I haven’t mentioned Gulun many times, except that I once had a pair, and I had a good impression. But there is a discovery that is more unexpected to me, that is, in addition to high sales volume, Gulun has the best reputation among so many brands in China, or the least number of people who critice it!
This is not an easy thing!
Recently, many readers ask for my opinion on Gulun, so I got this pair.
Unboxing
This shoe box is very tough, which is of course a good thing in terms of transportation. The color itself is also good, light green cover, white box, and then light gold trademark.
But the overall feeling is not advanced.
In addition, people don’t know what the brand color of Gulun is. At present, I have seen so many domestic and foreign brands, and the basic shoe boxes are all of the same color, not separated up and down like Gulun does.
I am naturally in favor of innovation, but it is definitely not a perfect state at present.
Opening the lid really made me stumble. This card is full of flowers, and the fabric underneath is orange and big white. Madam, it’s so classy!
This card is actually a warrant. It’s a good thing, however is it better not to have the flower on the flip side?
And that orange fabric is actually a mat when trying on shoes to prevent scratches on the leather sole. This is also the right thing, but aesthetically, it should not be so sloppy. At present, the brands I see are basically sending a piece of cloth with the same color and material as the shoe bag, such as Sons of Henrey.
Even if this fabric is cheaper, it can completely match the shoe bag in colour.
Taking away the warranty card and orange fabric on it shocked me again. This is the shoe brand that I have seen send the most things, besides shoehorn, there are heel stickers! Isn’t this what women use when they wear high heels? This is so sweet!
For this shoehorn, I think first of all, the plastic packaging can be dispensed with. Secondly, plastic materials, from my own use, metal, plastic, wood, leather wrapped metal, horn, plastic and wood are the best to use. Therefore, there is no problem with this material selection, that is, how to be more unified with the brand in color needs to be done.
The black shoe bag, with the logo on it, is very gorgeous in gold. The texture is also good.
Therefore, if Gulun chooses his own brand colors as black and gold, it should be good.
Pattern
A pair of Adelaide Oxford.
Adelaide is a very classic Oxford style, characterized by a U-shaped surround around the shoelaces. Gulen further adds many aesthetic elements in this pair of shoes!
First of all, it’s the Brogue of the Cap Toe. Careful observation shows that there are two small vertical holes in the middle of each hole, and more decoration makes this Cap Toe more gorgeous.
Secondly, following this place, the general Adelaide Oxford comes down with an ordinary arc, and it may or may not have brogue, and this pair of Gulun has a lower half arc and then sharply transitions into a downward arc, and it is still the same brogue shape as the whole shoe.
Even on the tongue, there is this brogue element.
Generally speaking, the design of this pair of uppers, in the classic style, has carried out a more gorgeous and more palace interpretation.
Last
This is Gulun A last, which is the widest and roundest last type.
From the thickness of the toe cap, it also gives the foot a great dimension.
Many people may think that this toe is too blunt, but it is actually very harmonious, including the proportion formed by the position of Cap Toe.
This angle can better reflect what you see when you step on your feet. You see, it’s not so round and has a lot of sharpness.
Anyway, this last is wonderful, and the upper design is absolutely above the standard!
Craftsmanship
The welt is very unique.
Most good shoemakers have fudge on welt, Gulun’s fudge looks very simple, doesn’t it?
The answer is just the opposite, he does, and it is much more detailed than all ready to wear shoe brands!
Why is there this difference? Because one of the characteristics of bespoke shoes has always been that there is a one-to-one correspondence between stitches and fudge, because the practical use of fudge is a reference, so that when sewing by hand, the spacing of each stitch is the same. On ready to wear shoes, in order to imitate this element to the greatest extent, the density of fudge is chosen to be consistent with that of Goodyear sewing machine as far as possible, but it is almost impossible to press it completely because of the high speed of stitching.
Gulun does the opposite. I don’t want to correspond to it at all. I just want to contrast the stitching with fudge!
The effect is very good, welt gives people a feeling of braids, and the contrast of thickness gives people a delicate feeling. Simple from a distance, exquisite from close look!
Because the outsole is sewn by hand, and then the stitching master is very skilled, the stitching is very close to the vamp, which makes it have a good waist-down under the condition of bevelled waist.
Outsole
It was originally a circle of black outside, and the center gradually turned purple.
I don’t think it is so harmonious. Although it is superb artistic operation, if it is not done well, it is better to choose a simple way. Now this black-purple color should also be the only one on the market.
The transition from toe to waist then heel and the proportion are impeccable.
The transition on the welt is fine, and the heel is slightly inclined, which means gentle cuban heel.
Details
In the case that the vamp and lining are all black, the insole is green, which is really chilling. I think since I chose black, I should learn from Gaziano & Girling to the end, and the insole is also black, which is so simple and clean.
Secondly, the whole shoe doesn’t have any logo, size, last and style information, all of which are gone. Gulun, as a super brand in China, can’t be like this!
Summary
I have heard some insiders describe Gulun, and their comments are really high, saying that the aesthetics are in place. In this pair of shoes, I really can’t find anything wrong with the last and upper design.
However, in terms of brand building, details and luxury sense, there are a lot of space to improve.
款式也是抄Gaziano & Girling的St. James, 只是改成圓頭而已