Role Club By Brian the Bootmaker
-
Re: earlier discussion about growing his business, I'd love it if he could find a willing apprentice so that he could pass along what he learned from his mentor and have the tradition carry through. Luthiers and custom knife makers have this ancient mentor/apprentice thing still in place and it's a shame that automation has largely killed it in cobblering bespoke footwear from scratch.
I have these custom RC oxfords coming my way soon and, as a longtime admirer of Truong's work, am very excited.
-
He told me last year that most of the people who show initial interest either don't want to put in the time and effort to go through an apprenticeship-type education or come to him with prior experience and feel like they have nothing new to learn.
-
Thanks UnTucked! They will have a Christy-style outsole, which I normally hate, but it looks good in this build with the dark color and will be very comfortable.
Yeah Manticore, that's what I was reacting to. It's a shame. But I get it, we live in an expensive, fast-paced world. It's probably harder to make a lengthy apprenticeship work, beyond whatever cultural or generational problems there may be with patience, humility, etc.
-
Boot making is hard damn work, and it doesn't really pay that well. And that's if you can maintain a customer base of people willing to pay what custom boots cost, which is getting hard to find, too.
-
It seems like a lot of places in your home state have managed to pull it off for many decades, but I suppose the cultural appeal of cowboy boots in the region is a horse of another color versus bespoke work wear boots.
-
Re: earlier discussion about growing his business, I'd love it if he could find a willing apprentice so that he could pass along what he learned from his mentor and have the tradition carry through. Luthiers and custom knife makers have this ancient mentor/apprentice thing still in place and it's a shame that automation has largely killed it in cobblering bespoke footwear from scratch.
Completely unrelated but this youtube video touches on the idea of carrying on a dying craft. I find it fascinating personally and think it fits in with the handcrafted aesthetic that we all love.
But yes, we have become an automated, throw away society which is depressing.
-
But yes, we have become an automated, throw away society which is depressing.
It is depressing that most people don't appreciate the difference between what you can buy at walmart and something that's handmade, I will say that.
HOWEVER, I also have to say that probably the only reason most of us can afford many of the artisan-made products we do is because we're buying cheap when it's something we don't care about. Something to think about.
-
In love with these RC Oxfords in roughout with a geriatric orthopaedic sole (good for my aged back). I love the tanklike construction and comfort out of the box.
It appears that Brian chamfered the edge of the flat welt. And check out the impeccable stitching of the hand welt.
-
^^^ really like the roughout on those! They remind me of teddy bear material
-
^^^ really like the roughout on those! They remind me of teddy bear material [emoji199][emoji28]
Thanks! wakka wakka wakka!
-
^^^ really like the roughout on those! They remind me of teddy bear material [emoji199][emoji28]
Thanks! wakka wakka wakka!
Great shoes …Im so jonzing for a pair of his engineers
-
After seeing an IG post of a pair of Alden Indy's Brian has re-soled recently I just sent off my pair to him for a re-sole
IG post:
Im looking for the same result…quoted time is 4-5 weeks ( less than I expected) and the cost is only $40 more than what Alden would charge for their in house re-sole.
-
^^^ really like the roughout on those! They remind me of teddy bear material [emoji199][emoji28]
Thanks! wakka wakka wakka!
Great shoes …Im so jonzing for a pair of his engineers
Thanks! I would be too but I have brown Road Champs with a Takeshi triple leather sole and black Lofgrens so I can't justify it. If he had been around earlier I would have em… Also love his Underdogs.
-
I got my Alden Indy’s back from Brian yesterday..25 days from door to door. I’m really happy with the results as well.
-
Wow, those look amazing. Great work
