kg13
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2021
- Messages
- 43
- Reaction score
- 31
Hello everyone!
I am very pleased to share my first (and surely not my last) commission from An Hy shoes out of Vietnam. I ordered a split toe derby, Dover style based on their in-house pattern with double leather sole, blind welt (inside and outside), and Dark Brown Utah calf.
All their shoes are hand lasted, hand welted, and have hand stitched outsoles. Prices start from 711 USD for made to order and 800 USD for made-to-measure (MTM).
This is a MTM shoe on my personal, classic round last. Toe shapes they offer include classic round, almond, soft square, and chisel. For this pair, I wanted something smart but not so sleek so I went for the classic round shape. What's interesting with An Hy's approach to MTM is that they will use an existing last and apply substantial modifications to it allowing them to really fine tune the fit. We had 3 trial pairs done due to my very irregularly shaped feet (very narrow heel, very narrow waist, wide forefoot). I would send photos and videos of myself wearing the trial shoes and share how I felt wearing them. I'm glad to report that we nailed the fit! The shoes fit snug but not tight everywhere but with a nice, roomy toe box. It's amazing how An Hy was able to create such a nice last shape given the design constraint of my duck shaped feet. From my experience, you can also give some input as to the kind of shape you want and they will do their best to accommodate you. They even do custom patterns for a small up-charge.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the buying experience for me is the customer service and the ability to build a relationship with the brand. HD (the owner) is very responsive, and he kept in touch with me the whole time to give me regular updates. HD would often share progress photos and explain each step so I learned a great deal about shoe design and construction. HD and I would also talk about shoes often so we have a good understanding now of what kinds of styles and shapes we both like and dislike. It's also great to support a new maker with a lot of passion and heart for the craft. Overall, I'm very pleased with the looks and construction of the shoes. I wanted a smart but not so sleek pair of split toes that I could wear with casual tailoring and An Hy definitely delivered.
Upon close examination, I feel like these are a modern and youthful take on the EG dover. Details such as the slimmer, less round apron that creates an arrow like shape, the extremely smooth and seamless transition of the welt towards the waist, and the slightly pitched heel all make this pair have a character of its own. The finishing is also a joy to behold. I feel that the 10SPI and the stitch prick they use convey a very strong, masculine, and elegant expression while the curve and transition of the sole towards the waist has a beautiful, graceful curvature to it. Seeing these details, I know that a great deal of time and care went into the making of these shoes.
Hope you enjoyed this and thank you for reading!
Oh, I almost forgot to add. What's also very exciting about An Hy is that HD is always on the look out for cool leathers, so you should definitely contact him if you have anything in mind. From what I can tell, he has access to russia calf, peccary, and other exotics!
I am very pleased to share my first (and surely not my last) commission from An Hy shoes out of Vietnam. I ordered a split toe derby, Dover style based on their in-house pattern with double leather sole, blind welt (inside and outside), and Dark Brown Utah calf.
All their shoes are hand lasted, hand welted, and have hand stitched outsoles. Prices start from 711 USD for made to order and 800 USD for made-to-measure (MTM).
This is a MTM shoe on my personal, classic round last. Toe shapes they offer include classic round, almond, soft square, and chisel. For this pair, I wanted something smart but not so sleek so I went for the classic round shape. What's interesting with An Hy's approach to MTM is that they will use an existing last and apply substantial modifications to it allowing them to really fine tune the fit. We had 3 trial pairs done due to my very irregularly shaped feet (very narrow heel, very narrow waist, wide forefoot). I would send photos and videos of myself wearing the trial shoes and share how I felt wearing them. I'm glad to report that we nailed the fit! The shoes fit snug but not tight everywhere but with a nice, roomy toe box. It's amazing how An Hy was able to create such a nice last shape given the design constraint of my duck shaped feet. From my experience, you can also give some input as to the kind of shape you want and they will do their best to accommodate you. They even do custom patterns for a small up-charge.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the buying experience for me is the customer service and the ability to build a relationship with the brand. HD (the owner) is very responsive, and he kept in touch with me the whole time to give me regular updates. HD would often share progress photos and explain each step so I learned a great deal about shoe design and construction. HD and I would also talk about shoes often so we have a good understanding now of what kinds of styles and shapes we both like and dislike. It's also great to support a new maker with a lot of passion and heart for the craft. Overall, I'm very pleased with the looks and construction of the shoes. I wanted a smart but not so sleek pair of split toes that I could wear with casual tailoring and An Hy definitely delivered.
Upon close examination, I feel like these are a modern and youthful take on the EG dover. Details such as the slimmer, less round apron that creates an arrow like shape, the extremely smooth and seamless transition of the welt towards the waist, and the slightly pitched heel all make this pair have a character of its own. The finishing is also a joy to behold. I feel that the 10SPI and the stitch prick they use convey a very strong, masculine, and elegant expression while the curve and transition of the sole towards the waist has a beautiful, graceful curvature to it. Seeing these details, I know that a great deal of time and care went into the making of these shoes.
Hope you enjoyed this and thank you for reading!
Oh, I almost forgot to add. What's also very exciting about An Hy is that HD is always on the look out for cool leathers, so you should definitely contact him if you have anything in mind. From what I can tell, he has access to russia calf, peccary, and other exotics!
