I have explained the difference between a £400 and an £800 shoe, saying that in reality the leathers won’t be too far off (in the sense they could be the same, but high end shoes might only use the top of the 1st grade while lower priced might use lower end 1st and 2nd grade etc), the construction not too far off either (being welted, but more details), but one thing that we don’t realize is the fact that what we are also paying for is the quality of the workmanship/design etc. For example this pattern is not an easy one to get right and many makers have done it in their own version, but they don’t all come out the same.
For example, this Edward Green model, in colorways done for Unipair shop in Korea, shows how they nailed the pattern on the head. Church’s version (who I believe was the founding designer of this model) is not nearly as attractive. Could be that Prada has changed it since the original but in reality it has more to do with the quality of the making (i.e. lasting, last making, pattern understanding) than simply just the design of the style. This is one thing we forget to think about. When you look at this post on black cap toes, you see that as the shoes get more expensive, they tend to become more attractive too. That is from the quality of the manufacturing process, not just the materials….something we must remember on why nice shoes cost so much more….
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Hi Justin,
I consider myself at least vaguely knowledgeable about shoes, I’m just starting my journey but I can now walk down the street and identify the men with leather and welted shoes and the ones who’ve bought a damned nice outfit but are ruining it with £40 plastic shoes from F&F, but looking at the photos above I couldn’t even BEGIN to spot the subtle differences alluded to in this sentence – “in reality it has more to do with the quality of the making (i.e. lasting, last making, pattern understanding) than simply just the design of the style.” – even seeing them side by side I can’t even spot a difference in last shape or quality, I can’t even tell which is the EG and which is the Church’s.
So to that end, I wonder if you’d find it worth your time to do an idiot’s/beginner’s guide to all of these things using both your knowledge from your time at Stefano Bemer and maybe drawing on the expertise of some of your contacts? I’m sure the quality differences are night and day to you, but to the rest of us duffers (or maybe it’s just me?) these things are like a black art.
I believe both pairs shown are Edward Green, but stand to be corrected.
you are correct…
they are both EG….I did not put the Church’s model in here……it would be hard to put all of these things in one post. I have touched on everything over the years….but it gives me something to think about actually…. thanks for commenting