Vraagje: m'n zwager, die altijd Santoni's kocht, is nu op z'n nieuwe stek in Australië op zoek naar een alternatief, want het aanbod daar is nogal karig. Sowieso geen Santoni waar hij zit (250 km rijden van Sydney, de dichtstbijzijnde plek met fatsoenlijke winkels). Hij stuurt me dit stukkie tekst, volgens mij van puntnet geplukt, en vraagt mij advies:
Depends on what you mean by handmade. I would definitely say yes RMW boots are handmade. But if you are really stringent on the definition then you would have to say no to RM Williams as well as Edward Green, John Lobb, or for that matter Santoni 'fatto a mane' just to name a few. True fully 'handmade' high end RTW shoes are a rarity which is why Vass is held in such high esteem on this forum. However, the waviness and lack of absolute mechanical precision in the way the RMW finish the slightly rough looking channel stitching cries out handmade to me, for it looks a little like the wavy channel stitching on the Vass shoes I got from Germany (don't even think about going to the US for buying them) . Generally I buy dress shoes when I go overseas. It is too hard in Australia and RM Williams is like an oasis in a desert. John Lobb started his business in Sydney and things have never been the same since he left I fear. Otherwise: There is a place in Chifley Plaza upstairs from RM Williams which stocks a small selection of Santoni. Harrolds on Elizabeth St has already been mentioned. http://harrolds.com.au/ Vince Maloney has a small stock of Fratelli Rosetti too. http://www.vincemaloney.com.au/home.html The George St David Jones for Salvatore Ferragamo Tramezzas (their ONLY worthwhile range) and the Zegna section of the same store for Zegna shoes. There is a store in the Strand Arcade which stocks Church's and Loakes. I would also check with Hermes whether you can order a wider range of John Lobb Paris shoes than the tiny selection they have in stock which carry the Hermes label but look for all the world like Lobbs (nb Hermes owns John Lobb Paris). John Cutler is inside Henry Bucks on O'Connell St: Ground floor, 23-25 O'Connell St T: 612 9232 7122 F: 612 9223 4535 http://www.cutlerbespoke.com/
Lang verhaal kort: RM Williams is bootmaker en heeft volgens mij geen goed alternatief voor Santoni. En 250 km rijden om te moeten kiezen bij dat handjevol winkels in Sydney lijkt mij te grote gok.
Nou weet ik dat m'n zwagers trouwschoenen van Carmina zijn (nl met mij uitgezocht bij Sir Max destijds) dus lijkt het mij een beter idee om, gewapend met info over leest en maat, Carmina's te bestellen bij The Armoury. Goed geprijsd en smaakvolle selectie.
Goed idee of weet iemand nog iets beters?
