The finalists for this year’s World Championships of Shoe Shining and Shoe Patina have now been decided, with the finals set to take place at the London Super Trunk Show on May 9, 2026.
In the shine competition, we’ll see a strong lineup featuring two contestants from Japan and one from France, while the patina final brings together two French competitors and one from Finland. As always, a good mix of talent, and it should make for two very competitive finals. You can see their submissions below.
If you haven’t yet, you can read more about the London Super Trunk Show 2026 in last week’s article. We’d also appreciate it if you take a moment to visit the event’s Facebook page—whether to let us know you’re coming, share it with others, or simply follow along for updates as we get closer to the day.
The event takes place on Saturday, May 9, at Showcase.co, 12 Regent Street, right in the heart of London. If you’re planning to attend, it’s shaping up to be a full day.
For those interested in how the competitions work, including the qualification process, jury, and format of the finals, all of that is covered in detail in the qualification post. Here, we’ll keep the focus on the finalists themselves and the work that got them here.
Both championships are organized in collaboration with Saphir and Bridlen, who also sponsor the prizes. Each competition winner will receive a pair of shoes, a selection of shoe care products, and a share of the £600 prize pool provided by Saphir.
We had a strong number of entries across both competitions this year—more than enough to make the final selection difficult. In the end, these are the competitors who will take the stage in London this May.
World Championships of Shoe Shining 2026 finalists
Atsuhiro Yoshidomi, Japan.
Back again this year is Atsuhiro Yoshidomi, who finished second in last year’s final and clearly has unfinished business. Based in Fukuoka, he is part of the team behind the shoe shine bar Boston & Re Olds, and has since been featured in TV appearances and events promoting the craft of shoe shining.
His entry this year is a strong one. Working on a pair of side-laced Oxfords, he’s brought out a rich, almost liquid finish—deep, warm tones with a shine that gives them a near caramel-like gloss.
Benjamin Valeyre, France
A beautifully even shine here, with a crisp, glass-like clarity throughout. The work comes from Benjamin Valeyre, who has been working with the French shoe brand Emling, providing shoe care and mirror shine services.
What draws him most to the craft is the transformation—taking a pair that may appear dull and turning it into something far more striking. Over the years, he has focused on refining his technique, with an emphasis on precision, balance, and depth in the final result.
Naoki Ueda, Japan
Another finalist returning with unfinished business is Naoki Ueda, who reached the final back in 2022, where he narrowly missed out on the top spot to Ash Samsudin. Since then, he’s continued refining his technique, and it clearly shows in this year’s entry.
Working on a well-worn pair of single monk straps, he’s achieved an impressively high-gloss finish across the entire shoe while still keeping it balanced and tasteful. There’s a confidence to the work that suggests a lot of time was put into getting the details right.
Naoki runs the shoe shine bar Penny Lane Shoeshine Boys (PLSB) in Osaka. He first got into shoe shining in 2013, starting out on the streets where he built his foundation before opening his own shop just two years later.
World Championships of Shoe Patina 2026 finalists
Mandy Marie, France.
A really striking two-tone patina here, executed at a very high level. On its own, each shoe already shows strong color work and depth, but when you see the pair together—with the tones inverted between them—it takes things to another level.
The work comes from Mandy Marie, who has spent the past seven years as a patina artist at Berluti in Paris. Now holding the title of Master Colorist—the highest level within Berluti’s colorist ranks—she clearly knows how to control both color and balance. Her background in fashion and clothing comes through as well, with a strong sense for how leather can be transformed into something far more expressive than its starting point.
Berk Kirman, Finland
A very classic ‘Italian-style’ patina here, with strong contrast and nicely controlled mottling in warm, earthy tones. There’s no real focus on shine, which actually works in its favor, allowing the color work itself to stand out more clearly.
The work comes from Berk Kirman of Finland, who discovered his interest in shoes around five to six years ago. He was particularly drawn to shoe care, shining, and patina work, often picking up pairs from flea markets simply to restore and transform them. Since 2022, he’s been running a small side business focused on shoe care and patina, alongside his full-time work in children and family social services.
Toan Junie, France
A familiar name in the patina finals is Toan Junie, who took the top spot in 2022 and has been a regular finalist ever since. While another gold has eluded him so far, his level remains consistently high, and this year’s entry is no exception.
Working on a pair of wholecut loafers, he’s created the illusion of a penny loafer by introducing a contrasting fabric vamp against a dark brown leather base. It’s a creative approach, executed with control and precision.
Toan has worked as a patina artist for several of the major shoe houses in France, and today operates as a freelancer for a range of Paris-based brands.
Both events are always an exciting spectacle to witness.
Make sure to share this with your friends, bring 1 or 2 along to the event, and we all look forward to seeing you there soon!
—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob
Shop · Marketplace · J.FitzPatrick · Patreon
