When it comes to Meermin, what is your first impression? Price killer? Although there is nothing wrong, I think it is a bit underestimating the brand. Through paying attention to it year by year, I think its core competitiveness now lies in leather. Meermin is absolutely above average in leather optional richness, and at its price, it has no rivals.
Meermin has been pushing shell cordovan in the past two years. Shell cordovan leather shoes have always been regarded as the top price. Meermin has made the price of shell cordovanr very acceptable by forming a matrix of four tanneries, especially the one in South America. To put it simply, if you like shell cordovan, Meermin is your best choice, best value at least.
Meermin has a lot of options on shell cordovan, such as museum shell cordovan, waxed shell cordovan and so on.
In addition to shell cordovan, Kudu (antelope leather) is also available in Meermin. So as I said at the beginning, if you still say that Meermin is just a price killer, you are out of date.
Let us check out my pair.
Last
A picture, you can immediately know what it feels like.
Pointy, just one word.
The last is Rios, and I chose it because this is the last shape of my first pair of Meermin, model 101430, made of Taupe museum leather.
I thought it was particularly good at first, and then I gradually felt a little pointy, but I was quite satisfied with the width and fit, so I chose this last again.
But the problem is, those are cap toe Oxford, and these one plain toe.
Pattern
Wholecut Oxford, unique upper design with 4 eyelets, different from the most conventional 5.
Oxford or even Derby shoes have 5 eyelets by default, particularly in the UK, and Frenchmen likes 6 eyelets, which will make the shoes more slender.
Carlos Santos once made a pair with only 1 eyelet, and the impact came out.
Leather
At that time, I ordered this pair just to see what the shell cordovan of the mysterious tannery in South America was like.
Let’s talk about the overall touch first. The shell cordovan leather is moist and mellow, which is completely in place. If compared with Horween, the surface may not be so flat, but it will be found only when it is close to observation.
The colour of leather, including the uniformity of polishing, fluctuates to some extent. For example, when we look at it from the side, the color from the instep to the heel is darker, and I think this is a better feeling.
What I want to show most is actually the effect of conditioning on the colour of shell cordovan leather. Aging makes shell cordovan much more loved.
At the beginning, the colours of the left and right feet are inconsistent, and the right foot is obviously lighter.
This is the inside of the heel of the right foot, as in a previous article about scratches on shell cordovan, because it is always rubbed here, it is always conditioned. You can compare it. Is it the color and texture here much better here?
If you don’t think the contrast is obvious enough, take a look at this.
This is the tongue of the right foot, and it is also shell cordovan. Look at the rough texture and hoarse color. That is, if we oil it as often as we treat scratches, the texture is different from this state.
Another interesting place, there is a small dark red and then smoother area, which is where the shoelaces press and rub. It brings another interesting question, why deer bone has conditioning effect with pressing shell cordovan? In this case, there is no oiling coming out from the deer bone. By pressing and grinding, the grease in the leather is pulled up.
Construction
Meermin’s finish on welt is recognizable. The stitches are quite close to the upper but the welt near the upper is always messy. I don’t quite understand what the missing process steps are.
Comfort and Outfit
As I said before, I have a good experience in wearing this last. When I put on new shoes, the two sides touch slightly and don’t squeeze, but after wearing it all day, the two sides will feel a little pain. But in my opinion, this is right, this is the embodiment of the fit.
After 10 times, it was all perfect. This pair is the same.
In collocation, I made two attempts, but both of them were off.
Colour 8 works best with Loafers, but when colour 8 is new, the colour is light, and the degree of versatility decreases.
Navy blue or dark gray will definitely contrast its brightness, while light gray seems a little strange in formality. Maybe flannel will be better.
And when I put on a very bright Chino, the advanced texture and color of this leather seem to be quite in conflict.
Summary
I can testify here, even if you spend less money and choose Meermin shoes in other shell cordovan instead of Horween’s, they won’t let you down.