New bespoke shoes , Athenian shoemaker

[yialabis]

A few months ago I discover a real lady gem hidden in a basement in one of the historical for shoemaking amongst other crafts , parts of Athens . Together we worked closely to create these derby shoes . I 'm pleased by the result and happy that my country still has a few craftsmen (or women) left that work entirely by hand and that they also appreciate (financially )their work appropriately . Their surely not forced by massive rents,advertising , man power , and other costs that we all know of , to create product unreachable by myself and many others , but also they are not exposed nor misguided to newly made tycoons willing to pay an arm and a leg for a pair of shoes .
Regards
Vassilis

[davidhuh]

Dear Vassilis,

this is a beauty of a shoe! Congratulations!

I admire your courage to give an unknown craftswoman a chance to proof herself.

Cheers, David

[ay329]

Did she also make the last?

Did she make the entire shoe...clicker, finisher and attached the soles to the upper too?

[yialabis]

David , thank you . I'm very much in to unknown crafts men and not very much in to known ones ... The reason is that I like working together with them bypassing formalities that are I guess a necessity for the big names . For example I passed by her workroom anytime I was on the area without notice , always welcome to be there , we talked about different things, about the area the craft , her story of 35 years in shoemaking etc .. I enjoy that . My shirtmaker and pants maker is around that area too . I go visit them too . You don't need appointments just sometime for a quick coffee and a chat .

Ay329 , Yes . We build the last with a help of a specialized last maker , and she did all the rest and actually hand stitched the sole to the upper .

Vassilis

[theoldesouth]

Congratulations, Yialabis. Lovely design and leather. They must be very comfortable?

May you treasure them for a long time to come.

Cheers,
South

[ay329]

Yialabis, was the last maker also in Athens?

And who made the shoe trees?

This is a real find as all my sources told me the Athenian shoe trade had become extinct

[yialabis]

Ay329 , in general your sources are right . Let's keep the rumors that way .
Old south thank you for you kind wish ,they are very comfortable indeed , the design was inspired by a saint crispin's photo I saw sometime ago .

Regards
Vassilis

[C.Lee]

Dear Vassilis,

Thank you for a wonderful story. I like what you have created with those close to you. These men and women are at the end of the day fellow countrymen and countrywomen, neighbours, and friends. That surely has to be rewarding.

May your craftspeople prosper, and continue to be hidden gems to those outside of Athens.

Regards.

...I admire your courage to give an unknown craftswoman a chance to proof herself...

That is how gems are found! Take this as another example kids that hidden treasures are out there. It has been written here on the LL that craftspeople are out there, on the street, and to find them requires rolling up your sleeves and pounding the pavement. Channel your inner explorer, and get out there.

[theoldesouth]

Glad to hear that, Vassilis. Congratulations, again.

[Screaminmarlon]

Congratulations for these beauties!
I share many of your ideas and I'm happy to see these great results (I still remember your beautiful linen DB!),
M.

[yialabis]

Clee and Screaminmarlon ,
Thank you for your kind comments , ( the Linen DB is already out and ready for the season )
Vassilis

[levantine]

Congratulations my fellow Athenian! I thought shoemaking was dead in Athens
I have to see this shoe maker soon

[andreyb]

Vassilis, well done!

Andrey

[yialabis]

Thank you Andrey and Levantine .. Nothing is dead here as you know , just awaiting for our sparkle to help it uprise again from its ashes .
It's an excellent example of how the arts and crafts that are related to style are universal. There are no Meccas , you just have to look and find , have patient , crate relationships. My tailor is another example . By the way I found reposted photos of his work ( and myself) in a couple of other forums where members speak disgrasfuly about a trend of Eastern Europen nobody's or something like that , who should have been retired , while they praise their very well probably known fashionable bespoke tailors .... I guess it goes with the exposure on the internet but what makes me sad and angry is that the repost was obviously a work of an Ll member . If he reads this line we would surely appreciate his open opinion in this forum next time .

Vassilis

[Russell]

By the way I found reposted photos of his work ( and myself) in a couple of other forums where members speak disgrasfuly about a trend of Eastern Europen nobody's or something like that , who should have been retired , while they praise their very well probably known fashionable bespoke tailors .... I guess it goes with the exposure on the internet but what makes me sad and angry is that the repost was obviously a work of an Ll member . If he reads this line we would surely appreciate his open opinion in this forum next time .

Vassilis

Vassilis,

You’ve been very generous with your photographs & descriptions of your own clothes over the years – to the benefit of us all.

Leaving aside the issue of the unauthorised re-publication of your images - it would be grand if some of these ‘internet critics’ published photos of their own ‘perfect’ garments along with their damnation of other peoples.

Regards
Russell