Shoe Patina has taken the shoe industry by storm in recent years. And for good reason. The ability of shoe patina to transform the leather into something completely different has allowed for customization to enter a new realm. It goes without saying that shoe patina is a popular choice for shoe aficionados who have covered all of their classic bases and are continually looking for something more unique.
The idea of patina comes from the natural oxidation process of bronze. But this is not its only inspiration for what would inspire patina artists. Natural sunlight on leather also produces an aged and mottled look that creates a different style of patina. With these natural outcomes, you have the basis for the original patinas in the shoe industry.
A Brief History
While I won’t claim to know who created patina in the shoe industry, it is often credited to Olga Berluti. I remember vividly the day that I discovered Berluti shoes. I was enamored by the beauty of the shoes shown on their website. It was here that I discovered patina myself and the intricate design of the French shoemaker.
Berluti certainly popularized shoe patina in the industry and influenced an entire nation. French shoemakers henceforth utilized patina in one way or another in their footwear. To this day, France has remained the powerhouse country when it comes to patina where brands such as Corthay, Septieme Largeur, Altan Bottier, and Aubercy continue to lead the way.
See blog posts on Berluti
Dandy Shoe Care & Paulus Bolten
Fifteen years ago, when few brands were offering patina, the rise of the sole patina artist occurred. Patina at that time was a rare thing and getting it outside of Paris was even more rare. Several artists took it upon themselves to offer this specialized artistry to the masses. Among the first was Alexander Nurulaeff of Dandy Shoe Care and Paulus Bolten. You could send them your shoes and they would create magic on them and send them back to you.
Due to the popularity of those artists, the idea of patina exploded. To this day the world is now filled with patina artists, either working as independents such as the aforementioned, or for a brand in-house.
See posts on Dandy Shoe Care and Paulus Bolten
Septieme Largeur Offers Custom Patina Ordering
Septieme Largeur, created by Marcos Fernandez and now owned and run by his nephew Mathieu Preiss, was the first shoe brand that really offered patina as a customizable service to a collection of ready-made shoes. While Berluti made patina on their shoes directly and sold them as is, Septieme Largeur allowed you to buy the shoes in natural crust leather and customize your pair how you saw fit.
This patina service catapulted their success and many brands since followed suit, allowing for a Made to Order patina service on their collection of shoes.
See more posts about Septieme Largeur
Patina In The Modern Day
Shoe patina is now a regular thing. It is not only offered in one country by a few artists. It is now offered across the world, by many artists and shoe brands alike. And there is even a World Championship in Shoe Patina Contest, held each year in London where the top patina artists from around the world battle it out for the top spot.
It has created a new sector of ideas in the shoe industry and brought color into a once very conservative form of style. Patina often achieves colors that tanneries either won’t or cannot achieve through traditional tanning methods. With patina, the sky really is the limit, especially when the skill of the artist is unmatched.
If you have yet to try patina, I highly suggest doing so.
Here are some notable artists you can send your shoes to for patina:
Europe – Dandy Shoe Care, Landry Lacour, Vladimir Patine, Mr. Dapper Shoes
UK – ShoeShineUK or Sartor Polishing
US – Hancore , American Patina, Patina Works Arizona, The Elegant Oxford or MB Shoe Doc
—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob
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