Model Archive – Truffaut
Many thanks to reader Eric for this brand, established in 1998. The factory in Foshan, Guangdong province.
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Model Archive – Badia
When I looked back at my blog, I found I summarized Badia models as early as 2020, however something is strange. As the history is history already, not as a rumour or business secret any longer, it is OK to say that time, Badia has same models with Mattina and only different brands because JIANG Daoyuan, the founder of Badia worked together with ZHAO Ruoda, product director of Mattina in a same factory. Even the lasts and products can be said to be developed together. Later, JIANG Daoyuan left and created his Badia lasts and models all from scratch. Lasts are more tender and sleeker, patterns are more artistical.
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Model Archive – ACME
ACME may be the most well known Chinese shoemaker/brand in the world, and it is the private label of select shoe shop Medallion. ACME is highly praised for its superb craftsmanship, and even the best shoe blogger, Jesper Ingevaldsson told me he is so eager to pay a visit to ACME workshop if he comes to China.
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Model Archive – Foster & Son
Founded in 1840, Foster and Son is the most prestigious bespoke shoemaker in west end London. Although it has ready to wear shoes for a long time which was made by Edward Green first then Crockett & Jones later, finally in 2019, with an investment from Japan, Foster and Son built its own factory and a new collection of Ready to Wear shoes released. The price is close to Edward Green and it is rumoured many workers were recruited from Edward Green. Sadly, the factory closed completed during Covid-19 pandemic. This archive not only include the new collection, but all historical models offered as Ready to Wear shoes.
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Model Archive – Joseph Cheaney & Son
After Alfred Sargent was basically taken over by Bowen (France), private label manufacturing in UK laid on Joseph Cheaney & Son’s shoulder. Although most fashion brands would choose Italian workshop or Portugese factory for this task, Made in England still has its glamour.
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Model Archive – Corno Blu
In fact Corno Blu is a bespoke shoe brand, and the founder is bespoke shoemaker Seigaku Yutaka (青角丰), he studied shoemaking under Italian master Roberto Ugolini and went back to Japan in 2004 and built Corno Blu.
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Model Archive – Wildsmith
Wildsmith was a very famous bespoke shoemaker in London which designed the first loafer for King Edward VII, but fell down very quickly. After many years sink, the owner of Cad & The Dandy purchased the brand and revived Ready To Wear collection and entrusted Alfred Sargent to make the shoes. The endeavor was not very successful and Wildsmith was transferred to English online shoeshop Herring and became the premium end of Herring own labels. Alfred Sargent had its own problem and the shoes were later made by Joseph Cheaney & Son. Even Herring cannot save the brand and abolished it to ash in 2020.
Let me make an archive for this wonderful brand and great models.
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Model Archive – Antonio Maurizi
This Italian brand has very little reputation and publicity, then how did I get to know Antonio Maurizi? Because the recent classic menswear giant, SuitSupply uses Antonio Maurizi to make private label.
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Model Archive – Fratelli Rossetti
I am not sure where Fratelli Rossetti is based and I feel it is a northern Italian style. I owned two pairs and both had good leather. I know it focuses on US market and Blake construction is main stream. Like many Italian brands, construction is not an issue, Fratelli Rossetti is capable of any.
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Model Archive – Shonest
Shonest is a Shandong based bootmaker, it started with making work boots and released some dress shoe models.
The Chinese slogan is very cultural.
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