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What do you think? About time for me to take the LB Sheppard LWBs home to clean up and wear? The shipping manifest says 5/7. These have been in my office for almost 4 months.
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Today's decidedly non-vintage shoes are the Alden 964 — burgundy calfskin NST. A little scuff on the right toe that I need to clean up. But these have been languishing in the closet for a few months. Adding them and their black counterparts back into the rotation.
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I wonder why this never made it to mass market? We use so many other skins/leathers already.
I have to think several things:
- the market for leather is already in trouble. Declining demand for natural leathers (from vegan movement, popularity of mesh sneakers, etc.) has put downward pressure on the price of leather. Tanneries are at risk.
- Cost of tanning has to be high. Lots of small "hides", delicate starting point, must be effectively de-scaled, etc.
- Cost of making them into something like shoes is probably high - several pieces will need to be joined to make a shoe unless there are larger fish that give you a shell-sized article to work with. The joining of those pieces probably (??) adds complexity and cost to a final product. I guess stamping pieces of a pattern
- Narrow demand. The visual personality of the final product is probably going to limit how it can be used. It's cool, but announces itself in ways "regular" leathers don't.
FWIW, I think it would be awesome on a pair of @Epaulet sport-trainers or GATS (they've done stingray models that are really stunning). The purses and other items they show at the end of the video are great also. I can't help but think the first market I'd go after with that product is Japan - lots of traditional Japanese fabric designs mimic that pattern and endure in the culture.
Actually, we'll be able to clone just the skin in a lab, and it'll cost less than processing animals.All valid points. I just figured with so much fish processed on ships, the skins would be readily and already available.
I've also seen videos of pineapple skin shoes. I'm always open to trying new things, and wonder how the vegan/non-leather movement will pan out.
Maybe our world will eventually transform to the Star Trek TNG level, where we ban use of all sentient beings for any purpose. I guess "beyond meat" is just the beginning.
Our thread better hoarde all of the leather, especially shell shoes. We'll have to conduct underground meetings to share our mutual interests.
Actually, we'll be able to clone just the skin in a lab, and it'll cost less than processing animals.
Want shell? Make as much as you want, super cheap.
Maybe our world will eventually transform to the Star Trek TNG level, where we ban use of all sentient beings for any purpose. I guess "beyond meat" is just the beginning.
Our thread better hoarde all of the leather, especially shell shoes. We'll have to conduct underground meetings to share our mutual interests.
Why have they been dormant for so long?
Yeeeeeaaaahhhh....I'm not ready to take things to that Gene Roddenberry next level. Grab as many leather shoes as you can before some vegan tries to guilt trip you out of them. Smile when you look inside that Hanover and it says "ALL LEATHER SHOE"
Note: you avoided a spousal customs trick question.As I was walking out the door my wife asked if these were new, "Nope, these are older than both of us". Needless to say, I found that funnier than she did.
92604 (ca. Nov '75/'85)
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Delicious, delicious headcheese.Funny story. Pork rinds are nothing compared to head cheese.