Inaugural U.S. Shoe Shining Competition | Watch the Best Shoe Shiners Battle it Out!

Watch three shoe shine specialists compete against each other to see who can create the best mirror shine in just TWENTY MINUTES at the inaugural U.S. Shoeshine Competition! This exciting event was held in New York City in October 2023 as part of the New York Super Trunk Show, an event that attracted shoe and style aficionados from all over the country to indulge in their shared passion for leather dress shoes and classic style.
Affiliated with the London Super Trunk Show and the World Championships of Shoeshining held each year in London, this was the first year for a shoe shine competition to be held in the United States. The three finalists, selected from over 20 entrants, were given just twenty minutes to transform a totally new, unpolished pair of shoes into a masterpiece of style and class.
Both the New York Super Trunk Show and the London Super Trunk Show, along with all affiliated events, are organized by Jesper Ingevaldsson of Shoe Gazing Blog (@shoegazingblog), Justin FitzPatrick of The Shoe Snob (@theshoesnob_official), and Kirby Allison (@kirbyallison).
This event was sponsored by Saphir Shoe Polish, KirbyAllison.com, and Bridlen Shoes. Saphir Medaille d'Or Shoe Polish, widely considered by shoe aficionados to be the best polish in the world, was exclusively used by the contestants. Bridlen Shoes, a manufacturer of luxury Goodyear welted leather dress shoes, generously provided the shoes for the event.
For more information about the New York Super Trunk Show, please visit:
shoegazing.com...
🥇 Winner of the 2023 U.S. Shoe Shine Championship
Levi Elliott from Plymouth, Indiana
IG: @leshoeguy
Finalists in the 2023 U.S. Shoe Shine Championships
🔸 Sunny Yoo from Elliott City, Maryland
IG @cobblersunny
🔸 SSG Chadwick Winget from Arlington, Virginia
IG @_bestfootforward
🔍 MORE ABOUT BRIDLEN SHOES
🔸 Website: bridlen.com/
🔸 Instagram: @bridlenshoes
🔍 MORE ABOUT SAPHIR SHOE POLISH
🔸 Website: www.kirbyallis...
🔸 Instagram: @kirbyallison
🔸 Instagram: @saphir_medailledor
🙌 SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL
📽️ Join this channel to support our content with independent craftspeople and artisans:
/ kirbyallison
🛒 Shop All Kirby Allison Products: www.kirbyallis...
📽 OTHER SUGGESTED VIDEOS
• Largest Gathering of S...
🌟 MOST POPULAR VIDEOS
▶️ $400 Shoes vs $1300 Shoes - A Black Cap Toe Oxford Comparison: • $400 Shoes vs $1300 Sh...
▶️ Gentlemen's Day Out In London | Kirby Allison & Tom Chamberlin: • Gentlemen's Day Out In...
▶️ Inside The Original John Lobb London: • Inside The Original Jo...
▶️ How To Cut A Cigar With Davidoff of London: • How To Cut A Cigar Wit...
▶️ How To Smoke A Cigar At Davidoff London: • How To Smoke A Cigar A...
▶️ Huntsman & Sons New York: • Huntsman & Sons In New...
▶️ Double Bespoke Commission with John Kent & Terry Haste: • Double Bespoke Commiss...
▶️ From Suit to Shoot: A British Shooting Series: bit.ly/3CSJqf8
🎬 Inaugural U.S. Shoe Shining Competition
00:00 Introduction
02:17 Introduction of Finalists
03:20 Contest Begins!
19:10 2 Minutes Left!
21:55 Announcement of Winner
🧺 Dry cleaning provided by Rave Fabricare: bit.ly/3ery0FU
📍 FOLLOW US ON OUR OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA!
🔹 INSTAGRAM: kirbyallison
🔹 TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@kirbyallisonofficial
🔹 X: kirby_allison

[@mingogamingtv]

I don’t own anything on this channel but at 29 it makes me have something to aim for. I want a suit for when I’m not working construction 😭 love your videos 🙏 love from Norfolk Va

[@Simonverse]

Might be a good idea to own a very nice and casual style suit to wear during your days off. Just to get more wear time than just sitting in the closet.

