You’ve all heard the expression, ’’clothes make the man’’, but what about shoes?
Did you know that a study from 2012 by researchers at the University of Kansas proved that shoes reveal as much or more about character than clothes? That’s right, shoes can have more impact on first impressions than clothes.
This secret has, of course, been known in the hospitality trade for generations. Every maitre’d, hotel receptionist or concierge knows that no matter how down at heel an eccentric millionaire wants to appear, their shoes will reflect their true status, so that’s where they look first when dealing with new guests.
This is why at Fabrice Tardieu we take such pride in our handmade leather shoes for men. We know that they are the foundation which your image is built on, and like all good foundations, they have to be perfect. So we use nothing but the best in materials and make sure they are made with the care and attention to detail that only the most skilled craftsmen bring to their work.
Italian leather is famous for its quality and for good reasons. The rolling green hills of Tuscany and Le Marche are perfect for raising cattle with strong but supple hides and the tanning industry in this area has been going strong for hundreds of years. We use the finest Italian leather, hides tanned with traditional techniques that have been handed down from generation to generation and handpicked to be used in a pair of our leather shoes.
But even the best quality materials are not going to produce a perfect shoe without the craftsmanship to do them justice. And it’s no surprise that the best cordwainers (shoemakers) are also found in Italy so this is where the leather stays to be turned into a pair of Fabrice Tardieu handmade leather shoes.
We’ve already given you plenty of reasons to explain our love for our shoes but there is more. Each model is the brainchild of our designer, Fabrice Tardieu, the man behind the brand, and they are all designed with his trademark signature of both elegance and comfort. Fabrice’s love and use of original eye-catching detail allow him to create unique, instantly recognizable designs that are at the same time immensely comfortable and practical to wear.
And that’s it. Our shoes combine the best of tradition with modern design that will speak volumes about you as an individual without ever losing sight of the fact that shoes are made to be worn and need to feel good on your feet. What’s not to love?
Of course, you don’t have to take our word for it, you can browse our collection online or make an appointment to visit our store and experience our passion firsthand.