When we first visited the Loding store, a Parisian menswear boutique that opened in Toronto, we loved the idea of having all the shoes in a store for the same price. Take the price out of the equation and it makes the shoe buying process a lot more fun. Now, for the first time, Loding will have its exclusive patina artisan Emmanuel Farre in North America. With his recent move to Toronto from Toulouse, France, Emmanuel transforms Loding’s high-quality, calf leather shoes into custom coloured works of art.
The exclusive patina process includes six steps:
- Cleaning the shoes
- Stripping the dye
- Hand painting details
- Applying shoe cream for pigmentation and nourishing the leather
- Leaving the shoes out to dry naturally
- Completing the look with high-gloss polish
At recent event in the First Canadian Place, the Loding store and showcased the patina artist working on a pair of shoes and we were able to see the amazing creation he was making. Emmanuel hand paints genuine leather goods to create unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. His workshop is located at the Yorkville storefront (133 Avenue Road); however, the patinas will retail in all Canadian Loding locations.
Emmanuel is able to patina a variety of genuine leather goods from shoes and belts to handbags and gloves – as long as they are a tan or light colour base. Loding patina shoes retail for $550; patina belts $150. For more information on Loding you can visit their website here – loding.ca
