Giacopelli and Dandy Shoe Care Collaboration - tassel loafer

A while ago a blogged about Giacopelli shoes from Parma (Italy) and at the time assumed that there was a working collaboration between Giacopelli and Dandy Shoe Care. Now I can cement that statement, indeed there is a connection between the shoemaker and the The patina Grand Wizard (Dandy Shoe Care).

As explained earlier, I assumed that Giacopelli and Dandy Shoe Care had a working relationship, and for the day I have sampled a tassel loafer made in Russian Reindeer hide by Giacopelli and handled and treated by Dandy Shoe Care.

Below depicted is a tassel loafer in Russian Reindeer hide before the Grand Wizard of Patina gives it an artistic hand treatment and care, and the look after Dandy Shoe Care treatment.
 The choice of the leather and patina elevates  the same shoe to higher and better dimensions. Judge yourself by comparing the pictures of the same shoe style. Compare to the last picture, the same shoe but different hide.
The raw Reindeer tassel loafer.

The processed shoe by Dandy Shoe Care 

The same tassel loafer in a different hide handled by the Grand Wizard too. The above gives a dash and splash due to the texture of the hide. Stunning.

Photos sourced from Dandy Shoe Care and Giacopelli shoes

Gaziano and Girling - Russian Reindeer single monks

For the day I have sampled a very beautiful single monk with a stitched apron and a split toe from the duo bespoke shoemakers  Mr. Tony Gaziano & Mr. Dean Girling ((Gaziano & Girling) from Northampton (UK). The hide of the monk looks like Russian reindeer. The colouring of the hide and colour are just mesmerising to the viewer.  
If and when I am going to commission a monk for the coming years, I would definitely go for this Norwegian split toe single monk made of Russian reindeer hide. Very elegantly executed.

Photos sourced from Gaziano and Girling

Antonio Pio Mele shoes and boots

In our digital world of today some artisans and craftsmen / ladies tend to take lots of attention and credit, whilst others remain unknown despite their trade and very high skills. Milan (Italy) has a hidden treasure in the person of Mr. Antonio Pio Mele bespoke boot and shoe maker, who is born into a family of bespoke shoe artisans and factory owners, he started to make bespoke shoes from an early age of seventeen. A call for him. 

Mr. A. P. Mele produces between 150 to 180 pairs of bespoke shoes per year for both ladies and gentlemen. The production lead time is between four to six months.
Please view the below crafts and determine yourself, a true hidden gem in the heart of Milan (Italy).  Very beautiful pieces of art.

Master bespoke boot and shoemaker Mr. Antonio Pio Mele in person, red trousers, tan double breasted jacket 6 button, closure four, pocket square, burgundy socks to the burgundy tassel loafers. A million dollar look. Looking dapper.

Crocodile riding boot

Crocodile side laced whole cut, crocodile belt and crocodile wallet

Russian reindeer adelaide oxford 

Tassel loafer in Russian reindeer leather

Two toned single monk, update here (the patina is the work of Dandy Shoe Care)

Green suede pump / opera shoe with a black bow

Photos sourced from Italian paper blog and Claymoor blog

GJ Cleverley - Churchill side gusset shoe

I picked up the below GJ Cleverley renditioning of a full brogue side gusset with false laces made of cordovan hide. I have earlier mentioned that I have a special like for the side gussets because they are very easily taken off or on when traveling and having to pass airport security, secondly they can be used with suits and odd jackets.  Why is this pair so special? It is my understanding that the English shoemakers are not so willing to use cordovan (leather from a horses rear), due to cordovan being very difficult, stiff and hard to work with. As far as I recall continental Europe, Vass (Hungary), Carmina (Spain) and Jan Kielman (Poland) do offer shoes in cordovan. Yes, Crockett & Jones (England) has very few models made of cordovan. A GJ Cleverley (Anthony Cleverley model) made of cordovan. Never seen a GJ Cleverley model shoe in cordovan, therefore sampling this pair for the day.


My humble opinion is that cordovan is hard to break but once done it shapes to the wearer's feet. Cordovan leather is tough and stiff however very water resistant compared to calf leather/hide. I would prefer to have the below pair made of Russian Reindeer leather salvaged from "Die Fraumetta Catharina Von Flensburg" vessel that sunk in 1786 near Plymouth(England). The lost cargo was first salvaged in 1973. I mentioned the Russian Reindeer leather earlier here.

The below model is a Made To Order from Leather Soul Hawaii in brown Horween shell cordovan leather. Very stunning shoe and I like the warm brown colour on the cordovan.

Photos sourced from Leather Soul Hawaii

Shoes not of calf but other leather

Besides the normal calf leather, shoes can be practical made of any hide, excluding the exotics, like crocodile, alligator, snake etc.

In this blog we will look at bespoke shoes made of pig, Russian reindeer, carpincho, lizard & mountain ram leather.

Very interesting choice of leathers, I must say. But look at each of the bespoke shoemakers rendition and decide. 

Below a rendition of an oxford cap toe from GJ Cleverley made of Russian reindeer calf leather, which is more than 200 years old. 

From GJ Cleverley, an Adelaide oxford made of Russian reindeer calf leather

 GJ Cleverley a full brogue from Russian reindeer calf leather

 The sole work of the above full brogue

A full brogue from Russian leather from Fukaya

Lizard Wholecut by Fukaya

Lizard Side gusset with raised apron by GJ Cleverley

A balmoral oxford Lizard &snake lining by Carréducker

Lizard & snake derby boot by Carréducker

 Close up details of the Carréducker boot

Two tier derby Iguana example from EG/G&G

Three tier Derby by EG/GG on pigskin

 GJ Cleverley pigskin slip-on

GJ Cleverley loafers made of carpincho leather, very unique.

 GJ Cleverley Mountain Ram Adelaide captoe

 

 

 All of these shoes depict the artistic rendition of each bespoke shoemaker, from London to Florence (Italy), these pieces are very unique and special.

All are timeless pieces of art, classical men shoes that will remain stylish, elegant and will stay good looking over the years as they age.

Consider these leathers next time your are commissioning a pair of bespoke shoes.

Pictures sourced from GJ Cleverley shoes, Bespoke Shoemakers Carré & Ducker, Leather Soul Hawaii, Mr. Fukaya's shoes & Men's Style Forum