It’s time to officially kick off the qualification phase for the World Championships of Shoe Shining 2026 and the World Championships of Shoe Patina 2026.
Both competitions are organized in collaboration with Saphir and Bridlen, with the finals taking place live at the London Super Trunk Show on Saturday, May 9th, 2026.
Each competition carries a total prize pool of £600 / approximately $800, sponsored by Saphir, along with medals, shoes, and professional-grade shoe care products.
The London Super Trunk Show 2026
The London Super Trunk Show 2026 is jointly organized by Shoegazing, The Shoe Snob, and Kirby Allison.
- Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026
- Venue: Showcase.co, 12 Regent Street, London
The event will host more than ten shoe and menswear brands, feature the World Championships of Shoemaking award ceremony (with competition shoes on display), and conclude with the live finals of both the Shoe Shining and Shoe Patina World Championships, held on stage.
Both finals and award ceremonies will be live-streamed on:
- Shoegazing’s YouTube channel
- Shoegazing.com
- Saphir Médaille d’Or’s Instagram
Post-event coverage will follow on the blogs and on Kirby Allison’s YouTube channel.
World Championships of Shoe Shining 2026
This marks the seventh edition of the World Championships of Shoe Shining, once again organized with Saphir and Bridlen.
Prizes
- Gold medal
- A full Saphir shoe care kit
- A pair of shoes from Bridlen
- £300 for first place
- £200 for second place
- £100 for third place
Past Champions
Previous winners include:
Yuya Hasegawa, Yuta Sugimura, Naoki Hayashida, John Chung, Ash Samsudin, Nishigami Yoshihiro, and reigning champion Ryu Niita.
The competition is open to both professionals and amateurs, and past winners are strongly encouraged to enter again.
Final Round Details
- Time: 3:00 PM, May 9th, 2026
- Challenge: Finalists will polish one medium brown plain cap-toe Oxford from Bridlen
- Time limit: 20 minutes
Judging prioritizes overall beauty, technique, coverage, attention to detail, and depth of shine — not just mirror gloss alone.
Products Provided
Each finalist receives:
- Saphir Médaille d’Or Pâte de Luxe
- Mirror Gloss
- Water
- One brush
- One polishing cloth
- One nylon cloth
Finalists may bring their own polishing cloth if preferred.
Qualification Requirements
To qualify, submit:
- Three photos of the same pair of well-polished shoes, showing the shine from different angles
Rules:
- One entry per contestant
- Only one pair of shoes may appear
- Shoes must be polished by the entrant
- Finalists must be able to attend the London final in person
- Minor photo adjustments are allowed; heavy editing or filters are not
Jury Panel
The preliminary jury consists of:
- Jesper Ingevaldsson (Shoegazing)
- Justin FitzPatrick (The Shoe Snob)
- Kirby Allison
- Katia Moura (Saphir)
- Affan Mohamed (Bridlen)
- Tom Beecroft (The Valet)
- Yuya Hasegawa
Each juror ranks their top five entries (5–1 points). Entries are judged anonymously. In the event of a tie, Justin FitzPatrick’s vote is decisive. Any juror deemed biased toward a qualifying entrant will have their points removed and the votes recalculated. Jury decisions are final.
How to Enter
- Email: [email protected]
- Subject: World Championships of Shoe Shining
- Deadline: Sunday, March 8th, 2026
Finalists will be announced the following week.
World Championships of Shoe Patina 2026
The World Championships of Shoe Patina is also organized in partnership with Saphir and Bridlen.
Prizes
- Gold medal
- Saphir shoe care kit
- A pair of Bridlen shoes
- £300 for first place
- £200 for second place
- £100 for third place
Final Round Details
- Time: 11:15 AM – 5:15 PM
- Break: 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Finalists will paint a pair of Bridlen crust leather Oxford shoes (exact model announced after qualification), using:
- Five colors of Saphir Teinture Française of their choice
- Selected Saphir creams and waxes
Judging focuses on technique, execution, attention to detail, and overall visual impact.
The winning shoes will go on a world tour to more than ten destinations, alongside the top three entries from the World Championships of Shoemaking.
Qualification Requirements
To qualify, submit:
- Three photos from different angles of one painted and polished pair
Rules:
- One entry per contestant
- Finalists must attend the London final in person
- Minor photo adjustments allowed; heavy editing is not
Jury Panel
The preliminary jury consists of:
- Tom Beecroft (The Valet)
- Bismark Blak-Walter (Sartor Polishing)
- Jesper Ingevaldsson (Shoegazing)
- Justin FitzPatrick (The Shoe Snob)
- Katia Moura (Saphir)
- Affan Mohamed (Bridlen)
Each juror ranks their top five entries (1–5 points). Entries are judged anonymously. In case of a tie, Justin FitzPatrick’s vote is decisive. Jury decisions are final.
How to Enter
- Email: [email protected]
- Subject: World Championships of Shoe Patina
- Deadline: Sunday, March 8th, 2026
Finalists will be announced the following week.
We look foward to seeing you there!
—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob
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