Posts Tagged ‘minardi’

This is just a teaser, wait for the full report soon !!!

My new oxford - goodyear welted

My new oxford - leather lining

My new oxford, emboss on the sole

My new oxford, the 5 eyelets

My new oxford, side view

My new oxford, simply gorgeus

And so its on.

As I’ve mentioned during my first visit to Mario Minardi, I  have intended to commission my first bespoke shoes at Mario Minardi. So after a week of delay get caught up in the busy office, I managed to get an appointment for measurement  yesterday.

The process was swift, after ushered to Handiman’s room, he laid down two piece of A4 size paper. He asked me to put my right food first on top of a sheet. Then he draw my foot shape with thin marker, follows every side of contour. Next, Marco pulls out a measurement tape, and he measured three things, the ball and instep circumference, and finally, the foot length. These were applied for both foot.

My foot print, notice that the right foot is slightly larger then the left ?

As it turned out to be, my right foot is slightly larger then my left foot. They explained, that most if not all people will always have different size of foot between the right and the left, this is due to different size of foot muscle. The right handed men, like me, will naturally have larger right foot, and vice versa.

And so I asked, so when you put you shoes on the store, will they actually have different size ? “Of course not,” he added, “the shoes that you find at the store will have similar size between left, or right.” But yet, oddly enough when we buy the shoes off the rack we fill that both side are just perfect fit. Thinking about it, I guess its pretty much self suggestion of convincing our self that the the shoes are good fit.

Now to be completely honest, and fair to all master shoe makers in the world, the shoes that Mario Minardi will commissioned for me, is not of bespoke breeding. Bespoke, required individual last to be made based on the customers food, this last will then be used as a template to ensure that the shoes skin and surface will perfectly draped by foot. Bespoke will also means that all process of the shoe manufacturing will be worked by hands. My shoes to be, will go slightly different way, instead of building a new last for me, Mario Minardi will try to find a last that closest to my measurement and use this last as template before making the necessary adjustment. Hence we agreed the correct term for that should be made to measure.

John Lobb Oxfords (courtesy of www.johnlobb.com)

Surely, by now you are curious on what shoes that I intend to make. In my words, its nothing fancy nor difficult, it’s a simple black capped to oxford, in calfskin. With the incoming holiday season, I might have to wait a little longer than I would have expected, but 2 weeks is nothing compared to months of time required for bespoke. Still, I can’t wait to get it done and ready.

By the way, this article will be the first of  the My First Bespoke Made to Order Shoes series. Wait for the update soon !

When I arrived from the office about an hour ago, I was physically exhausted and worn out. Normally, in a Monday like this, I will spend the rest of the night by sitting on my beloved couch watching the DVDs that I just bought last weekend, whilst being accompanied by ice cold soda and a bag of chips, and just shut my self off the world and its problem.

But no, not tonight.  Tonight I have news too important to be hold and joy too important not to be shared.

Remember in my previous post that I found that Mario Minardi is made in Indonesia, and that I found an email address that I decided to contact ? Well, they replied, a gentleman comes by the name of Handiman Ali extended his invitation to visit his workshop, which is not far from my workplace. An invitation I’m gladly accepted and happily executed today.

Entering the gate of his workshop, I was received by a young gentleman, which happens to be Handiman Ali himself (he preferred to be called Handiman). He brought me to his meeting room where further conversation ensued.

We quickly started the discussions from historical perspective, Handiman quickly guide me on brief history of his company, much of it can be found on the company website (don’t get put off by the website design, in my pinion the website has not done justice of capturing the whole soul and full potential of the brand).

What quickly captured my respect for him  was his passion for shoes and dreams for his company, and to his credit he listens too.

Being a huge fans of the brand ever since I owned my first one (now I have two, and so is my Dad, and my younger brother), I quickly expressed my concern on how the design of the shoes has been dramatically change in the last few years, some for the good some for the bad. I also raised the issue  on how I found it difficult to find a red line that connects Mario Minardi’s line up from different seasons, and the difficulties that I encounter when I’m trying to find a refresh of the Mario Minardi classic product such as the simple smart black loafer.  It also annoys me , I told him, when I realized that it’s really difficult to find simple classic man shoes such as oxford, derby, monk strap in Indonesia, and that I have to go to Singapore to get one for my dad, or spend fortune to get it at more established brand like Zegna, Boss or Salvatore Ferragamo.

I also showed him my beloved J. Holbens semi brogue brown wing tip, which I acquired some months a go from Linea Plaza Senayan.  Like an expert he is ( he’s been working in the factory since 1998) he studied the shoes with care and attention.

To that, I further highlighted that knowing Mario Minardi’s quality, experience wise, I have no slightest doubt that Mario Minardi should have no problem producing one of the classic shoes. To this comment he grinned and barged me with his idea and plan (which in my opinion, deserves an entirely new post)for the future of his company. He also managed to impress me when he listed out some of the famous shoe brands (you will never guess) that outsourced the production to his workshop.

When I enquired about the possibility of enhancing the brand by opening a showroom and offering made to order shoes, he smiled and commented that he observing that possibility and has not ruled out the idea. To this remarks I smiled in return and offering him to commission my first bespoke shoes, to which he agreed.

Mario Minardi asembly line where shoes assembled with care and attention

When I first emailed him, I expressed my interest on having a tour on his workshop and witness the artisans in actions. Unfortunately, I came at a wrong time today, and the workshop was practically empty when I get my tour. It was during this plant tour that he showed me a beautiful, an absolute gorgeous, Goodyear welted – full brogue black wingtip oxford. Looking briefly on the shape, stitches and leather texture, it could be easily compared with the like such as Ferragamo, Church’s or Loake.

An adorable brogue black wing tip

He was also kind enough to introduce me to Marco, one of the company’s lead designer who oversee the product design and development.

To summarize the whole experience and knowledge that was acquired today in this short article would be very difficult. To say that I’m happy, and feels the joy, and all sort of euphoria, of finding and knowing that my favorite shoe maker, is actually Indonesian and in very short distance from where I live, is an understatement. And to knowing and imagine the future and possibilities that lies ahead this bright and prospectus company is priceless.

Now reality hits. Admittedly I  might be a little bit biased when talking about Mario Minardi, knowing fully that I’m an unashamed fans of the brand. But hey, as my blog tag proudly announced, this is an opinionated blogazine, meaning I am entitled to have my own opinion and is not required to be fair at any given time. But make no mistake, in weeks to come,  as soon as my feet measured and until my first bespoke shoes finally delivered  and my feet slips in it, I’ll be the fairest, harshest and toughest judge ever. Mark my words.

Remember when I said “Mario Minardi is traditional Italian brand…” in my earlier post some week ago ? Well dear readers, I was dead wrong.

Just found out this morning, that Mario Minardi is actually an Indonesian brand. Build, designed and manufactured in Indonesia. Not only that this is shocking but this is also a very good news. It’s good because, previously I’m very reluctant to admit that Indonesian made shoes (that is gentlemen shoes) are of good breeding and quality.

Admittedly my experience with known local branded shoes had always been disappointing. So far, off all local brand that I tried, only Mario Minardi, that in contrary has always delivered the quality that every men shoes should have.

Now, I would love to talk more about this shoes, but true to Indonesian company’s character, too few information about this shoe can be obtained in the internet. Luckily, I found an email address of the company, I’ll try to email them, and see how this could go forward ( a local bespoke shoes already crossed my mind), wish me luck.