Elite Traveler Summer 2020

STYLE CRAFTSMANSHIP

by Kristen Shirley

Berluti B E H I N D T H E S C E N E S For more than 120 years, the name Berluti has been synonymous with superb bespoke shoes, which are now finished with incredible patinas. Berluti’s pieces are instantly recognizable by their nuanced colors, making them the ultimate sign of quiet luxury. Step inside the firm’s Parisian ateliers to see how its master artisans keep the art of bespoke shoemaking alive.

Bespoke shoes used to be a requirement for every well-dressed gentleman. Today, only a handful of brands create them, and Berluti has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best. Its master craftspeople go through over 250 steps to create just one pair of shoes. Crafting bespoke shoes isn’t only about finding the perfect fit; it’s an opportunity to create a shoe with special details and unique colors, or to use a rare material like shagreen or alligator. The process begins with an in-person meeting, where a client and a master shoemaker meet to discuss the project, take a dozen measurements of the client’s feet, and discuss the shoe’s style; any part of the design can be customized, perhaps by adding initials, embroidery, a tattoo pattern or a unique patina. Next, a last maker uses these measurements