Wake Me Up When September Ends
It is finally time for the September 2019 Edition of our Shoe News Series! Due to the importance and popularity of the Shoegazing Super Trunk I had to push back the newsletter one week. When it comes to pure Shoe News however last month was not as exciting as the others. Yet, I do have some important things to talk about!
The focus this time will be on some GMTOs and Crowdfunders that are ongoing at The Noble Shoe as well as a few releases and discussions.
Enough with the jibber jabber though, let’s get rolling.
News From The Noble Shoe
Of course I would start with my own baby! Since the release 3 months ago The Noble Shoe has given me the opportunity to spread my love for shoes all over the world. Kazakhstan, Qatar, USA, France and the Netherlands to name a few.
A lot of people request smaller or bigger sizes that are generally impossible to find. After the success of the Field Boots and the Handgrade models I decided to combine both and create a few Crowdfunders. Additionally since it is the next restocking round for a few other models I also accept pre-orders for them as well. I will now break it down.
Handgrade Crowdfunders
We currently have two active Crowdfunders that run until the end of October. The goal is to gather 4-6 pre-orders depending on the model so we can begin production. It takes approximately 2-3 months to produce and if the crowdfunder does not reach its target you will get a full refund. So please do not be afraid to support the cause and get very unique Premium Shoe that is not commercially available anywhere.
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CS Handgrade 9156 Dark Brown Grain/Calf: The classic 9156 Field Boot on the 401 Almond Last and a Handgrade Closed Channel Leather Sole. You have the possibility of adding fur lining and possibly changing the color of the uppers. The cost is approximately 400$ (+25% VAT for EU).
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CS Handgrade 9393 Austerity Brogue in Guimaraes Patina: A beautiful rare model of an Austerity Brogue on the 401 Almond Last and a Handgrade Closed Channel Leather Sole. It will be in the striking Guimaraes Patina with a dark brown color and hues of chestnut. The cost is approximately 370$ (+25% VAT for EU).
Visit the link for more details and please note that the pictures are from previous MTOs and for reference. For the Field Boot the colors will be exactly the same.
Restocking The Adelaide Oxford
One of the best sellers of The Noble Shoe is the Handgrade Adelaide Oxford. Hopefully the following weekend I can do a restocking order which means it is your chance to get a size that is out of stock in the shop. Simply send me an e-mail at [email protected] with the size you want in UK.
Launching The Patina Program
I am looking for a way due to Shopify limitations to launch the Patina Stock Program from Carlos Santos. It is an excellent way to choose one of the available 12 models and customize it with the Patina color of your choice. It is also a great opportunity for you to have a size not usually available in stores. Prices will start at about 270$ (+25% VAT for the EU) for regular shoes and about 300$ for Boots.
Oh, did I mention we will also do sneakers?!
Sons Of Henrey News
Back in one of the previous editions of Shoe News I mentioned a relatively new brand. Sons of Henrey from the Flemish part of Belgium around Antwerp. Tom is the sole owner and brains behind this operation and he is an inspiring young man. In that article I mentioned that the initial collection was a bit bland, or safe.
After discussing this with him he told me he agrees and the reception did not match the initial expectations. Since then however Sons of Henrey launched several new models including monthly MTO’s which are accessible on Styleforum.
One of the most popular styles currently is the George Split-Toe Derby. It comes in a few different colors and superb hatch grain leather.
All the best to Tom in this incredible and inspiring adventure.
Know Your Leather, Know Your Construction
This is more of a discussion sparked from my work at Suitsupply. I am shocked how many people walk in the store with absolutely no clue what construction they have, what is the difference or why are shoes so expensive.
Now, I don’t expect from you to learn all the details. However, when you spend so much money on a pair of shoes, try to learn a little bit about what is going on and why. Then nobody can ever trick you again with a product you do not need or that is vastly inferior than what you want.
Educate yourselves a little on the properties of different leathers and how to take care of them. It is an investment worth making. The same goes about shoe construction. Blake is not great for rain, but a great comfortable shoe. Goodyear Welted Shoes can be resoled. A Storm Welt makes your shoes more water proof.
Hey, you will maybe discover a new passion right?
J.Fitzpatrick Online Sample Sale
Justin is one of the reasons I am selling shoes and have a blog. His article series about starting his own shoe line and the journey behind is inspiring.
He is currently having a small online sample sale and you can hopefully find some great deals like these beautiful Chelsea Boots.
Loake Launches A/W 19
I have a complicated relationship with Loake. They were my first welted shoes after all (Read all about it here and here). While good shoes, I feel I stepped on a whole new world when I discovered Carlos Santos. I must say though, the Capital Last is very comfortable for my feet.
The leather is stiff, feels very dry on my pairs and the Chelsea Boots took a massive 5 months to break in. And this was the 1880 line. Which brings me to the complicated line up.
- Loake
- Loake 1880
- Export Grade
- Legacy
Probably I forget something too. Regardless, they have a new release which is part of a collection called “A Field of their Own“. A few country inspired boots with grain and English countryside feeling and a lot of broguing details.
Not so much of my own style, but man their photography is fantastic! Check out the A/W 19 Collection here.
September 2019 News From The Shoe World
There we go everybody. Short and quick, like a nice sip of warm tea by the fireplace in a cold autumn day. A compact report of various news and updates from the shoe world during September 2019. Honestly it is very challenging to find news that do not involve sneakers. No wonder people have difficulty finding info about quality footwear.
Do you have any story that is worth posting or we should know about? Send us a message or leave a comment! Until then, we are back next week probably with a new shoe review and a pair from CNES Shoemaker in the near future. It is an exciting time to be a man with so many options. Subscribe to not miss a thing and I will see you in the next one!
Thank you for reading,
Kostas Mandilaris,
Misiu Academy