Neapolitan Proverbs
0November 18, 2013 by Ville Raivio
‘E’ mane ’n cuollo m’e ponno mettere sulamente mugliereme e o’ sarto.’
I allow only my wife and my tailor to touch me.
~ old Neapolitan proverb
Category Naples, Quotations
Alan Bennett
0November 14, 2013 by Ville Raivio
‘A bookshelf is as particular to its owner as are his or her clothes; a personality is stamped on a library just as a shoe is shaped by the foot.’
~ Alan Bennett
Category Quotations
Edmund Hillary’s Walking Boots
0November 13, 2013 by Ville Raivio
In 1952, shoemaker Robert Laurie completed walking boots for Edmund Hillary‘s brisk walk around Mount Everest. The odd boot below was first part of a pair but was lost when the parcel broke. A replacement was made and shipped to Nepal, and this boot was later found and shipped back in mint condition to Blighty, where it now spends a comfy retirement among James Taylor&Son’s collections.
The boot’s features are reassuring and a testament to English shoemaking:
- wholecut model for water-proofing and avoiding seams prone to crack under heavy stress
- two mid soles for insulation
- uppers turned out over the mid sole for waterproofing
- double-stitched welt for longevity
- bellows tongue for keeping snow out
- inflexible soles for staying power on edges
- hob nails on soles for traction and recessed toe plates for resistance
- ski hooks for easy lacing and pull tab for convenience
- Budapester toe for proper toe space and burly good looks
Head over to BBC for the full story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3007675.stm
Photo: James Taylor&Son
Category Cordwainers, Footwear, Vintage
Simon Crompton’s Joy of Tailoring
0November 13, 2013 by Ville Raivio
Category Arbiter Elegantiae, Videos
Copyright © 2013 Ville Raivio
