adriano and Alessandro again, community feedback again and Rose Anvil again AND a fresh set of eyes from another Italian master shoe-maker and his team.

So then we had the v3 - improved lining leather, a full-grain leather floorboard, slight changes to construction, a small amendment to help reduce heel slippage felt by some customers, and finally

I promise this ramble has a point. If we didn't have you and we didn't proceed in an iterative process none of these improvements would have happened and we would be selling a luxury sneaker (just like everyone else's) that incorporated a few techniques to aid the construction, with hand-cut uppers and better leathers for a better price than incumbents...but the glaring fact is it would have been just like everyone else's in so many ways and would have taken us a much longer time, with many more units moved to realise what to improve.

So back to my v1s, see the floorboard in fibreboard a la pretty much every sneaker out there? It's a pretty important thing to look out for... I love these shoes, but even if I could re-sole them easily that one, important, element has put a finite lifetime on the pair. Leather floorboards are important.

But the point of all of this is that the process we have going - this iterative process of working together, incorporating feedback, and making improvements to develop and chase the ultimate version of a product works.

View attachment 1676417

View attachment 1676418

View attachment 1676419

I currently have only the V1’s in white Kangaroo. Gonna be unfortunate to have such a nice pair’s floorboard deteriorate and become unwearable. Sucks, but it is what it is. I’ll eventually get a pair of V3’s when budget allows. Thanks for the transparency, Rohan.

 

[ArchibaldRoh]

I currently have only the V1’s in white Kangaroo. Gonna be unfortunate to have such a nice pair’s floorboard deteriorate and become unwearable. Sucks, but it is what it is. I’ll eventually get a pair of V3’s when budget allows. Thanks for the transparency, Rohan.

I still wear mine, I sort of like the look and because I have orthotics with a hard base these will last but not in the way we first set out which is important. I have beat them up so much the margom sole is pretty done and don't think most people wear them like that. So yours will have a lot of life in them yet!

On the upside, the term is distressed sneakers and apparently and Golden Goose sells distressed, dirty-looking pairs for a lot of money so they make me look like I am wearing some pretty high fashion luxury product.

 

[mhip]

Golden Goose sells distressed, dirty-looking pairs for a lot of money

Lol...
I have a pair I really like in olive suede.
But I got them in a rando unicorn sale, 1 pair, my size only for $229.
Zero chance I'd pay the normal $495.

 

[Davakint]

Somebody that can recommend some shoe care products for the white vegtan sneakers? I.e. cleaning & keeping them white.

 

[Rewiag]

Somebody that can recommend some shoe care products for the white vegtan sneakers? I.e. cleaning & keeping them white.

Saphire has great products for either cleaning, conditioning or pigmentation of smooth leather.

 

[OlafG]

Wore my UL's for a full day for the first time 8AM-8PM. I have to say they probably are the most comfortable sneakers I've ever owned.

 

[CWV]

Somebody that can recommend some shoe care products for the white vegtan sneakers? I.e. cleaning & keeping them white.

Renovateur would darken them a bit. I’d use Buck 4 instead.

 

[ArchibaldRoh]

Wore my UL's for a full day for the first time 8AM-8PM. I have to say they probably are the most comfortable sneakers I've ever owned.

I tried the suede UL midtops yesterday just to try them on... Wow. Its not the same suede we use on the SF01's but instead the one we found for the Loafers. We should make a home slipper using deer or this suede.

SF-03 anyone?