MTO FOOTWEAR WITH PAUL STUART

When it comes down to quality menswear we all have our favorite timeless brands, but regardless of whoever is on your list, make sure you add Paul Stuart to it. With a long respectable history of making classic clothing and made-to-measure garments, Paul Stuart now has added made-to-order footwear to their brand.

Like many Made-to-Order (MTO) products on the market, there are limitations on how much you can customize something without stepping into Bespoke territory, and although Paul Stuart does follow custom limitations their consumer should find this accommodating. I was blessed with the opportunity to work with the Paul Stuart team to create my very own MTO Shoes. Here is my take on the process and experience.

Peter Agati is the footwear specialist at the NYC Madison store. He was a great asset to the overall experience. We shared ideas about getting the design, size, last and color. Peter made it his “sole” responsibility not to let me leave until the shoe was to my liking fit. He educated me on all of the components that goes into a shoe such as: the last, welt, the origin of how shoes are constructed based on location (English vs Italian shoe making), and how to properly care for my shoes. As well versed as Peter is about footwear, never once did I feel like he was trying to “sell” me a product or convince me to do something his way. The only thing Peter sold me was a knowledgeable experience.

As much as I was anticipating my MTO shoes, I realized even some of the best and respectable brands can make mistakes. It could directly be a first hand mistake or second, either way Paul Stuart took ownership of the first pair of shoes being slightly too large. Peter and I sat down and found out what the mistake was and expedited the new order for me. The second pair of shoes came out great. No, I am not saying this only because it is Paul Stuart but because they were exactly what I wanted. The suede and leather has a natural texture, luster and smoothness that speaks quality. What I did notice with the shoe was the main feature Peter educated me on: shoes created in England tend be a bit dense, whereas shoes constructed in Italy tends to be lighter and able to move with you.

 

The overall experience was worth it, and the shoes are incredible. Even though the first pair of shoes were wrong, the customer service that Paul Stuart provided to resolve the issue was on point.

Photo Credit

@Zander_X