World Championship in Shoe Patina 👞🎨 | Kirby Allison

Hi, I'm Kirby Allison, and I love to help the well-dressed acquire and care for their wardrobes and explore the world of quality, craftsmanship, and tradition. This year, my team and I flew to London for the 2019 World Championship of Patina, where three distinguished patina artists from around the world came together to see who could most-beautifully transform an unfinished dress shoe into a work of art only using alcohol-based leather dyes and shoe polish.
Meet the Competition:
Stéphane Villette, France. A “grand old man” in the world of shoe patina, who has worked with painting shoes and other leather products since 1994, today among other things paint the bespoke shoes of Stéphane Jimenez. Here Stephane Villette shows off a relatively muted patina, which has given the shoes a depth you can almost drown in.
Andrzej Olender, Poland. Runs the largest shoe patina and glacage service of Poland, The Shine. His qualification pic is of a pair of derbies with a gorgeous marbled brown patina. Even if you look up-close it looks very natural, great work.
Samuel Norsworthy, England. If Villette is a patina veteran, Sam is a rookie. He started working at Gaziano & Girling just a couple of years ago, where he has been extremely dedicated and learned closing uppers, clicking, painting patina, and shining shoes, from the masters working at the company. This single monk has beautiful, living transitions from the light brown in the middle of the shoe up to the dark toe.
Join us as we watch the competition unfold!
⏩ SKIP TO
Interview w/ Sam Norsworthy 1:53
Competition Start 4:06
Judging 8:24
Announcements Begin 9:16
Winner Announced 13:08
Interview w/ Thomas Brunschwig 13:41
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[@bsouza1675]

I think Sam’s work is beautiful. I would purchase them. 👍 Well Done Sam! Go Britain 🇬🇧

[@arthurc1971]

The brown shoes look the best to me. The younger gentleman.

[@victorvulpe6511]

I am trained as a painter and I find so much difficulties in making a good patina so I can say what they did it is truly outstanding , thank you Kirby again for sharing this ,you are extremely talented man. The best.

[@dariusdise]

I thought the UK kid, with the brown shoes, had it. The Polish dude with the subtle grain-streak in his work--that was awesome...but the brown was more suitable, imo. The French guy--he did outstanding work; bold, beautiful, demands wardrobe pieces be made around it. I leaned more toward the 'safe' and more tame, brown shoe that already complements everything with little to no effort.

[@68Deak]

The youngest contestant was much more pleasing to the eye. 1st by far in my eyes.

[@jhgolf25]

The young gun created the only shoe I would actually wear, and it's a fine looking shoe. I'd place the green shoe in 3rd

[@roderik-4543]

subltelty rules, always

[@andrewrivera1717]

Its a patina competition dude. The judgement is not based purely on wearability

[@jhgolf25]

@@andrewrivera1717 that statement right there is absolute garbage. If you're not aiming for a good looking shoe that people would wear get out of the fuckin shoe business and go paint canvasses or walls

[@fandf888]

I have to say, as beautiful as these shoes patina are the marbling work done by The Elegant Oxford is on the same level as the winner.

[@brianjschumer]

I would have liked to have seen the soles of the shoes because I saw the Polish guy working on the bottoms and I wonder if that had any thing to do with the point scoring.

[@Aggnog]

I can see the future where we have team based shoemaking, patina and polish championships.

[@amyx231]

Start to finish 24 hours perhaps?

[@Hahejo]

@@amyx231 that would be simply impractical

[@amyx231]

@@Hahejo why impractical? Team approach, so not long shifts for anyone. Livestream with multiple angles

[@Hahejo]

@@amyx231 Pardon me for my hastely made comment from earlier. While a patina paint and polish might be done within a few hours, making a pair of shoes takes weeks to be done, not to mention the time needed to design a unique pair for the competition. Dominic Casey told Kirby that he could only make 24 pairs of shoes per year, which is about one every two to three weeks in Kirby's video with him talking about the Duke of Windsors' shoes. I don't think apair of shoes made in a day could be of high enough quality for such a competition.

[@mikejones-go8vz]

What about lace tying, or even pesky knot undoing 🤔😂🙄

[@puchitopuchito6531]

All winners in my book

[@kfung4]

Doesn’t seems fair when they knew who the artists are when judging

[@kalel33]

Yeah, it should have been blind judging.

[@FrankWizzard007]

i think in this industry you kinda know who the top dogs are. Even if they were blindly judged, you’d probably be able to work out each persons work by their style..

[@FrankWizzard007]

Or maybe the lcomp was just put together badly, who knows..

[@Enemji]

The green shoe literally took patina to heart

[@spicecrop]

This topic is becoming more and more fascinating to me. I had no idea this type of competition and work was going on in the world. This seems like something right up my alley. The green shoes look amazing.

