Kent Wingtips

Before all the craziness that has befallen the world and my own life I had taken a little bit of a chance and placed an order for some shoes with a company called Beckett Simonon - https://www.beckettsimonon.com. I say took a chance as they aren’t your average department store or even online mega shoe brand such as a Stacy Adams (I returned a pair from that company for low quality minutes after unboxing them). What they are is a crowdfunded esque, handmade, provider of shoes focused on lowering the cots of quality, old world craftsmanship, and ethical and environmentally conscious production methods. Given their business model it takes a few months after ordering as they actually make them to order in small batches. Along the way they send you emails updating you on the progress of the build, the processes they use, and even profile some of their artisans. While some may just junk these emails and not think anything of it while impatiently waiting for their product, I read every bit of the correspondences reflecting on time honored traditions, craftsmanship, and what it’s like to wait for quality. They arrived today and they are beyond my often lofty expectations. Opening the box you are greeted with the beautiful and pungent smell of real leather. I picked up a shoe and deeply inhaled the wonderful aroma. My eldest son scrunched up his nose in horror and asked me why on earth I was smelling my shoes, because real leather smells like nothing else was my retort. These shoes…