Church's Appreciation Thread

[ike_hiking_boots]

I am looking for some Derby Shoes with a commando sole. Anyone had any exeprience with Churchs Newfield? I am reading lots of bad things about Church's quality!

 

[letsgofire]

I am looking for some Derby Shoes with a commando sole. Anyone had any exeprience with Churchs Newfield? I am reading lots of bad things about Church's quality!

Church's makes excellent shoes. I have 4 pairs and I am very pleased with them. If you are willing to spend the money, I think you will find they are high quality and a good purchase decision.

There are a few people at SF (though they tend to post frequently) that seem to believe Church's has declined since Prada purchased them nearly 20 years ago. I'm not old enough or smart enough to compare shoe purchases from the late 1990s and 2016 in a side-by-side real world comparison, and feel that their feedback is unhelpful, even if there may be legitimate reasons from these passionate fans.

I personally think that a commando sole on a classic black dress shoe is a little difficult to look right. Perhaps a black scotch grain leather such at the Elland 2 model would look more natural with the commando sole.

 

[sleepyinsanfran]

I am looking for some Derby Shoes with a commando sole. Anyone had any exeprience with Churchs Newfield? I am reading lots of bad things about Church's quality!

I have a pair of Shannon derbies in black calf with rubber sole, not commando and they are very comfortable. Perhaps one can get better construction for the price, but if you like the style and it fits with your aesthetic go for it!

 

[Zapasman]

I am looking for some Derby Shoes with a commando sole. Anyone had any exeprience with Churchs Newfield? I am reading lots of bad things about Church's quality!

Classic Churchs "Custom Grade" (Chestwynd/Grafton/Diplomat/Consul/etc) are brilliant shoes, yesterday and today. They are manufactured by Cheaney in England under the supervision of Mr. Church (the owner of that company that sold Church´s Shoes to Prada long ago).

 

[JUAN MANUEL]

Hello, I am the happy owner of 5 pairs of Church's; they are very well made and will last forever. I can't talk from a aesthetic point of view because everybody has a opinion. I would stay away from non Custom Grade shoes, but that's me looking for shoes that will last a lot and won't go out of style. As someone said, they are the Mercedes Benz of shoes.

 

[JUAN MANUEL]

Zapasman, are you shure about that : "they are manufactured by Cheaney in England under the supervision of Mr. Church". I will appreciate more information. Best

 

[ike_hiking_boots]



Classic Churchs "Custom Grade" (Chestwynd/Grafton/Diplomat/Consul/etc) are brilliant shoes, yesterday and today.  They are manufactured by Cheaney in England under the supervision of Mr. Church (the owner of that company that sold Church´s Shoes to Prada long ago).  

So Church don't even have their own factory any longer in the UK?

I have to say I looked at the Church's website and I do not like the feeling I get from it, the art direction is Italian and it is completely out of place for what is a British brand with such a deep heritage.

I personally think that a commando sole on a classic black dress shoe is a little difficult to look right. Perhaps a black scotch grain leather such at the Elland 2 model would look more natural with the commando sole.

My question was specific to the Newfield.

Is Newfield really a dress shoe? It has a commando sole, have Church got this wrong?

Elland 2 is an ugly looking shoe IMHO.

 

[othertravel]

church's uses a lot of polished leather. Corrected grain?

The betis collection is nice,

 

[Chowkin]



church's uses a lot of polished leather. Corrected grain?

The betis collection is nice,

They called it "Polished Binder".

I don't get why people are so upset with polished binder, and some even attributed it to cost cutting by Prada. Church's offered them pre the acquisition by Prada. In addition, it's not like they offer shoes only in polished binder. They actually provide a wider choice to consumers, some of whom would appreciate the easy upkeep of polished binder, as a previous post pointed out

 

[Suntory]

No factory in UK sounds wrong.

 

[Nikola]

No factory in UK sounds wrong.

What do you mean?

I got my pair of Chukka boots labeled as Custom Grade - Made in England .. !?

 

[Zapasman]

Zapasman, are you shure about that : "they are manufactured by Cheaney in England under the supervision of Mr. Church". I will appreciate more information. Best

Yes I am.

Polished Binder is a great corrected grain. It comes from Picusa (Spain), one of the largest taneries in Europe.

 

[othertravel]



Yes I am.  

Polished Binder is a great corrected grain.  It comes from Picusa (Spain), one of the largest taneries in Europe.

Well, I guess it comes down to whether you like full grain or corrected. Because if you don't like corrected grain, it doesn't matter if they use "great corrected grain". Often times, leather is corrected because the quality of the leather is so poor that it has to be buffed down.

 

[Zapasman]

Well, I guess it comes down to whether you like full grain or corrected. Because if you don't like corrected grain, it doesn't matter if they use "great corrected grain". Often times, leather is corrected because the quality of the leather is so poor that it has to be buffed down.

I have a pair of Grafton shoes and a pair of Ketsby boots both Polished Binder. I use them for pub crawl and those kind of events

. They need no much care at all (damp cloth and brush). Both, leather and leather treatment (patent leather) are great. Wrinkles are great. You pay the price for that leather and that leather treatment (check the web site of Picusa). People say Churchs shoes are too expensive for what you get, but I am very please with my two pairs.

 

[bry2000]

The Graftons are among my favorite pair of shoes and I have many pairs of shoes and boots by UK, Italian, French, US, and Bavarian makers. Church's custom grade line is top notch. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise. You may decide that you do not like some of their styles, but be assured the Custom Grade make is terrific.