Another super trunk is done. Last weekend’s event in Stockholm gathered around 700 visitors, about 70 pairs of shoes were sold (and many more ordered after the event) and the atmosphere was as usual great. Here is a summary of the day in text and a lot of pictures.

This year we had no large crowdpleasers on the exhibition floor, such as Meermin or Vass, but had focused on highlighting new stuff for Sweden that was not very well known before, therefore it was pleasing to see that the number of visitors still was high, we have now been constantly between 700- 900 visitors all six years. Shoegazing Market, the marketplace for second-hand shoes, was back after last year’s success. We had more sellers than last year but a slightly fewer number of pairs, but since many had learned from last year and set reasonable prices overall, a few more pairs were still sold than last year, 35 pairs of shoes found new owners. Everything from premium shoes from, for example, Gaziano & Girling and Saint Crispin’s, to shoes from cheaper brands such as Myrqvist and Loake were up for grabs.

The biggest impression on the exhibition floor was likely made by CNES Shoemaker, one of Vietnam’s largest manufacturers of Goodyear welted shoes. With an impressive quality level of the finish and construction for very facile prices, they got many visitors to raise their eyebrows and also order a pair. Goodyear welted started at about €200, for SEK €25 more you got a narrow and extremely built-up waist, hand welted was at €420 and Goodyear in cordovan leather only at €480.

Belgian / Spanish Sons of Henrey was also well received, midrange shoes with a classic designs where above all the material range stands out, with especially many different exciting grain leather. Tom Brone, who runs the brand, sources all the leather himself, and has good contacts in the tannery industry.

My employer Skolyx was the only exhibitor to have been here before, and this year the new range TLB Mallorca Artista caught visitors’ attention the most, with their very narrow waist (also on rubber soled shoes), genuine leather heel stiffeners, and more at a relatively low price.

Zeb Shoes from Croatia was present with his Swedish partner The Noble Shoe. Zeb makes Goodyear-welted Made to Measure starting at €400, and has access to Horween cordovan in several different shades.

From neighboring Norway we had a visit from Skomaker Dagestad, who brought with them three of their brands they offer in their Oslo store. Very well made shoes from Japanese Miyagi Kogyo, British Foster & Son’s brand new RTW line, and not least their own brand new premium brand Dagestad by Santari, handmade Japanese perfection.

The top trio of the world championships in shoe making and the winner of the world champs in shoe patina were also on display, and impressed the visitors.

In addition to the shoe exhibitors, as usual we had a number of partners who made it all possible, who also exhibited. The main partner was Swedish shoe care company Paul Brunngård, with its own brands Springyard and Shoe Shame and well-known German brand Collonil 1909 in its stable.

We had three partners. Blugiallo, which offers affordable Made to Measure suits and other garments, showed a taste of what they offer and informed about their service to the visitors. Granqvist sold lots of ties and accessories, with 20% discount during the day many people took the plunge. Then we had the late addition of J. Hopenstand from Switzerland, with really well-made leather accessories, not least their double-sided belts for which they are known for.

At the stage area it was as usual a nice atmosphere when the Swedish shoe shining championships final took place. Jakob Mattsson, Johan Olsson and Tobias Bjöörn had qualified, they had 20 minutes to shine a Loake Aldwych shoe as beautiful as possible. After a difficult jury review, Johan Olsson was appointed winner, he went home with €300, the shined Loake shoe and its sibling, a shoe care kit from Paul Brunngård and a glass award.

Michael Håkansson from Magic Mike Patina then gave a mini course on how to paint shoes, where he showed up and gave some handy tips on how to change the color of a pair.

A nice day then ended with dinner in the hotel restaurant. A big thank you from me and the co-organisers Roland Olsson, Adrien Combier Hogg and Joakim Berggren to all visitors and exhibitors, see you again next year!

FILMS FROM THE STAGE (SWEDISH ONLY)

Swedish Championships in Shoe Shining:

Mini course in how to recolour shoes, with Michael Håkansson, Magic Mike Patina: