The Latest Editions to Our Off the Shelf Range.

At Robinson's Shoemakers we have offered a unique bespoke shoemaking service for years but it is only recently that we have complimented this service with a selection of pre-designed off the shelf handmade shoes.  Initially we had focussed specifically on the Robinson's Irish Brogues - being the only company in Ireland still producing Brogues.  Our aim is not only to continue with this traditional Presidential Range http://www.robinsonsshoes.com/p0/robinsons-handmade-irish-brogues/77.htm 
but introduce a more commercial range that combine the key values of our bespoke service but at an affordable buy it now price.

At this stage we now have over 20 styles we are accepting forward orders on each of which will be avaliable in a range of colours and all width Fittings: E, F, G or H and sizes 5 - 13.  I have included just a few quick snap shots of some of our newest designs along with a little info about each.  Full descriptions along with professional photographs will be on the website www.robinsonsshoes.com
within the next week or so but if you wish to register any interest or leave any comments you are more than welcome to do so.

Above - Our new Black 5 eyelet toecap Gibson - available in sizes 5 - 13 including half sizes.  The shoe is designed on a very modern Italian style last which gives it a streamlined look.  The Leather uppers are made from the finest calf as is the full leather insole and sock, which includes subtle Robinson's branding.  The sole is leather & goodyear welted and is finished in bottle green with the Robinson's logo (Carrickfergus Castle) branded in gold leaf.

Above - Our new Chestnut 5 eyelet toecap Gibson - available in sizes 5 - 13 including half sizes.  The shoe is designed on a very modern Italian style last which gives it a streamlined look.  The Leather uppers are made from the finest calf as is the full leather insole and sock, which includes subtle Robinson's branding.  The sole is leather & goodyear welted and is finished in bottle green with the Robinson's logo (Carrickfergus Castle) branded in gold leaf. 

 Above - Our new two tone wing tipped Brogue - available in sizes 5 - 13 including half sizes.  Without doubt the most popular so far with orders really starting to mount up. The shoe is designed on a traditional last but a look that is very much making a come back.  The Leather uppers are made from the finest calf and the finest suede as is the full leather insole and sock, which includes subtle Robinson's branding.  The sole is leather & goodyear welted and is finished in bottle green with the Robinson's logo (Carrickfergus Castle) branded in gold leaf.
Available in width E, F & G

 Above - Our new two tone wing tipped Brogue, similar to above but with a Tan leather and Blue suede mix - available in sizes 5 - 13 including half sizes.  The shoe is designed on a traditional last but a look that is very much making a come back.  The Leather uppers are made from the finest calf and the finest suede as is the full leather insole and sock, which includes subtle Robinson's branding.  The sole is leather & goodyear welted and is finished in bottle green with the Robinson's logo (Carrickfergus Castle) branded in gold leaf.
Available in width E, F & G

Above - Our modern classic - the 5 eyelet Semi Brogue - available in Black, Cedar and Brown calf leather.  The key to the appeal of these shoes really is the quality of the materials and the sleek last they are made on.  When people have been commenting on them the surprise has always been that look so stylish for a what is essential a classic design i.e the semi Brogue.  For us this shoe is what our new range is all about, taking classic designs and just taking them to the next level to boost their appeal.

An experts guide to proper shoe polishing!

How To Shine Your Shoes Like a Soldier

There are a lot of opinions when it comes to the best way to shine a shoe. Everyone has their own unique twist from using spit to using a lighter to burn the top coat of polish (cool, although potentially dangerous). The process below is a simple one that I have used for many years and it has worked fine for me and many of my military peers.


Step 1: Find an old towel or newspaper to spread over the area you will be working on. Shoe polish has an uncanny ability to get smeared everywhere even when you’re being extremely careful…and it’s really hard to get out of carpet.



Step 2: Clean the dust and dirt off your boots with a horsehair shine brush or damp rag. If you must get your boots a little wet to clean them off, allow them time to dry before applying the polish.



Step 3: Cover the entire shoe with a generous amount of polish, using your shoe polish brush. The polish I’m using is black Kiwi Shoe Polish, but be sure to match the color of the polish to your shoe as closely as possible. Make sure you get down in the seams of the shoe and attempt to cover evenly with polish. Allow 15 minutes for the polish to dry.




Step 4: Brush the entire shoe vigorously using the horsehair shine brush. The point of this is to basically brush off all the excess polish, leaving only a small film on the outside of the shoe.




Step 5: Once you feel comfortable that the entire shoe has been covered and brushed it is time to focus on the toe and heel for extra shine. Dip a cotton ball or pad into some water and squeeze out any excess moisture so it is damp, not dripping. Then get a little polish on the damp cotton. Next apply the polish on the toe and heel of the shoe using small circular motions. Sit back, this is going to take a while.




Step 6: Repeat Step 5 until you are satisfied with the level of shine. Remember to use a new piece of cotton each time and to remove all excess polish before applying a new coating. Also, the initial shine is the hardest, it should get a bit easier each time you do it. These boots were fairly new and this was my first time giving them a good shine. From start to finish, it took me approximately 45 minutes to get them to the state shown below. Most of this was spent with the cotton pads shining the toe and heel. If I were to come back in a couple weeks it would take me half the time to do the same job.

Buying a Shoe Shine Kit:

You will find everything you need at http://www.robinsonsshoes.com/p0/shoe-valet-care-sets/122.htm 

Extra Thoughts:
For those of you who are really hardcore, you can clean up the edges of the sole by purchasing edge dressing. It’s basically black goop that goes around the edge of the sole and makes it look shiny. I’m not a fan of it, but you may feel the urge at some point.

The History of the Brogue Shoe

The History of the Brogue Shoe


Bróg - Irish Word for Shoe.

Brogue is a derivation of the Gaelic word "Bróg", taken from the old Norse "Brók" meaning leg covering.  The Brogue originated in the Peat bog of Ireland, first appearing in the late 16th centruy when men discovered that perforations in their footwear helped the shoe drain more quickly after coming out of the bog.
     
In early 20th century England the term Brogue was first used to describe an outdoor or walking shoe with decorative perforations.  Through time the shoe has become more accepted as a dress or business shoe and in more recent times a fashion item.
The modern Brogue is characterised by multi-piece sturdy leather uppers with decorative perforations (Brogueing) and serration along the pieces visible edges.  They are most commonly found in on the 4 toecap styles (full or wingtip, semi, quarter and longwing) and 4 closure styles (oxford, derby,ghillie and Monk).
 
As the term Brogue originated in Ireland, Robinson's Shoemakers are proud to be the only Irish company continuing in the trade of manfacturing and designing traditional Brogue shoes.

Robinsons Irish Brogues - Presidential Collection  J.S

The start of our blogging adventure!

Having intended to start our shoe blog some months ago it is only now that we are finally able to get the ball rolling.  Our intention is to create and maintain a blog that will not only give you updates and information on new products and styles but also keep you up to speed our our latest news and development.

Everyone who works with us is keen to post here so for future reference, Blog ending in:

J.S - by John Stewart - company sales director
R.S - by Robin Stewart - Managing Director
K.B -by Kenneth Brown - Internet Sales Team
S.S - by Samantha Skilling - Customer Service Team
J.R - by Johnny Reid - Customer Service Team