Church's Appreciation Thread

[othertravel]

Cobbler can do it!

 

[Denar78]

Shannon’s at work today.

 

[Denar78]

Anyone has experience with the 136 last? church’s official website says they recommend to take half size down. Is this true?

I have the Oslo and indeed half size down from my regular size (Consul for example). 136 is one of their nicer lasts IMO.

 

[Denar78]

More detail on the Church’s lay off from the Northampton newspaper; a reduction of about 50 at the Northampton factory, after a prior, earlier, 2023 reduction of 15-20. Current staff is about 120, down 33%, from 175-180 at the start of the year. Ex-employee said the factory once employed 400, so current workforce is down 70% from that peak.

Redundancies made by Northampton shoe factory left long-standing employee hurt by decision

“I gave 44 years of my working life to this company, only to be made redundant”

www.northamptonchron.co.uk

Prada sales overall are up strongly. Their annual report stresses their companywide strategy of vertical integration, which includes an emphasis on sales through company owned stores. With the covid/casualization drops in sales of dress shoes, Church’s traditional strength, this left a high fixed cost overhang resulting in disproportionate losses when volume fell.

So they desperately needed to quickly increase revenue and then took the 2021 pricing increase that brought their flagship model prices to about $1000, well above comparable quality English offerings such as C & J. They had previously been priced at a premium, but close level, to competitors such as Cheaney and C & J.

The pricing increase has not stemmed the losses and has eroded the brand’s competitive position.

I am sure there are other factors. SF in general, and the Church’s thread in particular, tends to blame Prada. That may be rightfully so, per the above, from a business strategy POV.

My sense on their traditional dress shoe segment (my personal interest in the brand) is that quality has remained good. And there is no reason it shouldn’t have. They were/are still manufactured in England, by an experienced work force, in their long-time factory, presumably with the traditional capital equipment.

I think it is fair to say that their attempts to expand outside that segment have not been successful, or they would not be in these difficulties.

What is the sense in England? It’s hard to get a good feel from 6000 miles away in California.

I’d say they should get over their polishedbinder obsession. It’s a heritage brand, not a fashion brand and should be positioned as such.

 

[BurgundyOxfords]

I love my Church's McFarland 133 G 7UK boots but unfortunately half a size too small for me (it fitted just fine in the store at the time) should have stayed with 7,5 UK G like my 1st pair. Compared to Cheaney boots these look way more refined.
Last year while trying a pair of Dinkelacker boots the sales person couldn't stop talking about how the british understand how to make a boot while looking at my Mcfarlands.

PM if interested.
View attachment 2104649

These are now for sale in the buy section here https://www.styleforum.net/buyandsell/churchs-mcfarlane-boot-7uk.37843/

 

[rakuskus]

I have the Oslo and indeed half size down from my regular size (Consul for example). 136 is one of their nicer lasts IMO.

Thank you. I took a full size down as Church's suggested. I think a half size down would be wiser.

 

[SartUsurper]

I just came into possession of these nice pair of New Custom Church's Last 73 Chetwynd's. I am trying to find out the approx year they were made but can only narrow it down to between 1980 and 1999. Hoping for some more insight. Debating whether to keep them as they are quite tight.

 

[shoefan57]

I just came into possession of these nice pair of New Custom Church's Last 73 Chetwynd's. I am trying to find out the approx year they were made but can only narrow it down to between 1980 and 1999. Hoping for some more insight. Debating whether to keep them as they are quite tight.

Certainly not any time in the 1990s and I think not the ‘80s either, given the straw coloured box, so I’d say the 1970s. Lovely shoes btw

 

[SartUsurper]

Certainly not any time in the 1990s and I think not the ‘80s either, given the straw coloured box, so I’d say the 1970s. Lovely shoes btw

Thank you for the reply. I just came across a picture containing the 'straw' box style from 1981. Would love to have access to all those classic last 73's. Debating on whether to let them go as I bought them without proper measurements and they are 1 size too small. Any idea of what they could fetch?

 

[shoefan57]

Thank you for the reply. I just came across a picture containing the 'straw' box style from 1981. Would love to have access to all those classic last 73's. Debating on whether to let them go as I bought them without proper measurements and they are 1 size too small. Any idea of what they could fetch?

In the 80s and even late 70s they began using the blue and white boxes so maybe that 1981 picture is of older boxes but it matters not. Abbots shoes are a good option for reselling your shoes and are easily found online. They give a fair price. Otherwise I only know of eBay and Etsy.

 

[JUAN MANUEL]

I just came into possession of these nice pair of New Custom Church's Last 73 Chetwynd's. I am trying to find out the approx year they were made but can only narrow it down to between 1980 and 1999. Hoping for some more insight. Debating whether to keep them as they are quite tight.

Very, very nice shoes

 

[Denar78]

Going business casual with the Consul 173

 

[Denar78]

Hi all, I just snapped up these beauties for a song (ie more like for a poem which doesn’t even rhyme).

These are Consuls on the 73 last.

Would anyone have an idea on the year of manufacturing, based on the box or the shoe itself?

Thanks in advance

 

[Denar78]

By the way I am now able to provide a comparison of 73 last vs 173 last if anyone is interested

 

[JUAN MANUEL]

By the way I am now able to provide a comparison of 73 last vs 173 last if anyone is interested

Please share the information, cheers