Total Pageviews

Thursday, November 27, 2014

THE ART OF BESPOKE PIECES (I)

Brilliant sparkle, beauty and colour made possible by crystals on custom made shoes and bags; beautiful cut, great design, perfect material just the way you have imagined they would be.
The opportunity to own an entirely handmade pair of shoes made for your feet, arm candy (bag) made just for you: with your choice of design, shape, colour, material and more is the beauty of bespoke pieces.





As with bespoke suiting, it signifies a unique item created specifically for the wearer, fitting perfectly and speaking to his/her personal style. Unlike factory-made shoes or made-to-measure where you simply get to put your personal touch on an existing model, bespoke shoes are custom made shoes that are unique to their owner and craftsmen; and this is what the brand Ronke Adeshina is all about.



Bespoke isn’t about adding your personal touch to an existing model; what we call customisation. True bespoke pieces begins with your feet being traced and measured to get the perfect fit. Client work with the shoemaker to select the style he/she desires (from lace-up to loafer; oxford to brogue(men); from wedge to platforms, stilettos to flats (women); the choice is endless), choose the materials you want (calf, suede, leather, patent leather, alligator and many more) and decide on your sole, brouging, monk straps, heel height (their width, style and number) and innumerable other choices.






Client is met to take measurements and imprints of the feet, draft a design and select materials. The last is built. The last determines the shoe’s fit, and a custom-cut last ensures a custom-fitting shoe. The last also gives the shoe its shape. Then the construction process begins. To make a pair of shoes by hand is an arduous process that requires over sixty hours of meticulous labour. The pattern must be drafted and perfected. The uppers must be cut and fashioned to the lasts. The infrastructure must be constructed, and the welts must be hand-sewn to the insole. It’s important that final fitting is done. This allows the shoemaker to make whatever adjustments that are necessary to achieve a flawless fit. When every detail is perfected, it is delivered to the customer.



Cost of making a bespoke foot wear and bag is quite different from factory made ones. Bespoke pieces cost more because of the personal touches been given to them. These pieces especially shoes should be ordered at most eight weeks before it is needed. Enough time is needed for construction and fittings.   

The woman/man we at Ronke Adeshina cater to is the protagonist in the story of his/her own life. The chance to own an entirely handmade pair of shoes made for your feet, with your choice of design, shape, colour and material is the exquisite concept behind this hand-crafted product. After all other clothing items has been put together, shoes and bags are the true hallmark of a man/woman’s class and elegance. 



Monday, August 18, 2014

SHOE KNOW HOW: 5 SIGNS YOUR SHOES NEED REPLACING

These shoes need replacing….
Do you need excuses to buy new shoes? I wouldn’t dream of encouraging that kind of reckless behavior (but sometimes it is good to indulge *wink*).
If you are unsure as to whether your shoes are on their last legs, check through this list.
Signs that your shoes need replacing
*The uppers have holes. If your shoes are letting in water, it’s definitely time to let them go. Even the highest  quality shoes have a shelf life, and however much you love them, shoes that have sprung a leak are never going to last for long. Best get rid before you catch something.
*They are damaging your feet. Perhaps the arch support has ‘gone’ or part of the straps have worn through, making them feel rough against the skin. Maybe they never fitted you particularly well in the first place-but in either case the odds are they won’t suddenly fit the way you want them to, so best to cut your losses and chuck them out.
*You can no longer read the brand label. Perhaps only one for shoe purists, some will keep a pair of shoes only as long as the brand name can still be clearly read on the inner sole of the shoe. In many cases this is a good guide to the point at which a shoe becomes ‘worn out’ but it can depend on the make -  and on whether or not you wear them with socks.
*The leather/uppers are scuffed. A bit of minor scratching and crumpling is inevitable unless you only wear shoes indoors, but once you can no longer disguise the wear and tear with a bit of polish, the shoes will be looking ‘scruffy’. If that’s not a look you want to cultivate, ditch them.
*You don’t remember buying them. Try to remember what inspired you to buy these shoes, where you got them, what you wanted them for at the time and as many other details as you can. If you’re drawing a total blank (or simply thinking ‘why the HELL did I ever think they did look good?) then you probably have a case for ditching those shoes.
Can my shoes be repaired?
Don’t rush to throw out your shoes if there’s still a bit of life in them: a much loved shoe or boot can be often re-heeled for years of extra wear, and in many cases this will be much cheaper than replacing them with a similar pair. Your shoe can probably still be salvaged if the following applies:
*There is no structural damage to the uppers (leather);
*Damage to the heel has not extended to the sole;
*The damage is to embellishments, not the main body of the shoe.