Before I start my homage to all Italian cobblers I want to give a shout out to the team that designs the footwear collections each season at Calvin Klein. They've really always been dismissible but about 3 years ago, the quality and the design that has come out of the White Label and Collection lines have been amazing. I now wear both lines quite fanatically.
So, in this 21st century day of mass-produced manufacturing, why does Calvin Klein still bother to make shoes in Italy? Let's be honest, people will still be suckered to pay $700 for a pair of Christian Louboutin even if he decided to make them in Afghanistan. And while Italian shoe manufacturing processes are widely known and documented (read: Salvatore Ferragamo gluing only half of the footstep base sole), how has Calvin Klein managed to convince the folks working at the Italian shoe factories to give individual attention to each shoe in his line?
I present to you the hand-hammered sole! I know -- when was the last time you saw something like this? I think they only do these on custom men's leather shoes (maybe John Lobb; everyone else has gotten lazy). Take a look below:
CK does the matte black box. I like.
My favourite of the bunch. Can you tell?
Close-up of the vamp. This shoe is so friggin' gorgeous. I am not kidding.
Shearling and suede booties. I bit out of my usual range but I was being adventurous because it is best to embrace the current times.
So here is the hand-hammered sole. See the little nails at the sole curve leading to the arch.
There are also 3 little nails hammered into the tip of the sole below the vamp.
Little nails, woweee!
Now on to the heels, which is the only reason women buy shoes. This one is architectural.
This one has nice exposed stitching on the outer back seam.
Too bad this pair is not in my size. Look how awesome the patent contrasts with the matte cowhide.
*Sob*sob* Bye bye nice shoes.
3 comments:
I wanted to be a shoe designer for the longest time and I used to study all of the details as carefully as you did. Some v expensive brands (which shall remain nameless) have terrible finishings whilst I can always appreciate fine details in others :)
aww, sorry you have to part with them.
that last pair are glorious. love the patent/matte combo.
ahhh, if only our mothers and fathers would have encouraged us to go to design school and we'd be making the shoes we want.
lorraine: yes, quality is such a variable these days.
red: i really wanted to keep the last pair but there were too big :'(
they looked really fierce
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