This is a real veteran of the industry, but not many people know it after starting their own business. Although we had WeChat several years ago, we didn’t communicate much. In SuitRide 2025, I visited his booth and found some very retro shoes.
Come and learn the story of Chen Bo with me.
Please Introduce yourself.
My name is CHEN Bo, and I was born in a small village in Nanchong, Sichuan Province in 1979.
I love suits since young.
How did you enter shoemaking?
I entered shoemaking at the age of 17, it was a job that interested me.
Starting from the ordinary handyman at the grass-roots level, I gradually promoted to a designer position and then served as the head of the department.
What was your later experience in the trade?
In 2003, I worked as a designer in Miranno Shoes Factory, a Hong Kong company.
Two years later, I was promoted to head of the company’s development department.
During this period, I designed products for many well-known customers, including Burberry, 42ND ROYAL HIGHLAND, TOMORROWLAND and United Arrows.
At the beginning of 2008, due to blind expansion and sudden financial crisis, the company unfortunately went bankrupt.
After the former company closed down, President Aoki, the founder of 42ND ROYAL HIGHLAND contacted me.
A new shoe factory was established in Shanghai with a boss whom I have known for many years.
In the second half of 2008, I began to focus on designing for Japanese guests.
How to enter the more niche field of welted shoes?
In 2016, I joined Allen Xie to help expand the footwear category.
How did you decide to set up your own brand?
When the epidemic broke out in 2019, Allen Xie decided to dissolve the footwear factory. I chose to take over this workshop and founded my own brand Artisan Bobo.
How big is the team at present? What is the division of labor?
There are currently five people in the team.
I am responsible for product design and development, including suitable production technology, and after determining the shoe version and production technology, I will hand it over to the workshop for production.
Colleagues in the workshop are responsible for uppers, welts, soles and finishing.
What are the characteristics of Artisan Bobo?
We are a workshop specializing in designing and making personalized high-end handmade leather shoes. We are very flexible in dress shoes and can suit all kinds of lovers.
Because I have strong design experience, there are thousands of existing styles, and each style also supports any size, any color and any process matching customization.
Our semi-custom minor changes are free of charge, and each style can be suitable for any foot type.
It is our differentiation to accept drawings and samples, which is why I think we can be called full customization.
What models are you most proud of?
I think these three models are the technical limit treble of when I made them.
The first pair is a fiddleback waist and horse heel Oxford shoes made in 2020.
The second pair is a world champion’s work with reference to Medallion in 2023, and the design of the ultimate triangle blind waist, fiddleback waist and horseshoe heel wild boar Derby shoes.
The third pair is a pair of sky-blue gradient derby shoes made of patent leather in 2021, with the main feature of patent leather changing color.
Customers who come to our house for customization basically have individual needs, so each model in our house is their favorite.
Our most iconic works are: Grecian Slippers, Opera Pumps, Button Boots and Spats.
What is the plan for near future?
I don’t have any plans for the enterprise and my own brand. I just want to gain the recognition and trust of customers by my own craftsmanship, so that everyone who wants exclusive customization and personalized needs can get finished products that fully meet their own wishes.
