benf
Senior Member
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2015
- Messages
- 193
- Reaction score
- 67
Unfortunately this is the market norm although there’ll be exceptions. Even EG, JL and G&G do not include trees. Only JL top-line and StC include trees (lasted in the latter’s case) in the price but u effectively ‘pay’ for it anyway.
Trees is a popular topic of discussion and a lot of ppl do use generic trees in the EG and G&G.
Since I first across SF and my interest in shoes, i’m in the fortunate position of having both EG (*2) and G&G (*5).
The latter and AM may have comparable levels of quality and finish, one is ‘Made in England’ and the other is Italy. On that basis alone, one’d expect to pay a premium for the former. Some of the premium can be quantified and somewhat justified (higher labour and land costs) whilst the rest is reputational (COG, marketing and aesthetic). Also I suspect the profit margin is somewhat higher for English brands whilst a lot of Italian and Spanish companies remain family owned.
In terms of EG v G&G, I prefer the latter for its aesthetic and finishing. By design, the latter’s last is relatively unforgiving and thus exclude some buyers. But I find their lasts and patterns less conservative looking and certainly more ‘striking’. The tight and beveled waist is something not available in the standard EG line. Also I find their standard colours (ie not patinated) richer than EGs.
), though I think I'll definitely increase my collection in AM.
