An artisanal shoe, produced by hand, is very different from an industrially made product. Consequently the shop that sells a high-level Made in Italy shoe cannot really be compared to many other shoe retailers.

The consumers are well aware of this.

Which are the expectations of a customer who enters your store?

What shoes does he expect to find? With what characteristics?

The consumers are very well informed, having access to the web, in order to deeply study the retailer they can rely on, the product they intend to buy, the composition materials and all the details that make it unique.

Therefore, before choosing a supplier to collaborate with, you need to study it thoroughly and understand if its products corresponds to the expectations of your customers.

The shoes and brands you choose to resell deeply distinguish your store, so when choosing products, you should be very careful. At this stage you are to keep in mind which items your customers are looking for and which peculiarities of handcrafted footwear really make the difference.

Let’s have a look at the aspects of handcrafted shoes, according to the ancient techniques, are mostly appreciated by the market.

The selection of materials

Per la produzione delle proprie calzature una realtà artigianale presta la massima cura nella ricerca di materiali e tessuti, utilizzando solo prodotti di alta qualità.

The artisan shoe factory pays the utmost care for the production of its footwear, for the research of materials and fabrics, using only high quality products.

The raw material is the starting point, as far as it should be processed in the best way, it must be excellent; the origin of the materials is equally important too. The leathers should be produced by masters who have a thorough knowledge of this ancient art.

The local leather is the best option making the shoe production process more sustainable.

We shouldn’t neglect the materials used for the production of the sole of the shoes: the usage of leather, instead of rubber sole, will facilitate the walking process making it more natural.

Compared to shoes produced industrially on a large scale, handcrafted footwear may have some small imperfections that distinguish the essence of the material. The imperfections that make shoes unique and special are certainly appreciated (like the grain of the wood) but they should be limited in number, size and visibility.

The same issue concerns the coloring: handcrafted shoes are colored by hand according to long processes made up of many steps, therefore it is possible that the coloring is not completely homogeneous and can present some small inequalities. In this case the inhomogeneities should be almost imperceptible and justified by the fact that the shoe has been colored by hand.

The stitching

The quality of the seams is a fundamental aspect for the success of a shoe and must be perfect.

The construction of to the bottom, in fact, distinguishes the handcrafted shoes from those of industrial production which are simply glued. The stitchings make the shoe robust, resistant to rain and durable in time.

The most famous stitchings are Blake Rapid and Goodyear. The stitchings should be straight, with no overlapping, at a glance they should be neat, linear and visibly solid, as the seams bear continuous pressure and twisting throughout their life.

The symmetry

When it comes to the craftsmanship, the human factor should be taken into account. The shoe is produced by an expert craftsman who works the materials for several days before obtaining the finished product.

Taking this detail into account, the two pairs of shoes should be symmetrical.

The finishing of the shoes

The finished product of an excellent quality is seen by the smallest details which should be cured in the best possible way.

The operations of the finishing, brushing and polishing of the bottom of a shoe, the attachment of the heel are aspects that make the difference and distinguish the product.

The careful cleaning of the upper perfectly reflects the masterfulness of craftsmanship, bringing the shoe to another level.

The weight

The selection of the materials, and subsequently of other elements added during different manufacturing steps, is aimed to give strength to the shoe without making it too heavy.

Furthermore, the shoe should be resistant yet not too rigid. In this regard, expert consumers are well aware that an artisan shoe may initially create discomfort but once the shoe is adapted to the wearer’s feet, it becomes more and more comfortable.

Fratelli Borgioli shoes are the result of a family tradition that began more than seventy years ago in an artisan workshop in the heart of the Florentine countryside, in La Stella di Vinci.

Each Fratelli Borgioli shoe is a real artisan masterpiece, flawless and comfortable. The tradition of Tuscan craftsmanship and technological innovation merge together to give life to a shoe that will accompany the wearer for the whole life.

The style and formal perfection of Fratelli Borgioli products keep the passion for Italian taste alive in the world, thanks to a network of selected retailers who believe in beauty and quality.

To sell Fratelli Borgioli means being sure to offer your customers a product that has all the features we mentioned above and that expresses the high quality of Tuscan craftsmanship.

Should you be interested to become our reseller, please CONTACT US.