Oliver Sweeney for Selfridges Sweatshop

22 Sep 2011 04:17pm

24 Comments

Our Cobbler In Chief's demo on shoe making took over a new stage this week; heading up Selfridge's Sweat Shop pop up for London Fashion Week's Menswear day.

Talking visitors through the complexities of making an Oliver Sweeney shoe; from the tricks used to pick out the best leathers, through to the reasons we only use kangaroo skin for the piping; everyone was treated to a chance to inspect the craftsmanship of all the various stages we go through to produce each shoe.

Cobbler In Chief

24 Comments

Romii says: Sep20Pal Really stunning citcelloon. I saw the Ana Sekularac SS08 pictures on vogue.com and her website and was in awe. Its refreshing to see such strong silhouettes and shapes and such a dramatic combination of colours and craftmansship. Loving the the powerful shoulders and sleeve details but then juxtaposed with the feminine structured bows. Already it seems that at Ana sekularac they have managed to create a signature look which is somehow unique yet completely in keeping with the current zeitgeist. This really is what strong feminine women who are in the know need to be wearing. Power dressing is due back and AnaSekularac is at the helm! 20 May 2012 09:11am

JC says: I've been a loyal customer for 6 years and own several pairs of OS classics. Just visited the Covent Garden store and was so very disappointed. There was nothing in the new range that excited me and subsequently left empty handed!! Furthermore, the individual styling and recognisable underneath to the sole has now virtually disappeared. How sad. I'm afraid your losing another customer!! OS, listen to your loyal customers or else you won't have any left. 25 Mar 2012 09:42am

Trevor Perry says: I've just received back my black Rome slip on's after a resole and heal and to be honest I'm upset because the heal is a completely different shape, they are basically ruined. They also came back in an OS box but with no wrapping. I love OS shoes I have 8 pairs but I look at the new shoe range and it is being cheapened , but not the price, just look at the heal designs now compared to 1 or more years ago, sorry it's not working for me anymore, please make the effort to put these things right ! 13 Oct 2011 10:14pm

Chris B says: Like a lot of you I love my OS's I think you are being a bit hard on them, the world has changed and the reason OS struggled a few years ago is that people like us who buy shoes that are individual well made and stand out from the crowd are a niche market so businesses have to look elsewhere and I must say that but my card and note wallets are second to none for quality! I am proud to own OS and even after years of regular wearing of four different pairs they still smell of quality leather, still look good and still worth the investment I have made with roughly buying a new pair each year.

For OS they need to remember the name is only as good as the quality and they need to maintain that. 23 Sep 2011 07:37pm

Simon Pimley says: I regret to say I agree with many of the negative comments on the OS blog. As the health of the great man himself declined, so did the quality and design of the shoes.
I recently went to the store in Conduit Street London and could not find a single pair that interested me, yet in previous years, I would be spoilt for choice. Come on - listen to your loyal customers! Let's get these iconic shoes back where they should be! 22 Sep 2011 09:20pm

Oliver Sweeney says: Thank you for your comments. Our shoes have been made in the same Italian factory for over 10 years. Over the last couple of years we have expanded on the core product and introduced some new looks. We still do Cusom Made shoes using all of the exotic skins you mention and we offer a repair service which is a choice of either a generic repair OR a remake of many styles. We would love to show you what we are doing for Spring 12 and discuss your comments further. We will email you separately. 22 Sep 2011 04:21pm

Billy Fish says: OS should focus on Innovative Shoes not clothing & Accesories, If I wanted a coat I'd go to Crombie or Barbour, please get back to your roots and focus on exceptional styling and quality, many of the new ranges this year look and feel a whole lot cheaper.

Even the guys selling them have lost their spark, they no longer believe in the brand they are selling!

p.s. I do not work for OS! just a disgruntled owner of many shoes

+ anyone recommend a good alternative? 22 Sep 2011 04:18pm

Scouse says: Oliver Sweeney was taken over by the same group that owns Long Tall Sally, I normally deal with the Guys in London. Lito and Charles are superb as for the others they just dont give the same levels of service.