[@cevansPhotographer]

It was a thoroughly a joy to see these three artisans at work and I enjoyed the privilege of capturing their artistry on film -speaking with them and getting their insights . This video has reminded me of the joy of my time in London and has inspired me 👍

[@spicecrop]

This topic is becoming more and more fascinating to me. I had no idea this type of competition and work was going on in the world. This seems like something right up my alley. The green shoes look amazing.

[@kojiattwood]

The one I liked won, but they're all gorgeous.

[@secondchancesminnewashta7612]

Love the new intro - I think it makes sense to change it up every few months

[@zoelife7272]

didn't know shoes were this serious ....... truly amazing. just dyed a pair cognac leather pumps black to hide defects. no technique whatsoever. if only i had a clue, i would have challenged myself to restoration and the varying shades of browns/reds. did not turn out as expected of course. will hand over to professional to finish.

[@ade5393]

Only 3 contestants? World championships? C'mon man....more like a Saphire ad

[@ecurb10]

They were the finalists.

[@j.d.1488]

The young man from England shoes are more suitable for wearing with a lot more variety of clothes. The other 2 show amazing technique and color blend. Great artists all of them.

[@Filioque_]

3 guys representing the world 🌎 🤔

[@paulff3]

That was fun. You have a great way with descriptors Kirby.

[@petelewis7801]

I like the shiny ones

[@caraame]

Wow who knew this event existed! Awesome. I love it.

[@sieverts455]

Thomas Brunschwig’s jacket or cardigan looks beautiful.

[@marco1628228]

Great Video

[@charles6724]

fascinating video....wish Kirby had pushed to find out what detailing separated 1st from 2nd place.

[@hiteshahir2671]

All three were great. It's difficult to give number also for experts. Personally I like the work of polish guy, wooden patina.

[@liljuanito123]

I like the "kid's" shoes the best. Look like mahogany wood with deep and rich tones.

[@ajdutari]

I would have liked that the camera stayed on the shoes, as the expert was giving his critique, instead of going back and forth to the faces.

[@stevenjohnsrud4655]

I would love to have a watch strap and shoes with matching patina.

[@tonymaiettasr.7340]

steven johnsrud And belt, too

[@ecurb10]

I can't believe all those people talking in the background while the MC was about to announce the winner!

[@Blacksoul44]

Kirby, This was a great video. I like to experiment with dyeing and refinishing shoes in my spare time. Are you able to provide information on how to obtain white crust leather shoes, similar to the ones that were used in the competition?

[@natevonhartleben2737]

I dont remember off-hand what the names were, but do some digging into french shoemakers. I know there are a couple sites out there to buy crust calf leather shoes with no dye applied. Though they are not for a wholesale price. As a patina artist myself, i'd recommend calling or emailing some french shoemaking companies and asking directly, as some may sell them despite not listing them for sale on a website.

[@Doty6String]

Most bizarre competition ever. Cool so see a “blank” shoe

[@nandoshinesasmr5214]

Great video! Shoe patina is a work of art as well as shoe shining! 🤝👞🎨

[@greatprovider8198]

This is art.

[@styzoom]

They're all pretty nice.

[@bjornnordstrom]

There is no way that green is going to turn out, in any way, being attractive... lol Exactly my thoughts.

[@9622paige]

I really like the olive colored ones cuz they’re so different

[@Nefville]

Why do I want a pair of unfinished shoes so badly? Now thats a style, minimalist unfinished! Edit: no seriously do you know where I can buy unfinished shoes?

[@flogau4069]

Septième Largeur do sell some unfinished pairs to patina. Check out on their website.

[@Nefville]

@@flogau4069 I'm still looking thanks for the heads up!

[@curtisoular]

World Championship that Excludes the whole wide world!.. Hilarious!.. :D

[@mikejones-go8vz]

Should the judges have known who did each pair?

[@ghostygallagher]

brilliant video Kirby, really enjoyed it, all of the guys are so talented, hard to pick a winner just down to taste really...

[@caraame]

Makes me want to get my shoes out and have a go.

[@lackadaisicale492]

The green shoe may pop, but it is ugly beyond words. The young gentleman from Britain made the only shoe I would want to wear. I find it silly that one should win based on contrasting colours, and even more absurde that the judges know who made what shoe, it should be blind testing!

[@johnparkerzabala]

Hi Mr. Kirby very much obliged for all your dedicated posts. I have a question about Saphir Mirror Gloss. It already cracked so you suggest to use heat gun to melt it down? Thanks God Bless.

[@yacovlevi]

Hi Kirby, I know I am very critical but in this case I wil say this is amazing. This finish makes The Allen Edmonds finish look like a pair of Dockers.

[@brooklynqueen125]

@TheElegantOxford for 2020!!!

[@PsychoGod9898]

What a great art! Could you tell me, what tie knot you are wearing?

