Footwear to go with our jackets

[Ayeteael]

Bison boots from Renav just landed. Build quality is excellent for $400. These are dope. Can’t wait to break them in.

 

[dannyk]

Bison boots from Renav just landed. Build quality is excellent for $400. These are dope. Can’t wait to break them in.
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How would I go about checking out a pair of these?

 

[Ayeteael]

How would I go about checking out a pair of these?

That's the rub with the Indonesian makers. It requires a ton of faith. For Renav, you contact them via DM on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/renavgoodsco/
You select the boot/shoes you want. They ask you to trace your foot and provide measurements. You pay 1/2 via Paypal. You anxiously wait 5-6 weeks second guessing your decisions and praying you measured correctly. You receive a DHL shipping notification. And when you open your box that glorious day your order finally arrives, all your worries evaporate as you behold a work of art. Or something like that.

 

[Ayeteael]

Stichdown Shoecast did an excellent primer on Indonesian makers ("Indonesian Bootmakers Bonanza"):
https://www.stitchdown.com/stitchdown-shoecast/all-podcast-episodes/

 

[Jin431]

Bison boots from Renav just landed. Build quality is excellent for $400. These are dope. Can’t wait to break them in.
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They are texture monsters. If you want grainy, say no more. What a beast this is

 

[AeroFan_07]

Here's a Pair of Role Clubs for sale if you wear a size 8 - no waiting: https://www.grailed.com/listings/18...k-horsehide-leather-engineer-boots-size-8-usa

 

[Edward]

Bison boots from Renav just landed. Build quality is excellent for $400. These are dope. Can’t wait to break them in.
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Those look superb. I do love the look of a grained leather on a simple design. When I was a kid, grained leather and/or brogue patterning were both things parents looked out for as it made the inevitable scuffs kids would put on leather shoes less obvious!

That's the rub with the Indonesian makers. It requires a ton of faith. For Renav, you contact them via DM on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/renavgoodsco/
You select the boot/shoes you want. They ask you to trace your foot and provide measurements. You pay 1/2 via Paypal. You anxiously wait 5-6 weeks second guessing your decisions and praying you measured correctly. You receive a DHL shipping notification. And when you open your box that glorious day your order finally arrives, all your worries evaporate as you behold a work of art. Or something like that.

With the apparent quality coming out of some of these places now, somebody who could interface with a Western market such as us could be a big advantage for them. I'd certainly consider paying a little more on top of the price - say USD300 instead of USD250? If it meant a level of certainty as to sizing and communications.

Thinking about it more broadly, there's surely an opportunity for the Western market for someone to hunt out and bring to us at a fair rate a lot of the stuff being produced out there now? We all love to buy "first world" when we can, but as that rises and the disposable income most of us has does not rise in line with it....

If the guy in Beijing that made my shoes back in 2009 spoke a bit of English or had a partner who could do that and some basic web stuff, he could have quite the thriving business. Beautiful work.

 

[Blackadder]

I was able to try a pair of Sagara monkey boots at the Inazuma Festival Yokohama last year. I have been very interested in their monkey boots since I saw them on the internet. Did not know they were going to Inazuma so was pleasantly surprised. They had a booth and a few RTW for sale. Solid construction good price but cannot bring myself to buying them after seeing all those Japanese and US boots at the event.
To clarify a bit, everything there was on sale RM at 50% off Attractions 40% off and there were Rolling Dub Trio and Wheelrobe etc doing fire sale so Sagara's price wasn't that attractive anymore.

 

[Blackadder]

I can totally see how this would speed up airport screenings...and for taller boots, they make sense. For mocs, maybe not quite as much, here in SoCal they would look a bit out of place. Especially with the cuffs and loud socks- overkill.

The Japanese airports do require everyone wearing boots to take them off at the screening, no exception.

 

[Goel]

I considered ID makers but for some reason a lot of their lasts don't look quite right to me after some close inspection. Flame Panda has some of the nicest looking lasts so I went with him. Speaking of which that zipper contraption looks pretty neat, I'm doing a 7 inch service boot but perhaps I could go all the way up to 8?

 

[Ayeteael]

I considered ID makers but for some reason a lot of their lasts don't look quite right to me after some close inspection. Flame Panda has some of the nicest looking lasts so I went with him. Speaking of which that zipper contraption looks pretty neat, I'm doing a 7 inch service boot but perhaps I could go all the way up to 8?

Nice. I've got a couple irons in the flame panda fire...

 

[Jin431]

Nice. I've got a couple irons in the flame panda fire...

He does make good looking pairs. I've been eyeing his lace to toe boot for a while now. Which boot/leather did you go with?

 

[Ayeteael]

He does make good looking pairs. I've been eyeing his lace to toe boot for a while now. Which boot/leather did you go with?

Black cloe horsebutt engineers. Burgundy horsebutt monkey/lace to toe boots. I’ve gone a little crazy these last 3 months ordering boots.

 

[Jin431]

Wow, I'm sure those will be killer! How long is the production time now? Does he take a down payment or full payment right away? I. Thinking I should get in on the flamepanda train

 

[Ayeteael]

FP requires payment up front. He sends an invoice via paypal. When i placed my 2nd order last month, production time had increased to approx. 150 days. it was 130 days when i ordered my first pair in early September. His popularity continues to grow. Eventually, his wait time may mirror Brian's (2 years).

 

[Jin431]

^^ got it, thank you. that would not be surprising at all considering how highly thought of he is and his presence at social media

 

[dannyk]

Came across these on Grailed. I’m unsure how I feel about them, but none the less thought they were really, really interesting. A combination monkey boot-skate sneaker from The Flat Head Just never saw them. According to the seller it’s Cordovan with deerskin leather and sheep liner.

 

[Goel]

Maybe it's just me but I always thought some of the minimalist sneakers like Common projects or whatever looked like monkey boots trimmed down to a shoe and put on a sneaker sole. Perhaps monkey shoes on a soft sole would be a good alternative to sneakers for those that don't like the disposable nature of them. I think Tricker's did some years ago, they looked pretty nice. Their boot version is probably my favorite monkey boot too.

 

[Blackadder]

Maybe it's just me but I always thought some of the minimalist sneakers like Common projects or whatever looked like monkey boots trimmed down to a shoe and put on a sneaker sole. Perhaps monkey shoes on a soft sole would be a good alternative to sneakers for those that don't like the disposable nature of them. I think Tricker's did some years ago, they looked pretty nice. Their boot version is probably my favorite monkey boot too.

Actually, that is what old sneakers and trainers look like. Take look at Clinch Mast Trainer and these.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/619193561/vintage-1930s-spot-bilt-leather

 

[Jin431]

Actually, that is what old sneakers and trainers look like. Take look at Clinch Mast Trainer and these.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/619193561/vintage-1930s-spot-bilt-leather

Those are sleek looking. Do they make it in full leather or just the canvass?