Shooey, HK on special is around $1,000 or less airfare return. I see Europe etc at around $1700 just now. It has been down to $1500 sometimes.

Shooey

Come to Hong Kong,  you can see my Stingray's in the flesh.  Me and Luk will make sure you have a good time. Tony and Dean will be here on 18th and 19th Feb, we usually have a great night out.

Usual price i think is 2,350 GBP for calf with trees. You really need to see Tony or Dean again for a fitting but you could ask them to post you the fitting shoes and you post em back and let them know what needs adjusting,  not the best way to do it better than no fitting at all.   As long as your feet have had time to settle after the flight  before you get measured you may be ok to just skip the fitting

Last edited by crispy crackers (2011-12-08 06:21:05)

Does this mean you will come to HK in Feb then ?

if you need help finding a reasonable hotel, let  Luk-Cha know, he has connections

Shooey another way to get MTO stingray... http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/b9a72b7c-19e6-11e1-b9d7-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1gDaWCQhA

http://www.tandfslackshoemakers.com/index.html

Last edited by meister (2011-12-11 02:55:09)

Last edited by The_Shooman (2011-12-11 20:15:25)

l think l might jump in the deep end first and get the alligator shoo to start with...get it over and done with before l come to my senses. l take it that it will set me back about 5,000 pound? Still...better than John Lobb prices, way better.

l'd really want to wear my bespokes as often as possible and wear my MTO's and rtw's the least amount of time possible. Feet change over time, so we might as well wear them while we can still fit into them, +  we never know when our time is up so i'd rather wear my bespokes out and get maximum benefit out of them than wear them sparingly. Keeping bespoke for special occasions seems silly and a waste, best to wear them until they fall apart.

l think a brown monk, a black captoe oxford, an alligator wholecut and another wholecut are the essentials for me. Five pairs for week days would be a good target to aim for, but seven pair all up would be ideal (l like to buy things in 7's...something for each day of the week).

Now that l have made up my mind, l think it's time l speak with Tony and Dean and get some details. 

Another sleepless night. lt's gettin' tough now, this shoo is gonna take a hell of alot outa me physically and emotionally...i'll be a wreck by the end of it. lt's too late to turn back, i've already invested far too much emotionally to turn back now...this is going to completely smash me up and pound me into the ground, i'll be barely breathing by the end of it and i'm sure it will take a few years off my life. l feel like l need a big ole bone to chew on like a dog lol.

Last edited by The_Shooman (2011-12-12 07:05:46)

Don't F@ck around... the Alligator should be brown.  Top quality Alligator skins have "depth" in the tiles, and the only color I've ever seen that really showcases the different "layers/ levels" of the tiles is brown.  NOT chocolate, but a lighter brown.  You saw what the light did for that pair I had for sale...

Shooey

Gator leather is better quality than Croc and usually more espensive I believe.   Dont get any gloss stuff, only matt.

Last edited by The_Shooman (2011-12-12 20:06:57)

From the above link:

Alligator, Crocodile, or Something Else?  To clear up the confusion, we must first muddy the water with a little background on the biological classification of the "crocodilians". This is a collective term which includes many extinct species as well as about two dozen living species.  Species are grouped into a biological category know as a "genus" based on morphological similarities and presumed common ancestry (as listed below).  The most valuable of the exotic leathers are made from the skins of American Alligators (in the genus Alligator) and various species of true Crocodiles (genus Crocodylus).  Of significantly less value but in widespread use, caiman skins - made from various species of the genus Caiman - are often mistakenly referred to as "crocodile" or sometimes even "caiman alligator".  Skins from the remainder of the groupings listed below have little or no commercial value in the leather industry.  An extensive review on the classification, scientific nomenclature, and geographic distribution of alligators, crocodiles and their kin, can be found in Chapters 1 and 2 in Wildlife Management: Crocodiles and Alligators edited by Webb, Manolis, and Whitehead referenced below and crocodilian.com

· Alligator - 2 species
· Crocodylus - 12 species
· Osteolaemus - 1 species
· Caiman - 3 species
· Melanosuchus - 1 species
· Paleosuchus - 2 species
· Gavialis - 1 species
· Tomistoma - 1 species

Why are skins of some species more worth more than others?  Some crocodilian species, while abundant in numbers, have diminished commercial value insofar as the leather industry is concerned, because too much of the skin covering their bellies and tail areas is imbedded with bony inclusions.  These inclusions, known as "osteoderms", impede the production of premium leather and leathergoods. This is true of several crocodile species, and osteoderms are especially prominent in leathers made from skins from the various species of caiman. Consequently, these skins are significantly less valuable than that of alligator and the premium crocodile skins. Nevertheless, products made from caiman sometimes find their way into the marketplace misleadingly and inaccurately labeled as "crocodiles", "caiman crocodiles" or even "caiman alligators". Making the situation even more complicated is the fact that the "flank" of the skin from caiman, referred to as "tinga", can be free of these bony inclusions and can be made into quality leather and leathergoods. The resulting piece of leather is, however, relatively small and of limited use.  In any case, it should not be referred to as "crocodile" or "alligator".

Last edited by meister (2011-12-13 15:14:47)