A classic I’ve cherished for 25 years
I present my John Lobb Barros, a pair I have cherished for over a quarter of a century, more than 25 years. This was my first pair of John Lobb shoes, and I hold them in very fond regard.
Their form differs from the refined, clean lines of modern John Lobb designs, featuring the slightly rounded U-tip of a traditional British Derby shoe. I originally purchased them to pair with a navy blazer and grey flannel trousers.
Candy Co., Ltd.
I bought them during the era when there was a flagship store in Minato Mirai, Yokohama, and John Lobb sales were operated by Candy Co., Ltd. Candy was a company that sold very interesting things; whilst operating John Lobb, they also sold shirts from the British brand Hilditch & Key. Later, they became famous for selling Belgian chocolate, Pierre Marcolini.
Back then, there were only two John Lobb flagship stores in the Kanto region: the Minato Mirai store and the Aoyama flagship store along Route 246 in Gaien. The Minato Mirai store where I bought my Barros closed down, leaving only the Aoyama flagship store operating as the sole flagship outlet for a while.
Subsequently, I purchased the Darby and Chambord models consecutively at the Aoyama flagship store. The manager there was a fascinating character. Despite the store’s reputation for selling the world’s finest gentlemen’s shoes and its high-end brand atmosphere, he had the personality of an old-school shoemaker’s father figure. He himself seemed like a leather enthusiast, genuinely loving John Lobb shoes and running the shop for that reason.
I always enjoyed chatting with that manager and would invariably pop into the shop whenever I visited Aoyama. Back then, Gaien had the flagship store of my favourite shop, and strolling around the Gaien area – Cassina > Berluti > John Lobb > then on to Omotesando – was a real pleasure.
Berluti
My purchase of Berluti shoes came some time after acquiring John Lobb, but the manager at the Aoyama flagship store was a woman with an exceptional knowledge of men’s fashion. As my style at the time differed somewhat from the typical Berluti clientele (I favoured Carpe Diem), she often struck up conversations with me, and I rather enjoyed these fashion discussions.
Through that manager’s kindness, I was invited to events like new collection launch parties. I recall Kazuhiko Kato, a great admirer of Berluti, attending one such occasion. Though he was of a certain age, he was youthful, tall, and had an impeccable figure. I remember how incredibly stylish he looked, wearing Berluti shoes with such flair.
[ Berluti Alessandro’s Article ]
I have passed on my Berluti shoes to a junior colleague, but as it is such an excellent shop, I am writing an article about it.
An excellent import agent
Incidentally, in my mind, Candy, Cassina, and Sazaby League are three companies that introduced the world’s finest products to Japan faster than anyone else.
Candy handled John Lobb shoes and Hilditch & Key shirts. Cassina’s Mario Bellini Maralunga sofa and Frank Lloyd Wright coffee table, alongside Cassina’s own original bed, dressing table, and dining set – I actually purchased these pieces for my home and still cherish them today.
Though I passed on the Hilditch & Key shirts to a junior colleague fond of British fashion, the John Lobb shoes and Cassina furniture remain true masterpieces I’ve cherished for over a quarter-century.
The Maralunga has had its leather reupholstered once, yet remains in daily use in the living room. Its robustness is such that it shows no sign of wear or wobble; it truly is a sofa for life. I use an L-shaped arrangement comprising a single-seater sofa, an ottoman, and a wide two-seater sofa.
It is on this single-seater sofa and ottoman, relaxing, that I write this blog on my MacBook Pro. (I also purchased and love the Dyson crane-like lighting fixture I use when working on my Mac, which I bought through Cassina’s introduction).
I still have the Agnès b. striped shirt I bought when I was young (I did eventually get rid of it), as well as Ron Harman denim, T-shirts, and Frank and Irene shirts. When it comes to Sazaby League, it has become so commonplace, probably due to its operation of Starbucks Coffee, that it would be difficult to find someone who has never used it.
Barros is a U-tip shoe crafted in a slightly rounded, charmingly form-fitting Derby style.
At the time, my preference for leather shoes was double-soled derbies, and Barros are double-soled.
Introduction.
I purchased my John Lobb shoes 25 years ago and at one point rotated between three pairs. However, when I stopped wearing suits daily, opportunities to wear them diminished. Recently, due to a change in my mindset, I’ve gradually begun wearing them again.
At the time of purchase, I didn’t fully grasp the shop assistant’s claim that they were shoes for life. Yet, 25 years on, I truly understand what they meant by “a pair for life”.
This brand embodies a philosophy of what truly constitutes a fine product – encompassing not only robust construction but also timeless, enduring design.
The meticulous craftsmanship and decades of accumulated expertise mean that, with wear, the shoes gradually mould to the wearer, becoming an extension of the body. One can personally experience the legendary notion that once John Lobb shoes have been broken in, they become utterly indispensable.
At first glance, the design appears simply well-made, lacking ostentatious flair. Yet when worn, their intrinsic quality emerges naturally – true masterpieces backed by history.
The three pairs of Derby shoes I cherish are now discontinued, making new purchases impossible. It’s also regrettable that, with the changing times, John Lobb has discontinued the double-soled Derby itself.
In the past, I would only wear John Lobb shoes with a suit or blazer style. However, as I’ve grown older and become less constrained by such particulars, I’ve started wearing them again.
As I shall detail in another article, I recently purchased a pair of John Lobb Lawry boots for the first time in 25 years. The customer service at the Marunouchi store where I bought them was precisely the kind of personal, old-school shoemaker’s workshop experience I remember.
The service and attention were truly excellent. I also had the shoes I bought 25 years ago serviced, and they even fitted rubber soles to the leather ones – something I would never have considered back then.
In my youth, I held rather fundamentalist views and would never have considered rubber soles. However, leather soles have a significant drawback: they become extremely slippery on surfaces like marble floors, causing me to nearly fall on numerous occasions. Addressing such shortcomings is part of the shoemaker ethos that continues to be upheld by John Lobb today.