CNES got back to me with their pricing, starting from ~RM800.

So I went back to my cobbler to see if I could convince him to do a "proper" resole. We had a minor argument on whether or not the stitches on the welt are real, and insists that they are usually fake. Well yes, mass produced shoes usually have fake welt stitching, these are Loakes though...

I left the shoes with him with him unconvinced they were real and an understanding that he would do what he did last time - the cemented Blake Rapid hybrid.

Picked them up after 2 weeks and was pleasantly surprised that he had actually stitched through the welt and not the insole (as a Blake would have been)





Rather thick side profile. He still insisted on cementing another outsole on. Probably to hide what was likely some ugly but functional sole stitching. So a rather Berliner aesthetic.



Total cost was RM150 for a leather half sole, heel rubber replacement, and my usual rubber toe tip. A steal! And the pakcik still felt he was overcharging me, as much as I tried to convince him otherwise. I even told him how much CNES quoted me.

This post has been edited by niakulah: May 19 2025, 10:40 AM

Gents. I have a pair of Loakes that have seen its fair share of wear and tear including heavy discolouration (brown tan) and scratch marks. Was wondering if anyone have cobblers to recommend in and around KL/Selangor area that can do the job justice ? Used to frequent SG Wang and IPC even before that so on the same quality if possible

Awesome vid. Not the focus of the video, but I like that it reinforces something I also believe. That Goodyear Welted shoes were the beginning of the downfall of quality footwear. Once we started dumbing down from the gold standard of Handwelted, things started going downhill.

OTOH I understand that Handwelted is not scalable. If only more people would adopt AM's Argentum Welted construction technique.

https://www.styleforum.net/threads/antonio-...41#post-8521426

The loafer with a hallmark translucent sole is the must-have footwear for modern gentlemen in 2025. Favored by prominent personalities and the modern gentlemen, this refined yet versatile shoe blends sophistication with effortless comfort.



To read: Gentleman's Code Magazine

Dear sifus, can y'all help me find the makers for these derbys.





They were worn in ep 1 of Mr & mrs Smith 2024. I really like the look of wide forefoot, low toe spring, simple long vamp with jeans or slacks. Nothing too bulbous or pointy, just slim waist and flat profile. If exact pair can't be found, any recommendations for brands that does it that isn't 900$ Alden's?

Another pair of boots I'm looking for... Wide forefoot, slim waist, anatomically correct last, modern last just don't do it like that no more.