Saskia Wittmer bespoke shoes - Florence

The men's bespoke shoe industry (artisanship) is mostly dominated by men, all most in all continents (Europe, The Americas, The United Kingdom and Japan). However that does not mean and say that there are no women in this industry. Most famous and known is Madame Olga Berluti from Berluti, then we have Madame Deborah Carré from the duo CarreDucker based in England (the other member being James Ducker), Sweden 
has two ladies (Carina & Asa) in the shoemaking field. WS Foster & Son has currently Emma and Emiko, the latter from Japan, maybe in the near future both will venture into their own brand of bespoke shoemaking. 

When thinking of Florence in regards to bespoke shoemaking, names like Hidetaka Fukaja, late Stefano Bemer, Antonio Mannina and Roberto Ugolini comes to mind, now add Madame Saskia to the list. Madame Saskia Wittmer,  a Berlin born, moved to Florence and a student of late Stefano Bemer, runs the Saskia house in Florence (Italy).

Madame Saskia window and logo display in Florence (Italy)

A beautiful rendition of a co-respondent full brogue in brown and white

A full brogue Oxford in antiques polishing

A quarter brogue Oxford with a cap toe medallion

A classical black Oxford with a punched cap toe

A strapped loafer in exotic hide and the apron in white linen

Display 

A whole cut Oxford in black calf hide 

A Balmoral wing tip Oxford in calf and suede

Photos sourced from MerciMeLord, News about shoes and Necessities

Yohei Fukuda shoes for the day

I am not sure, but I am in the believe that Japan as a country has more and still produces some of the talented bespoke shoemakers in the World. I have earlier mentioned Master Yohei Fukuda on this blog, but each time I look at his shoe creations then I get this itchy "wanting" to own a few of these work of art. Review and judge and you will understand why.

Master Yohei Fukuda's usual suspect line up.

From L to R ( A black stitched cap toe oxford, A tan quarter brogue oxford with a punched cap toe and a medallion, burgundy stitched Balmoral(galosh) oxford with plain toe, black wing tip brogued balmoral (galosh), a whiskey coloured three tier Derby and oxblood full brogue oxford. Yes, nice colours and polishing too. 
I would really want to own all of the six pairs, as all are well made, balanced, traditional and classical men's shoes, I could never go wrong. All bear my favourite signature of WS Foster/GJ Cleverley style, chisel square toe. The colouring...just makes you green with envy.

Below antique chestnut stitched Balmoral (galosh) with a punched cap toe, chisel square toe. Better can not be. Now I happen to own a similar creation from G&G but in a round toe(GG06), which I can not come to terms with even after four years, but my GG is more like the black galosh balmoral shoe though without the medallion on the cap toe. 

A black Balmoral (punched galosh) with a punched cap toe and a medallion, chisel square toe. Fantastic. Lovely shoe, elegant, timeless.

 Wing tip Balmoral (galosh) in Black and caramel tan. Look at the colouring of the caramel. My mouth is watering. I will have to work hard for many years to own any of these creations. Superb.

Photos sourced from Master Yohei Fukuda.