What is the best value shoe maker you know?

[saskatoonjay]

My first nice shoes were a pair of J. Crew Ludlow LWB's that are holding up nicely, five years on. On sale they were a lot of shoe for the money.

 

[WilYa]

I know a few but to be honest Mexican manufacturers have to deal with the lack of good uppers.

The one I have seen that has nice uppers is John Doe, he has from Horween, D’Annonay among others but construction wise, I feel they can do better. Their shoes are usually around $160 and are Goodyear welted.

There is another brand that I like for daily or casual use, it’s Miles & Louie. I have a pair of boots and shoes from them and they are quite comfortable but the uppers are not the best you have seen. The last pair I bought from them, were a suede Chelsea boot, Goodyear welt for $100.

Franco Cuadra, I would definitely not recommend.

There’s a guy in León, Guanajuato that makes bespoke, you can get bespoke shoes for $10,000 pesos, that around $500 USD but you have to go to his workshop to get measured and fitted. I have seen some of his shoes, they look nice, he can do the Norvegese style but don’t expect some Yohei Fukuda level. Again, I think the availability of better uppers hold his of having a better product. You can take a look at his Instagram, I think it’s atelier amareto.

For boots, there’s another brand, Unmarked that has some interesting products, they look nice but the prices is near Red Wing. And to be honest, I would take a pair of Red Wings before a full retail Unmarked’s.

Those are the brands I know of.

Additionally, saw pics of a Chinese maker with great potential. MTO handwelted using Annonay calf, 250USD. I will sample them next time in China.

 

[asturiano]

Quite like Vass.

Estelles are made by Berwick. Estelles is just a shoe shop. They work with tight margins, so the shoe is very difficult to find at discounted prices. Berwick (like al Almansa makers in Spain) offers good value for money but it is difficult to find a Berwick labelled shoe (they do too much private label) it is easier to find Berwick in Korea an Yanko in Poland than in Spain.

 

[Danitch]

Additionally, saw pics of a Chinese maker with great potential. MTO handwelted using Annonay calf, 250USD. I will sample them next time in China.

I agree with you.
My friend from the russian forum bought 4 MTO pairs from the chinese artisan.
It looks impressive for the price ($450), handwelted+handlasted.
I would certainly consider it with a similar budget for the shoes.

http://forum.watch.ru/showpost.php?p=4890520&postcount=1259

 

[clee1982]

There are quite a few Chinese ones on instagram, some looks pretty nice but given my collection size hard to imagine trying out another brand now

 

[Betelgeuse]

Additionally, saw pics of a Chinese maker with great potential. MTO handwelted using Annonay calf, 250USD. I will sample them next time in China.
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Those look nice.

 

[clhkg]

Additionally, saw pics of a Chinese maker with great potential. MTO handwelted using Annonay calf, 250USD. I will sample them next time in China.
View attachment 1016826 View attachment 1016828 View attachment 1016831 View attachment 1016832 View attachment 1016833 View attachment 1016836

Care to share more information on this Chinese maker?

 

[WilYa]

Care to share more information on this Chinese maker?

I actually don't have more than their taobao store page. https://glshougongxie.taobao.com/search.htm?spm=a1z10.5-c-s.0.0.259a1f62SFrMVP&search=y

 

[ant922599]

Obviously depending on your own point of view, this is either a subjective or objective point.

Personally, I rate AS exclusive and J Fitz at 'mid range' (don't particularly like the majority of the C&J lasts aesthetically speaking, but appreciate the handgrade).

Beyond that, there is a considerable difference in feel on the foot and in hand, and shape when you move up to Meccariello, then G&G.

I have no shame in occasionally buying second hand, or samples/seconds, so picking up a £800-£1,500 pair at, say, just above mid tier prices, even if lightly used, tends to be my typical strategy.

I have Carmina and would buy again, but there is such a difference in feel on the foot I wouldn't but them new - only used to fill a particular hole in the rotation.

Maybe that is a issue - one man's mid tier is another's aspirational.

I have no axe to grind and I'm really not a dickish elitist, so whatever one loves and works for is fantastic in my book, and I'll happily share the love of a good shoe with someone at whatever level they are at.

 

[ant922599]

Oh ps - from what little i saw at the London Supertrunk, TLB are worth a look too.

And some of the new Japanese makers (through the JSEP programme) will also give significant bang for buck at the mid range; if you can ever et them.

 

[Godot]

If someone else has mentioned this then please ignore. Didn't want to wade trough 8 pages of messages. I think Allen Edmond factory 2nds are a great buy. I have several pair & don't notice any difference between them & the ones in the store except the price.

 

[Solverson]

Borgioli is a good option

 

[Porkpie]

Good day gents! I normally don’t respond a lot on the forum, but more of an observer. Felt the need to chime in on this one. I have a decent shoe collection with shoes from some nice makers, but I think Gravati makes a very good shoe that doesn’t get mentioned much.

Very comfortable shoes and they use good leathers. Sometimes the same as higher end makers. Retailing for $600+ they are a very well made Blake Constructed shoe.

Maybe they are over looked because most retailers private label them in their stores, but when on sale at 30%-50% off it’s a steal in my humble opinion.

Just my two cents!

 

[saskatoonjay]

Obviously depending on your own point of view, this is either a subjective or objective point.

Personally, I rate AS exclusive and J Fitz at 'mid range' (don't particularly like the majority of the C&J lasts aesthetically speaking, but appreciate the handgrade).

Beyond that, there is a considerable difference in feel on the foot and in hand, and shape when you move up to Meccariello, then G&G.

I have no shame in occasionally buying second hand, or samples/seconds, so picking up a £800-£1,500 pair at, say, just above mid tier prices, even if lightly used, tends to be my typical strategy.

I have Carmina and would buy again, but there is such a difference in feel on the foot I wouldn't but them new - only used to fill a particular hole in the rotation.

Maybe that is a issue - one man's mid tier is another's aspirational.

I have no axe to grind and I'm really not a dickish elitist, so whatever one loves and works for is fantastic in my book, and I'll happily share the love of a good shoe with someone at whatever level they are at.

Ant, I appreciate your open-mindedness. It's hard to come by on StyleForum. Respect.

Also, am I an elitist if I'm proud not to recognize any of the initials or abbreviations in your list of recommendations?

 

[APHK]

I have a collection of pairs 12 shoes ranging from Loake at the bottom range to EG and StC at the top.

4 pairs are Loake 1880 : 2 were purchased early in my shoe buying journey and the most recent 2 were much later as I came to realise they are so good value-for-money. They don’t have the looks or comfort of their costly neighbours but they have a place in the rotation for when I need beaters.