Proper leather shoes

factory in Ireland

Ah now, you’re challenging my memory. Maybe mine weren’t Japanese.
Or was it Japanese denim sewn in Ireland?

Those 90s ones were labelled made in Ireland but not sure if that just meant cut and sewn in Ireland... I know production moved to Malta and quality really suffered, lighter, cheaper denim, nowhere near as good... I've still got a pair, can't fit in them but they serve a purpose as inspiration pants! Still got my 101J and Westerner jacket from that era as well...

I wore the Robots as school shoes as well, they were ace... My old mate Sam (@sceneinbetween on IG) remade a couple of models a few years back, went up to George Cox in Northampton and got them tooled up for production again... He didn't do many pairs, shame...

Yes def. 81-83 but the ‘shop’ from memory was east of Brick Lane with the ground large parts not covered with a floor. And half price or better, had forgotten about that.

Playboys!!!

We called them Etons, I have no idea why!

I think I went to Andy's only once BITD, years later he became my barber... The kids are running the shop now, last time I was in there on my holidays I bumped into @skully!

Friend of mine had a similar gig pre internet. Bought up deadstock trainers in the UK and sold them for £££ in Japan.

Clever lad... My dream in the late 90s/early 00s was to pack up and move to the US... One of my schemes was to drive through Mexico and empty every mom and pop sports store of their deadstock Nike and whatever else they had... Sigh...

Bit the bullet and bought the RMs, not the model I'd planned on getting either... Plumped for the Comfort Craftsman and extremely comfortable they are too... I've gone full Aussie now, start a new job on Tuesday so these are my little congrats gift to myself... $150 off retail!

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Listed two pairs of common projects last week. Not great condition but far from worn out. Completely forgot about the listings ending tonight and I just got two emails telling me they sold for 10 and 20p. Fuck me.

They look great!

I've got these exact boots. Had them for a few years now and they are brilliant - durable and super comfortable. Very good in the rain too......

I feel your pain, have been dinged by lack of interest on ebay too.

The shoemaker who does teardowns of leather shoes/boots on Youtube was pretty scathing about the quality of CP stuff vs the price.

Yeah I agree. I picked mine up cheap 2nd hand so haven't lost more than £70 in total. Had a look at a few teardowns as well and agree, doesn't feel that well made tbh. Zero comfort as well.

RMs had to go back, the tiny imperfection turned into a big imperfection! Nightmare to deal with them, they made me go back to the original store I bought them from (100kms away) when they have another outlet less than 20kms away... And when I got there this morning they wanted to give me a gift certificate, no refund!! Manager told me she wasn't authorised to hand out refunds, I told her I wasn't leaving without my money! She made me wait around 45mins before caving... The boots felt super weird on the second day anyway, not comfortable... I could feel the construction of the welt all around the edge of the insole, it felt like I had something stuck to the sole off my boot, very odd...

Anyway, I'd avoid R.M.Williams if I were you! Top pic is right after it happened, second pic is after a polish...

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Holy Crap!

I know!! I wanna get these Loake Chelsea boots instead, online only so will need to try another G last shoe to get my size right...

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What happened there?

The leather delaminated in the area around the imperfection... It's all good tho', I got my money back!

It’s too bad the company jerked you around initially when the flaw was so obvious, glad you’re able to move on none the poorer.

That must be tosh leather. Tricker’s Stephen might be an option. Cheaney are also underrated.

I would probably go for the Lambourn from their range but they're totally unavailable where I am, this is a bit of a backwater... The Stephen is a bit too contemporary for an old fella like me... 👴

I love the look of those Loakes and I can pop into the city and try a shoe made on the same last so can order a pair straight away...

@withered_preacher Apart from the petrol and toll fees (and my Saturday morning!), that cost me another $40... 😡 All they had to do was meet me halfway and I would've bought a full price pair yesterday, but no! Dickheads...

Can anyone give me some sizing help? They only had F fit Loakes at the store today...

I'm a UK10 in Redwings, UK10.5 in Bass Weejuns, UK10 or UK10.5 in Nike sneakers and an RM Williams in a 10.5 G was comfortable as...

What size should I be in a G width Loake? My guess is a UK10 but I'm almost always wrong in these scenarios...

I’d guess 10.5

I know you had trouble with rm williams but they’re the best chelsea to my eyes. I am considering these in kangaroo leather. taxes into EU will kill me though

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RM-Williams-Comfort-Kangaroo-Craftsman-Boot-RRP-644-99-FREE-WORLDWIDE-EXPRESS-/144010170324?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286