"Absolutely fantastic pair of shoes"

Our Benson wholecut has a sleek silhouette and slightly chiselled toe. Perhaps the ultimate dress shoe for shoe lovers, it is formal, stylish and beautiful. In a stunning custom oxblood patina, this shoe is unique and individual and adds colour and interest to grey and neutral tones.

• 'Wholecut' - made from a single piece of leather
• Sleek, elegant and minimalist styling with a slightly chiselled toe
• Oxford closed lacing with premium flat, waxed laces
• Full grain calf leather for softness and longevity
• Hand-dyed custom oxblood patina, polished and burnished
• Hard-wearing Blake-stitched leather/rubber sole for added grip
  
• Full calf leather lining for comfort and to absorb moisture
• Made in Italy by artisan shoemakers

Hand finished oxblood patina

These are Italian made wholecuts, using full grain calf leather. They are then finished to order in England by our patina specialist. Shades of oxblood and complimentary tones are skilfully applied by hand. Several layers of special waxes are then added by hand to build up the depth of shine and protect the finish. Every pair is unique and is a work of art.

Full Grain Calf Leather

Being a wholecut, each shoe is made from a single piece of high quality calf leather, so there has to be no defects. There is just a single joining piece at the back. It’s a very elegant, dressy, formal shoe, ideal for special occasions.

Craftsmanship/attention to detail

The top line is neat, with no raw edges, as we taper or ‘skyve’ the edge, then fold the leather and stitch it. The shoe has a full calf leather lining. This helps absorb moisture and prolong the life of the shoe. And we use a genuine full leather insole. Inside the heel, the reverse counter, we use suede to stop your heel slipping. What you can’t see are the stiffeners between the calf upper and lining. There is one in the toe and another at the back. These are important to keep the shoe looking good as it ages, and we use longer, high quality stiffeners to achieve this.

Stitched leather sole Stacked leather heel

The sole is stitched onto the upper with a traditional Italian method called blake stitching. Th is an in-channel, lock stitching technique, so even if one stitch was worn the others will still be locked securely in place. And being stitched the sole can be replaced when it eventually wears. But to extend the sole’s life, we use a rubber insert for added wear and better grip.

Stacked leather heel

There is a 25mm genuine leather stacked, heel, with 4 brass pins, and a rubber piece, again for better wear and grip, that can be easily replaced. There is a ‘gentleman’s corner’, a small bevel that reduces snagging of the heel on your trousers.

Benson custom oxblood patina wholecut is a beautifully Italian made high quality shoe, that with care should give you many years of enjoyment.