In December 2021, we published an interview with Simon Wegmann, founder of Wayman Bespoke.
I had met him at a Massura trunk show in Munich. I found his concept for online sales of custom shoes interesting. So I ordered a pair of shoes from him, and after a long delay caused by Corona, they were delivered a few months ago. Today we present them.
The idea of selling made-to-measure shoes without physical contact between shoemaker and customer is not new. As early as the 19th century, shoes were ordered from afar by letter. The shoemakers sent model drawings, instructions for taking measurements and leather samples. Simon Wegmann works in a very similar way, only in digital form, with his website. I deviated from the way to the shoe offered there in that he took the measurements on myself. This was not a special privilege, however, because at trunk shows he takes his own measure of many interests. However, in order to understand the ordering process from the online customer’s point of view, I also measured my feet myself according to the instructions on the website and uploaded photos. The deviations from Simon Wegmann’s own measurement results were small and would not have changed the result. Because at Waymann Bespoke, the second step after taking measurements is to build a trial shoe and send it to the customer. Since the differences between my measurements and Simon Wegmann’s would be very small, they would not have noticeably changed the fit of the trial shoe.
The first pair of trial shoes was a little too wide, it felt like it was half a size too big. I took photos and videos of the shoes on my feet and gave my commentary. From the shape, the trial shoe already represented the desired loafer. Unlike other custom shoemakers who sometimes use a completely different cut upper for the trial shoe. We had agreed on a full strap loafer and it was delivered. However, I still didn’t like the proportions. I had imagined the shoe further cut out and thus shorter in the front area. I attached photos of an old custom shoe from London. Simon Wegmann promised to build a second trial shoe according to my ideas, which should then also fit tighter to the foot.
The second trial shoe fit tighter and sufficiently well. That is, I did not slip out of the shoe when rolling, at the same time the shoe did not sit too tight on the instep. The cut of the shaft had also been slightly modified. The loafer was not very much wider cut in the second attempt, otherwise it would not sit tight enough on the foot. However, the model had been modified according to my wishes. After I had taken photos and videos again and sent them to Simon Wegmann, the shoe was to be built. Corona delayed this last phase by several months. But finally the box arrived with the shoes, matching shoe trees and shoe bags.
Purely on the outside, the loafers looked very appealing. A very elegant shape, slender and delicate. The slightly beveled heel relatively high. The shoes were easy to put on and fit nice and snug on the foot. Unusual was the high heel. The fit is good. Where fit is difficult to describe with words. When I say that the shoe fits tightly on the foot, everyone imagines something different. What also means solid? The leather is of course relatively hard at the beginning, which is normal for shoes made of calfskin of this type. Anyway, I have nothing against the fit and I find the shoe subjectively comfortable. So comfortable, it must be said to all who have no experience with welted shoes, how such a shoe can be. Frame stitched custom shoe never feel like a soft slipper. No matter how well the shoe is fitted. But such a shoe should not feel like a slipper either. And not like a hiking boot either. One may only compare the feel of hand-stitched or welted custom shoes with that of similarly made shoes. Under these conditions, I would recommend Wayman Bespoke. Also in terms of design, processing and finish. Here Wayman Bespoke is above what you might expect from the price.
