York
Recently I received my first two pairs of shoes commissioned with Kit and Jeff. While I wasn't expecting anything less after my first encounter, I am stunned about what an amazing work and level of craftmanship they have delivered. This is not a bump-in-ready-in-one-week service. They take time to understand what the client wants and also to make sure those expectations are met to the fullest - precisely what the term 'bespoke' implies. From my first call at their office, which is difficult to find (that acting kind of like a client determination filter) to me actually wearing the finished product more than a year went by. A large part of that time was due to me not being able to come to HK for my second fitting any sooner, but no need to worry - while that is the half-life of so many shops, Kit and Jeff have been patient and I was too, both knowing it would pay off.
I got a pair of full-brogue dark burgundy boots from a beautiful and sturdy thick leather, and a pair of leather sneakers which were entirely designed from scratch on several pieces of paper. For the latter we used a deep blue indigo hand-dyed soft leather from Kyoto, which is a sheer awesomeness in beauty and comes at an expectable price. They treated this project with utmost respect, passion and devotion and were as excited about the outcome as I was and continue to be. For a guy with US size > 15 this is the beginning of a lifelong patronage. A true jewel indeed.
5