Step into the World of a Master Shoemaker from Naples, Italy
Antonio Meccariello is a master shoemaker based in Naples, Italy, who has gained worldwide recognition for his exquisite bespoke footwear. Meccariello's handcrafted men's shoes are renowned for their unparalleled craftsmanship, attention to detail, and timeless elegance. In this article, we will delve into the life and work of Antonio Meccariello and explore what makes his shoes so special.
Meccariello was born in Naples in 1974 and began his career in shoemaking at the age of 18. He spent several years working for some of the most prestigious shoe brands in Italy, including Stefano Bemer and Roberto Ugolini, where he honed his skills in the art of shoemaking. In 2003, he decided to strike out on his own and established his eponymous brand, Antonio Meccariello.
Meccariello's shoes are handcrafted using traditional techniques that have been passed down through generations of Italian shoemakers. He uses only the finest materials, including French and Italian calf leather, and every shoe is made entirely by hand. Meccariello takes great pride in the quality of his work and insists on using only the best materials and techniques to create shoes that are both beautiful and durable.
The difference is in the details with Meccariello's painstaking finishing.
Antonio Meccariello offers a bespoke shoemaking service to clients who visit him in his showroom. As a skilled and experienced shoemaker, Meccariello allows clients to create their own personalized last and design a shoe that perfectly suits their needs and preferences.
The bespoke service includes a detailed process that starts with a meeting to discuss the client's ideas, footwear history, and any problems they have experienced in the past. Meccariello then sketches the model of the shoe and helps the client select the type of leather they would like to use. Taking the client's measurements, Meccariello creates a personalized last based on their desired "look," such as the shape of the toe.
Next, Meccariello constructs a fitting shoe based on the last and invites the client to visit for a fitting session. During this session, they discuss the fit of the shoe and any necessary modifications. Meccariello then modifies the last and constructs a fully finished Goodyear machine welted test shoe that is sent to the client to wear for a few weeks to test the fit.
If the client gives positive feedback, Meccariello proceeds to make the final shoe, which is fully handwelted (welt to insole and welt to sole) and sent to the client. Meccariello offers his clients most leathers from renowned tanneries such as Annonay and Du Puuy of France, Freudenberg of Germany, and Ilcea of Italy, as well as access to various exotic hides like crocodile/alligator, lizard, shark, mountain ram, kudu, and more.
Meccariello's bespoke service is a truly personalized experience that results in a pair of shoes that are tailored to the client's specifications and fit like a glove. His commitment to quality and attention to detail ensures that every client is satisfied with the final product.
In addition to bespoke shoes, Meccariello also produces the Antonio Meccariello's Aurum shoes that are crafted with the same materials and construction techniques as his bespoke shoes, utilizing only prime cuts of leather for the upper and high-quality internals. Compared to his Argentum Handwelted line, Aurum shoes take nearly twice as long to make, with a finely shaped insole to create a tight fit with the last and sole for a barely visible appearance from the top. The toe puffs and heel counters are also delicately thinned to maintain the shape of the last, while the finishing of the shoe is painstakingly detailed. Each Aurum shoe is cut from the prime part of a single skin for uniformity.
Aurum shoes are available in all of Meccariello's lasts and designs, including exclusive ergonomic and sinuous shapes. Meccariello also offers a Made to Measure service, providing last personalization and test shoes for clients to ensure a perfect fit. The modified last, bearing the client's name, can be used for future orders, and the final handwelted Aurum shoe is constructed only after the client approves the test shoe modifications.
Antonio Meccariello's Argentum handwelted shoes are crafted in the traditional shoemaking method, which involves stitching the welt directly to a thicker leather insole. This is how Meccariello constructs his Aurum and bespoke shoes as well, and it is the definition of a handmade shoe. Unlike glued-on linen holdfasts, the upper and welt of Argentum shoes are stitched to the insole through a direct leather-to-leather connection, which ensures durability and longevity.
The Argentum handwelted shoes can be ordered in almost any style from Meccariello's archives and on most of his existing lasts, except for the Aurum-specific ones. Leather options are the same as those offered in his bespoke and Aurum lines, although the base cost of the Argentum Handwelted line only includes the basic French boxcalf.
Meccariello also offers a Made-to-Measure service for Argentum shoes, where he modifies a last to better fit a client's measurements. After modifying the last, he constructs a fully finished, fully wearable handwelted shoe that the client wears for a few weeks to check the modifications before he constructs the final Argentum handwelted shoe.
The most important part of any handwelted shoe is the leather insole, which is the backbone of the shoe where the upper, welt, and sole are attached to. Unlike mass-produced Goodyear welted shoes, the insole of a handwelted shoe is approximately 5-6 mm thick and carved with a holdfast to which the upper and welt are stitched directly. This thickness creates a footbed for the foot, and the insole is the spine to which the rest of the shoe is attached without any glue interface that could fail.
Antonio Meccariello is a master shoemaker who has dedicated his life to crafting some of the finest shoes in the world. His dedication to traditional techniques and attention to detail have earned him a reputation as one of the best shoemakers in Italy and beyond. Whether you opt for a bespoke pair of shoes, an Aurum or an Argentum pair of shoes, you can be sure that you are investing in a piece of footwear that is both beautiful and timeless.
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