Rozsnyai is a Hungarian brand based in Budapest and focus mainly on MTO. MTM is also offered with a small surcharge. When we talk about Hungarian shoes, Vass is the first into mind. However that Vass gains global reputation largely owes to U and F last developed by Italian master shoemaker Roberto Ugolini. Rozsnyai still focus on domestic market and sticks to its traditional lasts such as Budapester and sharp Italian ones.
Rozsnyai is very proud of its exotic leather options as exotic here does not mean crocodile, ostrich and so like “not so exotic” ones, but elephant and shark skin.
How about my pair? Let us have a look.
Unboxing
Two colour shoe box with green fluffy cover and gold main body. The cover is very artful.
Logo sits at the right bottom of cover, when Hungarian brands say HANDMADE, they are serious.
A narrow piece of paper sticks to the side of box, and the information is not so clearly to me as I don’t read Hungarian. Model number is 333, 02 is unknown. Other words are all not interpreted.
Remove the cover, except logoed paper, there is an envelope.
Turn it over and the logo is in the middle.
Content of the letter is how to care and Break In, then the signature of the current own, Sandor Rozsnyai.
Unwrap the paper, blackish green shoe bag is quite luxurious.
The fabric of the shoe bag is quite similar to Hopsack, very rarely seen.
Last
My shoe aesthetics inclination is very English, but if I have to choose from middle European Budapester and Italian sharp long lasts, I prefer the former one. It seems Budapesters from different shoemakers are almost identical, this pair from Rozsnyai is very hard to tell the difference with shoes made by Vass and Heinrich Dinkelacker. The very round toe shape is so harmonious with this full brogue pattern.
The other characteristic of Budapester last is the front is almost like a wall. Round toe is everywhere from England to American, but the steep wall front can only be found in middle Europe.
Pattern
You can call it a short wing full brogue derby, however, it is clear to anyone that this is a not a pair of American shoes. What is the difference? It is the shape of ears and eyelet number.
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But this one pushes boundary even further to incorporate colour of Hungary national flag.
Only the consequence is reversed.
Construction
This pair is Norwegese construction with quite strong contrast thread in white.
I summarized many kinds of Norwegese stitches here, and you can still call it Goodyear welted as that is sitll how outsole is linked to the shoes.
The Norwegese stitches of this pair is Double Stitch, because they are in parallel not intervened, which is called Chain Stitch, and in middle Europe, they love to call Goyser.
Out Sole
Traditional square flat sole from this region. Very sturdy and the slot edge is fudged with some decoration. Logo is handwritten. Copper nails are grouped into three.
Leather
First question is the colour of this leather, is it through dyed or hand painted? I have no answer and I feel this green is darker than the one on national flag.
The leather is very supple and creases fine.
Lasted Shoe Tree
Metal pad on the shoe tree is a great practice.
The lasted shoe tree fits the shoes too good, or we say too tight that I could not even remove it off.
I say the shoe tree is like a platypus.
Under the shoe tree forefoot, there is a size mark 38, which is UK5 from this brand.
Detail
The red lining and sock lining match shoe lace, and are very daring.
Conclusion
Every region has its own aesthetics, and shoes have this origin as well. I like people to know them all and choose the one he loves most.