INTERVIEWS Tailored Suits, Tailored Shoes

When tradition meets avant-garde: the art of traditional, classic shoemaking with Benjamin Klemann.

While firmly rooted in the past, shoemaker Benjamin Klemann's workshop in Hamburg also represents the avant-garde in its craft. Together with his two sons, Klemann established himself and his business over a period of thirty years in a prestigious, but niche environment: making high quality custom-made shoes for clients who set themselves apart by their refined tastes and fondness for quality materials and individual cuts.
In the interview, Benjamin Klemann tells us the fascinating tale of how he became one of the few, renowned craftsmen permitted to work with the rare, exclusive Russia leather. The Master shoemaker also shares several tips regarding a gentleman's wardrobe -- from the ideal number of pairs for the shoe cabinet to the crucial differences between an Oxford and a Derby cut. Take a look...