Spectator Shoes

[Tomasso]

apparently those ones are made in italy.

Prada's men's shoes are made in Italy (they have a massive facility in Montegranaro) and Northampton at the Church's factory which they have expanded after taking control some years ago.

 

[LoveMyHats2]

Not too vintage, Bragano made in Italy, purchased new in 1996.

 

[herringbonekid]

Prada's men's shoes are made in Italy (they have a massive facility in Montegranaro) and Northampton at the Church's factory which they have expanded after taking control some years ago.

thanks for that info A.C. i hadn't heard about Prada's acquisition of Church's. perhaps that explains how they can put out a shoe (bottom) that looks almost identical to Church's 'Shanghai' (top) without worrying about accusations of plagiarism:

 

[Two Types]

They also had control of Joseph Cheaney, until two members of the Church family broke away and purchased Joseph Cheaney! So now Cheaney's run by the Church family, who were formerly their biggest rival. Strange world.

 

[herringbonekid]

TT, when i first saw the Shanghai shoe i was amazed that conservative old Church's would have done such a distressed shoe. knowing that Prada were probably involved makes sense now.
(not that i'm saying i don't like that shoe... i do).

 

[Tomasso]

(not that i'm saying i don't like that shoe... i do).

Yeah, Prada make lots of great looking shoes albeit a tad over-priced. Though they can be had at seasonal clearance sales at substantial discount. They look a lot better at 50% off......

 

[Isshinryu101]

apologies.

apparently those ones are made in italy. at £670 i agree with the 'rip off' assessment.

definitely no need for apologies, friend. I just have a thing about re-branded crap.

 

[Isshinryu101]

Prada's men's shoes are made in Italy (they have a massive facility in Montegranaro) and Northampton at the Church's factory which they have expanded after taking control some years ago.

can't say where this particular pair came from. I DO know that many of Prada's shoes are made in Asian factories.

 

[cookie]

A canvas/leather combination from Marks & Spencer; at £70 for a goodyear welted shoe, a real bargain.

Marks and Sparks are amazing at how much quality UK produced gear they make and sell at affordable prices.

 

[Isshinryu101]

thanks for that info A.C. i hadn't heard about Prada's acquisition of Church's. perhaps that explains how they can put out a shoe (bottom) that looks almost identical to Church's 'Shanghai' (top) without worrying about accusations of plagiarism:

There is no "plagiarism" in fashion. One brand comes up with a design, and if it is popular, every other designer makes a very similar copy.

 

[herringbonekid]

There is no "plagiarism" in fashion. One brand comes up with a design, and if it is popular, every other designer makes a very similar copy.

i disagree. there is 'drawing inspiration from' and there is blatant copying, whether it's fashion or any other design field. the point i was making about the above shoes is that they are clearly drawn from the Church's Shanghai. had i not known that Prada owned Church's i would call it copying. since i now know that Prada actually own Church's i would bet that the Shanghai was their idea to begin with.

 

[herringbonekid]

"That Northampton factory, which employs about 400 people, has been modernised. And as well applying the formula of international retail to a stolid British shoemaker, Prada have given it a fashion patina. This summer, it opened a women's shoe shop just down the road from the men's flagship on Bond Street.
Three years ago, it dug around in the Church's archive and found magnificent, 1929 two-tone brogues - with unnecessary tassels. This they whisked back to Milan, and set about recreating. Now the Italian-made Church's Shanghai shoe - which comes in at £530 - is one of its most in-demand lines."

 

[Isshinryu101]

i disagree. there is 'drawing inspiration from' and there is blatant copying, whether it's fashion or any other design field. the point i was making about the above shoes is that they are clearly drawn from the Church's Shanghai. had i not known that Prada owned Church's i would call it copying. since i now know that Prada actually own Church's i would bet that the Shanghai was their idea to begin with.

Everyone does the "blatant copying".

In your example, the buckle is different, as is the cut of the shoes (church is lower profile), the position of kiltie, style of medalion, and the distress work. This is actually less of a "blatant copy" than many other examples.

 

[Tomasso]

I DO know that many of Prada's shoes are made in Asian factories.

How DO you come by that info? Just curious......I could probably see their rubber soles sport shoes being made in Asia but not their dress shoes.

 

[Isshinryu101]

How DO you come by that info? Just curious......I could probably see their rubber soles sport shoes being made in Asia but not their dress shoes.

why would that be surprising? Prada shoe buyers are purchasing the brand name. There is no track record of quality shoemaking associated with Prada. For top quality, go elsewhere. They are at the "cutting edge" of whatever is hot fashion-wise. This costs MUCH more money than true quality (at least now).

ALSO, keep in mind the shoe-making landscape is changing. There are a LOT of pretty good Asian makers who are venturing out to try to challenge the higher end UK makers. Their prices are often much lower, while the quality of materials and construction is getting better and better.

I try to stay in contact with shoe lovers of all kinds. I personally favor handmade Italian Norvegese & Bentivegna stitched shoes (for modern), and 1930's- 1950's US shoes. To keep up with the other brands, I rely on others I know who purchase the other brands and types. I like to compare notes later in order to get a good impression of what the shoe industry is as a whole.

 

[gamez32]

Here are my Fratelli Rossetti cap toe spectators

 

[cookie]

Here are my Fratelli Rossetti cap toe spectators

I saw those... very nice and a top brand.

 

[cookie]

On their way Diown Under 1950s FootJoys saddle spectators Iguana upstairs /lizard toecaps.

 

[Isshinryu101]

welcome to the FJ exotics club!

 

[herringbonekid]

semi-trashed Weyenberg 'Olympics'...

can anyone put a date on them ?