[@NoThanks-vn7bt]

Young dude working construction, this may not be a thing you'd consider. I'd highly recommend walking through a thrift shop near a nice neighborhood to check out some suits. A custom made one is fine, but sometimes you can find a really great casual suit for very low cost. Might also find a good pair of dress shoes too (plenty of shoe restoration vids available), again for very low entry price. Time and place to wear it is sometimes tough. If you're inclined to attend church, that's a great place (even in the more modern "casual" ones) If not, some of the various "men's clubs" Elks, Shriners, Masons are great too. My "thrift shop" suit gets probably four times the amount of wear that my new suit does.

[@haroldflugleman4364]

I'm disappointed this didn't get advertised more

[@EvolanderX]

I’m just a simple flip flop wearing guy who stumbled on this video and somehow watched this to the end. This was so fascinating. I felt like I stepped into another world!

[@les-chouans]

absolutely totally great! I would have never thought that a contest like this could be THAT thrilling! Kirby is perfectly fulfilling his role as commentator. I really enjoyed this. AMAZING!

[@lgiraldo2587]

This was unexpectedly amazing! I will trying these techniques tomorrow on my bespoke Edward Green and John Lobbs.

[@uwannadance1971]

Huh, I didn't get my invite! 😂

[@markmanriquez3208]

Wow how the rules have changed. The last two years of contesters prior have laid down far more glossy surface then these fellas not to disrespect by any means. Also none of the previous years champions competed this year either... I wonder why that is. Either way I was happy to watch this years competitors .... I'm just happy all this is going on ... let the contest live forever thanks to All the sponsors. Kirby behind the mic 🎤 😊 that's was a treat lol . Keep up the Art of Shoe love!! 🤌🏽🤌🏽

[@shoegazingblog]

This was the first US champs, I believe you think about the World Champs which takes place in London every May, we've had it for six years. Same rules in all these contests though, but it also varies which brand of shoes one shine etc.

[@les-chouans]

Best channel ever on youtube.

[@ToledoSolider]

Ive BEENSLACKIN on this!

[@cobblersunny8793]

It was a great event !

[@johnnymossville]

I had a hunch Chris Pratt was a good shoe shiner. Congrats Levi!!!!!!! Oh, and your suit was great.

[@robertmurphy7920]

What shirt is that you're wearing, Kirby. Looking sharp as always.

[@sackwhacker]

That shirt was made by Lachter, the shirt maker at Kent & Haste. He has a series on that commission.

[@paulmcgee1867]

Collar is fabulous

[@les-chouans]

flex welt is a great way to built shoes. These are far more comfortable from the get go.

[@PeterReid1993]

I'd love to see Mr. Allison do a segment on motorcycles. I feel like he would definitely be a Triumph kind of guy, however watching him go through the history of motorcycling in either the US or Europe and explore the modern gentleman on a motorcycle would be fascinating regardless of the brand.

[@JOEYtheBEANiron]

Ok so next year, this competition needs a Jail house shoe 👞 shine. Let's get some inmates in this competition

[@teettee-hb3yt]

no thanks

[@paulmcgee1867]

Any tips on caring for spectator’s?

[@paulff3]

A battle of titans!

[@Etan1122]

Shoe shining championship… on ESPN THE OCHO

[@TerryDavey-lo5ke]

Man yall must have a lot of. Free time :)

[@NoThanks-vn7bt]

Doesn't take too much. I spend about an hour a night watching TV with wife. It's pretty easy to sit back and polish shoes while a show is on, and rewarding when you're done.

[@markmanriquez3208]

Na. It's just the passionate that that Make time for the things we're passionate about. Cause I wish I had 3 more days to my week lol

[@dedgar301]

How do we apply to compete?

[@johncas1]

I use boot black shoe polish I think that's better

[@amyx231]

Were they only shining one shoe?! Or were they supposed to do both?

[@hickorydickory]

dunce

[@JulianJohnston919]

When is the World Cigar Competition?

[@s.s.nxumalo]

First

[@richarddr1234]

First like!

[@canciaro]

Talk about elitism in this video Jesus Christ lol

[@antonymoss8274]

Is he dieing his hair now

[@legend7ify]

...........G'day