The Art Of Handmade Patina Finish

By Author: Sam Orman
Total Articles: 19
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Falling under the category of classic footwear, handmade patinas are loved globally. But they’re so delightfully simple, that you might have come across a pair without recognizing them or realizing their worth.

So to formally break the ice between you and this gorgeous pair of handmade shoes, allow us to introduce you to this awesome pair of shoes for men. Say hello to Handmade Patinas!

Falling under the category of classic footwear, handmade patinas are loved globally. But they’re so delightfully simple, that you might have come across a pair without recognizing them or realizing their worth.

So to formally break the ice between you and this gorgeous pair of handmade shoes, allow us to introduce you to this awesome pair of shoes for men. Say hello to Handmade Patinas!

The Unique Art behind Handmade Patinas

Up until a few years ago, men’s shoes were predominantly designed in shades of black and brown because they suit well to all attires. But as the fashion industry started to expand, so did the competition between different shoe brands to outsmart each other. This is the time when patinas ...
... set their foot on the fashion shore.

The art of patina was designed by Olga Berluti, a member of the French shoe company “Berluti”. With this craft technique for shoes, the Berluti brand was the talk of the town in the ’80s.

Patinas followed the technique of hand-dyeing the leather to create an “aged” effect on the shoe. The aged look idea was given by Olga because she believed that the most worn-out shoes have the most fascinating stories behind them.

Craftsmen building patinas typically use various techniques for coloring the shoes, including heavy usage of solvents, dyes, tints, and essential oils. To give patina shoes an antique look, incomplete tanned leather is manually dyed and cut, and then the entire shoe is “aged” using a white cloth, brush, and sponge. This technique is called “Anticatura,” which means antique finishing in Italy, and is loved by French cobblers. This is why patinas are considered one of the best men's dress shoes.

In addition to making patina shoes a trend, Olga Berluti also designed an exceptional palette of shades to make these shoes unique. To date, this tradition is followed by all popular brands.

Key Attributes of Handmade Patinas

Top-notch leather

When it comes to handmade patinas, the leather is handpicked and is of top quality. And it’s only justified because for patinas to beam like lacquer, it’s mandatory to use premium materials. Patinas consist of full-grain leathers that are defect-less, uncoated, and picked from exceptional skins. This sort of handpicked supple leather is the one that allows all creativity to enhance. The method used to make these shoes polishes and creams the leather further to make it stand out from common leathers. Only a true artist can craft a patina. since only he can recognize the right material.

Skilled artists

It’s no wonder the traditional patinas are considered young because of fresh methods that keep springing up. By new methods, we mean different combinations of colors, materials, and other secret recipes that trend the product. But it takes only a skilled artist to bring out the best and produce a shoe with the right shade. Initially, the artisan focuses on how to convey an aged look on the shoe. He then dyes the colors carefully to give a faded, old, worn-out charm to the shoe. The final product isn’t just attractive, but also extremely comfortable.

Different Kinds of Patinas

Customized patinas

The reason why patinas are the most sought-after oxford shoes for men is that they can be customized. These shoes are manufactured to present an up-to-date set, jaded-yet-cool outlook. The personalization feature allows the buyer to specify his wishes according to which the artisan can assemble the pieces. Believe us, the final output is good enough to take you 30 years down the boulevard, and it’s worth it.

A few commonly loved customized finishing styles in patinas are regular, marble and papiro. The patina artisan uses basic shades and adds the customer’s demand to bring out the magic in each of these styles. This is because they know in and out about the leather’s reaction to the dyes. The experience of the artist is clearly reflected in the way the end product comes out to be.

Nowadays, many brands use 3D customization tools that allow customers to configure their shoes to exactly match their personal style statement. They can choose the intensity of the shoe and manage the worn-out effect, and accordingly, help the artisan to visualize what they need.

Patina Chukka Boots

Super comfy suede chukka boots can’t be denied by any man who desires vogue. But, if you’re someone keen on walking with captivating footwear, you need to check on patina chukkas.

Men's Chukka Boots are specially made and globally sold by thousands of brands. And given that patinas are also crafted exclusively, you can imagine how incredibly patina chukkas are made. The artist turns procreative as he brings two distinct styles together with a pattern. To alter and pull an aged look on a Chukka, the artist blends the right colors that go well with the selected leather.

Looking for something out of the ordinary to adorn your feet? Try out a dark green patina chukka paired with a crisp tux!

Final Thoughts

Be it for any occasion, formal shoes are a must, and when it comes to formal shoes, we believe classic retro-finish patinas are the right footwear. As they come in different colors, they can be easily matched with any outfit.

If you’re wishing for a custom-made shoe, there are plenty of avenues from which you can buy them from. But you must be aware that online scams and knock-offs are lying in the market, hence do good research before buying one.
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