Polished to perfection

• Source: Global Times
• [13:20 June 29 2010]
• Comments

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The owner and footwear designer of the store, Luo Shiliang, was apprenticed to a shoemaker when he was studying at senior middle school at Longquan, Zhejiang Province, in 1989. Luo's teacher, Jiang Kailong, now has his own studio in Venice working with luxury brand shoes for Louise Vuitton and Chanel. So Luo hears about the latest fashion tips and trends from his old teacher. "I used to own a shoe factory in Wenzhou but I always dreamt of becoming a major shoe designer. Six years ago, I shut the factory and opened my own store in Shanghai, specializing in made-to-order shoes," Luo told the Global Times.

For the past few years, Luo's handcraft has attracted celebrity customers including former US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Li Yang (the founder of Crazy English), and the actress Liu Xiaoqing. A pair of leather shoes at Stanley Law sells from 1,300 yuan while exotic skins can cost from 10,000 yuan a pair.

There are three other handmade shoe stores in Nanyang Road - Long Yi, Tao Tao and Ben Zhou. Long Yi deals in patent leather footwear. Tao Tao can customize men's shoes for women. And Ben Zhou's shoes are for everyday wear. All the handmade shoe stores on Nanyang Road offer men's shoes but have limited designs for women. If a woman wants to have shoes made she should find the style in a magazine and bring it along.

J.M. Weston

Third floor, Plaza 66 on No. 1266, Nanjing Road West

Stanley Law

No.36-38, Nanyang Road

Long Yi

No.90-5, Nanyang Road

Tao Tao

No.72-2, Nanyang Road

Ben Zhou

Room 110, No.90, Nanyang Road