Kirby, STOP talking and START listening

[@jorge10928]

Literally did not know this was a thing lol

[@alejandrovelasquez2828]

the 2 green socks

[@amyx231]

The shoes all look so nice! I love the mirror shine. I’m actually debating using normal shoe polish on patent leather, would the finish be durable enough to last, or is patent leather too coated in PU for the waxes to stick properly?

[@TheBryanScout]

AmyX I tried that once when I was in high school. Doesn’t work at all. With patent leather, name of the game is cleaning. Superficial scuffs can be taken out with nail polish remover, and windex or brasso works pretty well to clean it, as does rubbing alcohol. Companies like Saphir also carry products specifically for patent leather, if you want something a little better than household cleaning products. Once patent’s scratched though, it’s pretty much done.

[@damiendegrasse]

I will name the green shoe: Le Goblin snot

[@bg147]

I know zero about patina and shoes for that matter as well. Something told me the green would take it and I assume the gent from Poland was the close 2nd. The middle was beautiful but on the conservative side. Still loved it, though. They are all skilled.

[@sjuvanet]

most swede guy presentation ever haha

[@thebeddoctor4273]

next years should be a judged without knowing who did which shoes.

[@fredygump5578]

Why isn't Adam Savage into this? (Or maybe he is, and we just don't know it?)

[@tonyjacobs1974]

What happens to the shoes after

[@bemnet2000]

Where in London would do you recommend accommodation, considering that hotels in London are expensive?

[@nkents6577]

Beement AirBnB in zone 3 or zone 4. With access to the Northern line or central line or jubilee line. 20mim to city center. If you want to stay central and not break the bank, look at a travelLodge or Moxy hotel.

[@jackeddemon]

Beement if you can’t afford a decent hotel, don’t come.

[@veegroove]

I agree to disagree but the guy who did the middle pair should have won my congrats to him. The first place winner I disagree with the judges decision.

[@biworldwide23]

Where can I get colourless leather shoes from in the UK and Europe?

[@biworldwide23]

@@AMR-zo5ut thank you so much for the introduction.

[@MassBreak]

8:53 pls name that badass leather jacket brand name

[@oldwest517]

20 minutes of watching paint dry! Just kidding... fun video.

[@angelalane2136]

I'm sorry, but the younger gentleman should've won this! The other two pair are Booger Green!? In whose eyes were the Booger shoes appealing!? Even if I were a man, or if I even HAD FEET, I would never wear the Booger shoes!

[@kaikaichen]

Out of curiosity, which company/maker supplied the shoes used in the contest?

[@64ftContraBombarde]

It looks like TLB - I caught a glance of their branding on one of the insoles.

[@Bullster2663]

Wrong winner.. i would have put this guy in 3rd

[@bolaroberts]

And the winner is the ugliest shoe among the three!

[@MrSkullkid60]

Alexssandro Roberts LMAO. That shoe patina was sick and actually clean. They also rate the technical aspect you know

[@matlindell5022]

Amazing job but these patinas are nothing but painting.To my eyes,It has nothing to do with a real time patina.Cheers.

[@iMadeThisThat]

Kirby Allison as always totally biased with Gaziano and Girling. Should be blind judging... Select the shoe first and then announce the winner. And why only 3, in the world?

[@kirbyallison]

The judging was done blind....

[@Schnitzeljunge]

First

[@CreamyBone]

My girlfriend got angry and punched me because I watched this 2 times.

[@ramaporiver803]

Stephan should polish those teeth of his.......can't have it all

[@averagepainter]

my god... it's painting shoes, not a renoir. pls, this is pathetic. sahpir advertisement.

[@RogueCylon]

So a “world championship” you made up.

[@echochapman7657]

Jim Long No it was sponsored by the International Federation of Shoeshine and Patina Athletes ......... who do you think would sponsor this? I know what you’re worried about.... did they get input from all of the National Competitive Shoeshine and Patina organizations?

[@matthewl.5612]

Just like every other "world championship"? Painting a "patina" is challenging and its creation and predictability of the final product takes a very high level of experience. Not to everyone's taste, but is still a notable skill.

[@frfrpr]

I hope your filming has improved. This was way below good.

[@greglinsmythe3375]

What a disappointment, all three of those shoes are ugly. The color schemes are bland and unimaginative. All dark browns and dark greens, no light brown, navy, or burgundy. They need a new talent pool for future years, people with a sense or artistry, not just artisanship.

[@-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-...]

Hi Kirby. Can you teach us how to wrap a shining cloth around the index and middle finger? There are no good video explanations on how to do this. Thanks!

[@moikeyy]

I hope this helps, cheers. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZzHooqgerZ8jcU

[@grumpynanny7402]

The Elegant Oxford shows in one of his vids