ZHOU Zhe is a top Corthay consumer in China. I have never met anyone who owns more Corthay than him.
Join me to see the road of shoe buying by the king of Corthay in China.
Briefly introduce yourself.
I am a native of Wuhan, born in 1990, studied acting in college, and have been in contact with art training since I was in college, but I did not expect that it is still my subsistence job today.
I don’t have many other hobbies besides clothes and shoes. A little interest may be listening to crosstalk, Peking Opera, and playing with fans.
But those were simply passing the time, and I never delved into.
How many pairs of Corthay do you have till now?
Till today, 8. (After the interview, he bought another three, what a monster!)
Why choose Corthay?
When I bought Corthay, I had just been fascinated in shoes, and the most I bought was Carmina.
One day my wife told me that Corthay was doing an event, a big deal once every four years. On the night near the end of the event, my wife and I drove from Wuchang to Hankou and bought our first pair of Corthay, Cannes.
It took 4 years from knowing Corthay to owning Corthay, and from the first pair to the eighth pair, exactly four years.
Part of the objective reason for choosing it is that I bought Carmina and the shoes are ill fit too many times, although I can wear it in the end, but the break in period was too uncomfortable. Therefore, when buying shoes later, I am more inclined to go to the physical store to wear shoes on my feet, and maybe the only choice in Wuhan is Corthay.
Another part of the reason is that their service is actually really good! Whether it is a color change service or a lifetime maintenance service, I think it is a great value for money through long-term use.
I’m willing to pay for shoes because I think a good pair of shoes can stay with me for a long time, and the right care can really do that. In the process of going to care and maintenance, you can have more communication with sales assistant. Understanding the brand by real touch and understanding the brand from online are completely different. The direct feeling is deeper and more humane.
How did you fall in love with shoes?
My dad is a very particular person, and I had a deep impression that he could sit on the balcony and brush his shoes for hours in his free time, and I subtly became interested in these things.
With so many pairs, what intrigues you to buy shoes still?
I will buy shoes because of uniqueness, and also because of human favors.
The former is because I am a very subjective and self-centered person, I don’t want to be like others, so some rare styles or unique colors and combinations of different leather will attract me.
The latter is a realistic situation, in the process of playing, you may meet some friends or acquaintance with sales, everyone has a good chat, and when they are not completely needed, I still buy a pair.
In terms of clothes, are you interested in suits? Which ones have you tried and which ones would you recommend?
I probably didn’t try much in clothes, and when I used to buy ready-to-wear clothes, there were only Cannali and Corneliani in Wuhan, and these two brands showed me what a good suit should feel like on the body.
I didn’t try much bespoke yet because I hated the feeling of waiting. I tried Sartoria Milito and Mr. Dandy in Wuhan for the purpose of experience. But most of my suits are made for me by my friends, and making clothes is a little deeper for me because I have friends who do this. When you really understand deeply, the mystery is gone, I have no interest in the selling points and brands promoted online. I would prefer a piece of clothing to be worn on me, giving the impression of “this is his clothes”.
It’s not so much about making clothes, but about making friends with the people who make clothes for me.
A suitable tailor, I believe, should be a man worthy of lifelong friends!
Shoes and clothes, what do they mean to you?
Shoes and clothes are like my friends, they will give you dignity when you are in high spirits, and they will protect your dignity when you are poor.
My concept of consumption is to spend money on the blade, what can accompany you for a long time is worth investing, I will not spend money for things that are popular today and may be eliminated tomorrow!
What do you think of domestic shoes?
I think that Chinese shoemakers have been much better in the past two years than in the past, which is a thing that makes people who like it happy.
We used to pursue foreign brands because they represent the highest quality in the world, but there must be part of the reason that we can’t find the right brand domestically, either because the aesthetics are not enough, or the craftsmanship is not good, or the raw materials are not good.
In the past two years, I think we have done a very good job in terms of craftsmanship. There are many objective factors in the raw materials, and I hope that it will gradually improve in the future. Although there are many traces of imitation aesthetically, it is indeed good-looking overall.
There are a few enthusiasts in this world, and we don’t have to stand on a high place and laugh at others just because we know a little more (I don’t do this less when I don’t understand it). For most ordinary consumers, they don’t know the so-called big three (John Lobb, Edward Green and Gaziano & Girling) and don’t know those top craftsmen.
I hope that for this part of the domestic brand that seriously makes shoes, every friend who likes it can buy it with a relatively inclusive heart, giving them a little opportunity to grow, and our own people should support local shoemakers!
For people who also like shoes, you may also be exposed to some, what are your feelings and suggestions?
Maybe everyone will have their own orientation of their own hobbies, for example, I think I belong to the “beauty party”, and what I can see is always one of the most important factors driving me to buy! And I was really surprised by the understanding and dedication of some so-called “craft party” to craftsmanship, but you can feel their love from these seemingly boring theoretical knowledge.
Shoes or clothes are just objects in themselves, and they become different because of the love of these items by the people you like, and the things you love will definitely not be intended to show off, they must be pure. Therefore, I hope that in this long journey, every beloved friend will not forget the original intention and stick to the purity of the heart!
