I Pitti the shoe

Church's AW10. Revision of the country collection.

Pitti Uomo is the Disneyland of menswear trade shows. Now most of you are excitedly looking to the goings on in Milan but it is Pitti Uomo that opens the 2010 international fashion agenda and should not be overlooked. Unfortunately, I was once again unable to make the trip to Florence but I still long to wander the stalls and observe the impeccably dressed gentleman in all of their pomp and glory (as shot by the Sartorialist). As I sat at home feeling a little sorry for myself, Susie fortunately did make the trip and agreed to take a few crafty snaps of stalls of interest for us. In total there were seven hundred and sixty five firms and nine hundred and thirty six brands exhibiting. She recently returned, waxing lyrical about the food on offer and the style on exhibition making me all the more green eyed but she did make amends with a few footwear finds.

Church's AW10 - Pembrey Loafers in Autumnal suede

The new Church's collection presents a slight revision of the Country Collection for the coming AW10 season, styling a new of the classical derby lace up with the heavy rubber sole. A large fringe and new distressed leathers are applied to the latest model maintaining the traditional characteristics that we know and love of the brand as well as a country wintery feel.

A closer look at Church's Pembrey loafers for AW10

The Pembrey loafer is styled in a range of suede leathers of autumn hues. I might be sick of the cold weather at the moment but a part of me would love to be wearing these in a country cottage in front of a roaring fire. Oh how quintessentially British.

Eiichi Katsukawa's distressed boots.

Having informed me of the developments of a brand that I know and love, Susie then introduced me to a new name, Eiichi Katsukawa. Katsukawa's makes hand made, wonderfully distressed nibe leather brogues and boots from Tokyo...

Eiichi Katsukawa's distressed nibe leather brogues

Katsukawa fell in love with shoes when he worked in the shoe repair department at the Japanese retailer Isetan. After happy days in Tokyo he moved to Northampton to learn shoe design and its production method at "Tresham Institute Footwear" course where he met Paul Harnden. Following his graduation from the Institute he gained further experience interning for Harnden in Brighton before returning to Tokyo. From there Eiichi Katsukawa continued his passion for shoe making, creating bold and striking designs. As far as I can ascertain from his website, the brand is only stocked at United Arrows in Tokyo.

Luxe hiking boots from F.lli Giacometti Marmolada

The final Pitti footwear find are these interestingly luxe hiking boots from F.lli Giacometti Marmolada. Over the last twelve months we have seen the continued rise of work wear and hiking boots in a number of guises (some bordering on the ridiculous) have been lauded. However, I've not seen any as interesting as these from this Italian heritage brand. After abusing the Google translation tool I have managed to find out that F.lli Giacometti Marmolada remains the only brand in Northern Italy's Dolomites region and was founded in 1890. The boots combine authentic history and smart design. I might not be about to book myself a walking holiday just yet but I am keen to find out more about these boots.

A closer look at F.lli Giacometti Marmolada's trekking boots.