Russian Leather shoes.....

[ThinkDerm]



G&G has access to Russian reindeer leather now if you like their bespoke work.

Don't think the French or the Japanese guys have access to reindeers. But the French guys may have frog leather and Japanese guys whale leather...

G&G has access to R. Reindeer or R. Reindeer calf?

 

[chogall]



G&G has access to R. Reindeer or R. Reindeer calf?

Both Russian reindeer and horween hatch grain calf/reindeer calf.

 

[Griffindork]



thank you agjiffy for the feedback. which other bespoke makers do you favor/prefer?

which aspects of the shoes struck you as careless and sloppy?

if you don't mind sharing, what was the cost, as I thought cleverley was on par cost-wise with other makers.

I do love the captoe adelaide look and the look of the reindeer. thank you for sharing.

They aren't terrible, but here are a few photos that illustrate what I mean. First, look at the shape of the heel. Almost a straight line. It's pretty inartful. It should be shapeley and rounded. It doesn't look bespoke. Second, look at the edge dressing all over the shoe. Just awful. If someone tried to deliver those to me today I would reject them. The fit is so-so (one foot is fine and the other is not). I I know cleverley makes a lot of people very happy. It seems like a decent product but not in the same league as lobb or G&G.

 

[chogall]

They aren't terrible, but here are a few photos that illustrate what I mean. First, look at the shape of the heel. Almost a straight line. It's pretty inartful. It should be shapeley and rounded. It doesn't look bespoke. Second, look at the edge dressing all over the shoe. Just awful. If someone tried to deliver those to me today I would reject them. The fit is so-so (one foot is fine and the other is not). I I know cleverley makes a lot of people very happy. It seems like a decent product but not in the same league as lobb or G&G.

Well if your heel contour is pretty flat than the shoes heel should look flat. I thought Cleverley gives out special shoe creams for their reindeer leather customers?

p.s., JL SJ's work isn't varies from what I observe, really depends on the shoemaker. G&G is very good. JL Paris is superb.

 

[Griffindork]

Trust me it's nothing to do with the shape of my heel. It's just poor workmanship. My other bespoke shoes don't have it.

 

[chogall]

Not defending Cleverley, just speculating the causes aside from poor workmanship. Maybe it's just bad luck with your order being sent to an rushed out worker.

 

[Griffindork]

It very well could be. At the same time, unless cleverley has changed, there are significant difference in the process between cleverley and the other makers I suggested. For example, at cleverley there is no separate shoe made for a fitting. You get your actual shoe sewn to a crepe sole with no heel. With lobb/G&G, you get a full replica of your shoe with a heel that is then cut apart. It's more time consuming and expensive, but in my view well worth it to get a better product.

 

[chogall]



It very well could be. At the same time, unless cleverley has changed, there are significant difference in the process between cleverley and the other makers I suggested. For example, at cleverley there is no separate shoe made for a fitting. You get your actual shoe sewn to a crepe sole with no heel. With lobb/G&G, you get a full replica of your shoe with a heel that is then cut apart. It's more time consuming and expensive, but in my view well worth it to get a better product.

JL SJ doesn't do fitting shoes.

G&G makes fitting shoes but I think only Daniel cuts them open. At least Dean didn't cut mine.

Fitting shoes don't always equal to perfect fit; I sent my JLP to remake for some minor fit adjustments.

 

[Griffindork]

I'm not saying that they will be perfect. I'm just saying your more likely to get a better fit with a fitting shoe. I'm not sure what the counter argument to that would be. Both my JLP and G&G were cut open. Daniel cut my G&G and remeasured my foot and decided to remake the last (although I don't know why; they were pretty close). My JLP we're need a few tweaks but the first fitting was the best first fitting I've had.

 

[SoGent]

Today I received a long awaited package from G. Cleverley containing, what I consider to be, the crowning piece of my 1786 Russian Leather collection ...................................................... a custom pair of their WK Boots......

supremely awesome

 

[ThinkDerm]



They aren't terrible, but here are a few photos that illustrate what I mean. First, look at the shape of the heel. Almost a straight line. It's pretty inartful. It should be shapeley and rounded. It doesn't look bespoke. Second, look at the edge dressing all over the shoe. Just awful. If someone tried to deliver those to me today I would reject them. The fit is so-so (one foot is fine and the other is not). I I know cleverley makes a lot of people very happy. It seems like a decent product but not in the same league as lobb or G&G.

Well if your heel contour is pretty flat than the shoes heel should look flat.  I thought Cleverley gives out special shoe creams for their reindeer leather customers?

p.s., JL SJ's work isn't varies from what I observe, really depends on the shoemaker.  G&G is very good.  JL Paris is superb. 

Trust me it's nothing to do with the shape of my heel. It's just poor workmanship. My other bespoke shoes don't have it.

Not defending Cleverley, just speculating the causes aside from poor workmanship. Maybe it's just bad luck with your order being sent to an rushed out worker.

how much does G&G charge for their russian reindeer shoes?

 

[ThinkDerm]



It very well could be. At the same time, unless cleverley has changed, there are significant difference in the process between cleverley and the other makers I suggested. For example, at cleverley there is no separate shoe made for a fitting. You get your actual shoe sewn to a crepe sole with no heel. With lobb/G&G, you get a full replica of your shoe with a heel that is then cut apart. It's more time consuming and expensive, but in my view well worth it to get a better product.

I'm not saying that they will be perfect. I'm just saying your more likely to get a better fit with a fitting shoe. I'm not sure what the counter argument to that would be. Both my JLP and G&G were cut open. Daniel cut my G&G and remeasured my foot and decided to remake the last (although I don't know why; they were pretty close). My JLP we're need a few tweaks but the first fitting was the best first fitting I've had.

appreciate your insight gentlemen. thank you agjiffy for the photos as well. I really like the adelaide throat-shape and last shape of your Cleverleys. Agree about the heel counters having room for improvement. Also, I feel that they should have had the counter line up with the heel better, not overshoot it. The edge dressing is not cool - have you tried removing the dressing with reno or other products?

 

[Griffindork]

I've used reno but not specifically to remove the dressing. I wasn't aware that might work but if so I will try it. Thanks

 

[MoosicPa]



When referring to Russian leather, in my posts I am referring to the leather from 1786 which was recovered from the sunken ship Metta Catherina which I believe Cleverley is the sole source of. Other makers, such as St. Crispins, use a faux Russian leather made to resemble the original stuff.



how much does G&G charge for their russian reindeer shoes?

 

[ThinkDerm]



I've used reno but not specifically to remove the dressing. I wasn't aware that might work but if so I will try it. Thanks

rubbing alcohol will also remove edge dressing on the leather. use a q-tip and caution. @NAMOR