John Lobb
(212.888.9797, www.johnlobb.com) prides itself on using only single pieces of full-grain leather, which have spent more than six months at the tannery, in the production of its footwear. The skins then spend another 40 hours undergoing 190 manufacturing steps—more than any other shoemaker uses—in the hands of craftsmen, who shape them into the distinctive, blemish-free designs that define the John Lobb Prestige label. This year, the 160-year-old brand (which is based in Paris and owned by Hermès) introduced Mogador Bespoke, a collection of custom designs distinguishable by their purple undersoles.