As for the Shoes I've been dissapointed over the past couple of season's as they aren't as individual as they where, Bring back Sweeney ! stop putting up the prices and listen to your customers. 22 Sep 2011 03:31pm

Craig Street says: Totally agree with the comments above. I have 5 pairs of OS's but haven't bought any for a couple of years as I haven't seen any I really like. Agree with the 'work shoes' comment also. I did see a pair of blue welted sole brogues which I would have bought but for some reason they were not produced in half sizes (all mine are 7.5).
Get a grip! 22 Sep 2011 03:15pm

Hunky Jeff says: Jeffery West........?
theyve taken over OS as my favourite! 22 Sep 2011 03:15pm

richard says: BT, thanks for the re-soleing comments, this will prevent me from wasting my money on re-soleing my OS shoes. 22 Sep 2011 03:03pm

Tom in TX says: Is anybody at OS reading this blog? If this was a poll of customer satisfaction OS should be worried and consequently(one would hope) they attempt to accommodate their customers 22 Sep 2011 02:53pm

BT says: I like all of you have fallen out of love with the brand. I have 14 pairs and could be considered a ?fan boy? of the brand for all the reasons stated above. I believe that it was the same group the own Dune purchased OS which tells me everything I need to know. Price goes up quality goes down. The new owners are relying on the brand to bring in the customers but the only thing I spend money on now is the re-soleing service which has also gone downhill as you get a generic sole rather than the original style which for certain shoes ruins there look. I?ve been looking for a ?new? company to bring back my love of shoes but not many live up to the ?old? OS. 22 Sep 2011 02:15pm

Iain MacRae says: I can't help but bemoan the departure of OS himself - days gone by each new range would throw up truly individual styles which stood the brand (and the wearer) apart from the rest - Amongst my collection I've got faux ostrich, black/red faux snakeskin, white, cream, red, blue, green shoes/boots which always attract comment when worn. I'm buying less and less as the range is truly uninspiring. The latest collection is a morass of black and brown work shoes! The introduction of trainers and then the "Sweeney London" range was a sign of the accountants dumbing down the label. As a non-trainer wearer I find it ironic that the only inspirational and individual shoes in the current range are the Riva Stingray and Mavor Eeelskin trainers! 22 Sep 2011 12:08pm

Steven says: Totally agree, have bought many OS shoes over the years, great styles & colours geometric soles etc but for the last few seasons the shoes are so boring. Please, if OS himself is not designing any more then get to St Martins and get someone who can. 22 Sep 2011 11:21am

Gary says: The 'Venice Tan' is my personal favorite, had them for many years, bought many shoes since, but they still retain the #1 position. 22 Sep 2011 10:50am

richard says: Absolutely right Bouba, spot on, Italian made are a world apart!!!! I currently buy Hugo Boss made in Italy and exclusive D&G's made in Italy, The quality is a world apart, fantastic. Italian made shoes are the best in the world without doubt. 22 Sep 2011 10:39am

bouba says: their biggest mistake was mass production and outsourcing- there is a difference between made in italy and made in cheap country. 22 Sep 2011 10:24am

Gary says: I believe, correct me if I'm wrong, that the man himself is no longer involved in the company after a spell of bad health and financial problems, resulting in a take over by a corporation hence the lack of originality and style. Buy the classics, fortunately they still produce some of them. 22 Sep 2011 10:22am

richard says: Hi Guys,

I dont want this to be a beat up Sweeney blog but unfortunately, I am tending to agree with the statements above, I was brought to the brand some 4 yrs ago when their range of shoes was smaller, more diverse, individual, and much less mainstream. This is what brought me to the brand, in the last 2 yrs especially, i have seen Oliver Sweeney cater for the masses and leave their roots with strings of bland designs.
Why make 10 different versions of bland casual trainer shoes? when you could make 1 very special casual trainer shoe on a limited run that would make the purchase all the more special. 22 Sep 2011 10:13am

steven says: To a certain extent I agree with Sue and JC. So infrequently do OS present to their buying public a shoe that is both inspirational and desirable. I have the privilege of owning some ten pairs of OS shoes, they have been been bought over the past 8 years or so and still retain their individuality, style and craftsmanship. However, in recent months it does seem that the in house designers are merely thinking of " earning " rather than the traditions of a marque that was synonymous with style and superb workmanship. I am fortunate to own a pair of OS custom made shoes. I bought them from the Leeds store and they are still superb, fantastic colours, a great mix of materials and ALWAYS generate comments and questions as to where did I get them from. Sadly the new ranges are at best somewhat bland, unimaginative and appear to be churned out to simply generate revenue.

Come on Oliver Sweeney let's return as I am sure that we all want to, the days of individuality, quality, imaginative design. Become unique again. 22 Sep 2011 09:42am

JC says: I agree with Sue - Sweeney's used to be cool - they would stand out - make a statement and they broke the rules - they were truly individual. Not any more - they don't break rules any more - just the bank. Get back to doing what you once did best - exciting shoes in great colours - PLEASE ! 20 Sep 2011 06:25pm

Sue says: What has happen to Oliver Sweeney!!!! they used to be individual, their shoes were different in design, colour and style. It was lovely looking at their web shop to see what they had each season, but now it's just the same as everyone else but with a bigger price tag! 20 Sep 2011 05:31pm

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