Article: BESPOKE ORDER EVENT Strasburgo Tokyo Midtown Store/Ginza Store
BESPOKE ORDER EVENT Strasburgo Tokyo Midtown Store/Ginza Store
From March 27th (Friday) to 29th (Sunday), 2026, we held a bespoke shoe order event at Strasburgo Tokyo Midtown and Ginza stores. Our bespoke order events at Strasburgo began in 2014, and since then, we have delivered a great number of shoes.
A distinctive feature of Strasburgo stores is that many staff members possess extensive knowledge and experience in apparel, enabling them to offer proposals tailored to each customer's style. We, as bespoke shoemakers, collaborate with the store staff and customers to share a common vision.
This time, we delivered shoes tailored for several customers. Each pair turned out with its own distinct character. This outcome is a result of repeated discussions with customers regarding their requests, as well as the store staff's understanding and proposals for styling.
Furthermore, multiple fittings were conducted during production, and meticulous adjustments were made. Through this cumulative process, each pair of shoes achieved a comfortable fit that satisfied the customers.
Crocodile Side Elastic Wholecut
The first pair is a side-elastic wholecut shoe made from crocodile leather. Navy crocodile leather was used for the material, and it was finished to a darker, more subdued shade than its original color, adjusting it to a deeper hue. As the upper is constructed from a single piece of leather, the stitching is limited to the heel seam and the elastic parts. With no seams from the toe to the instep, the expression of the scales stands out beautifully.
The laceless design makes them easy to put on and take off. The customer preferred a stress-free fit, so the shoes were adjusted to achieve a comfortable fit without excessive wrinkling when standing. The last shape features a modern almond toe with a distinct side rise.
Crocodile leather is generally perceived as stiff, but in reality, it is softer than many box calves, and the grooves in the scales provide elasticity, allowing it to naturally expand and contract with the movement of the foot. Furthermore, crocodile leather typically has a thickness of about 1.2 to 1.4 mm, giving the material itself a certain degree of shape retention. While lizard leather, another reptile skin, is thin at about 0.7 to 0.8 mm and requires a lining structure that restricts its stretch direction, crocodile leather's inherent structure allows it to conform flexibly to the foot.
Regarding the maintenance of crocodile leather, after checking with the tannery, our atelier uses both general emulsion shoe cream and specialized reptile cream. These can also be used for home care. For areas with internal stiffeners, such as the toe and heel, a wax finish is possible, allowing for adjustment of the shine. However, applying wax to flex points can cause cracks, so cream-based care is fundamental, and care must be taken with the finishing method.
The sole construction is our atelier's standard specification: hand-sewn welted, straight heel, and a beveled waist only on the inside. Although this customer has ordered multiple pairs before, delivering crocodile leather still brings a sense of tension. We channel that tension into our motivation for production.
Kudu 5-Eyelet Derby
The second pair is a 5-eyelet Derby shoe. The last features a slightly softer semi-square toe shape, making it a versatile pair suitable for various outfits. The material used is dark brown kudu, resulting in a finish that blends naturally with jacket styles and more casual attire.
As kudu is a wild-sourced leather, its grain often exhibits natural fine scratches and marks. However, these natural features contribute to the charm of the material. The randomly etched marks create a rustic texture not found in other leathers. Furthermore, while typical calf leather is around 1.4-1.6mm thick, kudu has a thickness of approximately 2.4-2.5mm, providing both softness and shape retention. The volume characteristic of thick materials helps smaller feet achieve a balanced look for the overall shoe and adds presence to the outfit. Additionally, its excellent heat retention ensures comfort even in winter.
We made repeated adjustments to the fitting, resulting in a comfortable wearing experience that met their satisfaction.
Utah Calf Unlined Penny Loafer
The third pair is an unlined penny loafer. By utilizing the expression of hand-stitched moccasin construction, we created a pair that feels soft and light. Designing the moccasin line slightly outward resulted in a style that perfectly complements casual denim, as shown in the photo. The last shape was designed as a rounded loafer last with a distinct side rise.
The upper material used is Utah calf from Tanneries Haas, a French tannery. This material is based on their oiled calf leather, embossed, and features a double tanning process with chrome and vegetable tannins, combining suppleness with appropriate firmness. The three-dimensional texture created by the embossing results in a texture that balances elegance and casualness.
The unlined construction provides a soft and light feel against the foot, while stiffeners in the toe and heel maintain the shape. This structure offers a light wearing experience while retaining the appearance of a typical loafer. This pair was delivered at the Tokyo Midtown store. The customer is a repeat client who has been a long-time patron, and we have delivered several loafers to them previously. Based on their past wearing experience and preferences, this pair was tailored. The sole construction for these shoes is also our atelier's standard specification: hand-sewn welted, straight heel, and a beveled waist only on the inside.
Old England Calf V-Front Derby
The fourth pair is a 3-eyelet V-front Derby. The last shape features a modern chisel toe, with a medallion on the toe, and the toe and heel are darkened to create a classic shoe with nuanced shading.
The material used is navy calf from Conceria Zonta, an Italian tannery. This leather, called "Old England," was sourced by our workshop approximately 13 years ago and is characterized by its aniline finish, which highlights the grain's luster and expression. The surface's brilliance, in particular, surpasses that of Annonay's Vocalou, with the entire shoe shining even before waxing. Please note that the dead stock from 13 years ago in our workshop is now completely depleted with this delivery.
The sole construction is hand-sewn welted, with a beveled waist providing a lustrous appearance, while the pitched heel is intentionally not made too steep. Regarding heel shapes, while an aggressive style characteristic of bespoke shoes is often favored, by making it less aggressive, the design becomes versatile enough for use outside of formal occasions. The forefoot sole features a half rubber sole and vintage steel, enhancing grip and durability. The customer is a repeat client, and we have continuously made shoes for them; they were once again satisfied with the fitting.
Utah Calf Side Elastic (Imitation Design)
Finally, a pair of side-elastic shoes with an imitation design. The wingtip and counter overlays are expressed only with stitching, not actual cut lines, which results in a beautifully shaped toe. The upper material is Utah calf, the last shape is a modern chisel toe, and the toe features a medallion.
Side elastic shoes are typically made from box calf, but we believe that using grain leather like Utah calf or suede materials allows them to be worn in casual settings. These shoes also feature hand-sewn welted construction, a beveled waist, and a pitched heel. A half rubber sole and vintage steel were also applied to the forefoot sole.
The moment of delivering a completed pair of shoes for the first time is always nerve-wracking, no matter how many times we experience it. Even after multiple fittings and meticulous checks of fit and design, there's a unique tension when the customer actually tries them on. This time too, when each customer put on their shoes, they were able to feel the excellent fit. The sense of accomplishment at that moment makes us feel that all the accumulated processes have taken shape, and it also motivates us to create even more precise pairs.
Basting Process (Transparent Resin)
During the order event, we conducted trial shoe fittings for several customers. Here is an example of a fitting using transparent resin trial shoes.
With transparent resin trial shoes, we visually check how the foot and shoe interact and where pressure is applied, making fine adjustments. Next, we will proceed to leather trial shoes for adjustments that more closely resemble the actual wearing experience.
Foot measurements were also taken at the bespoke order event.
Upcoming Bespoke Shoe Order Events
Through this event, we were able to carefully craft each pair of shoes, addressing different customer requests.
We plan to hold future order events at Strasburgo Nagoya (Sunday, April 5th) and Osaka (Saturday, April 18th). For more details, please check the news section on our website if you are interested.
Written by
Yuki Shirahama Bottier
Yuki Shirahama
Asami Murayoshi