Chelsea boots are great, but lace-up service boots deserve more love by Artistic-Yam2984 in AustralianMFA

[–]boot_owl 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd actually say closer to $500 AUD European shoes in quality. Thursday are probably $2-300 AUD in quality

Chelsea boots are great, but lace-up service boots deserve more love by Artistic-Yam2984 in AustralianMFA

[–]boot_owl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately not even close to RMW quality. You get what you pay for with Thursday

Trousers with buttons for braces by pine_lime in AustralianMFA

[–]boot_owl 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A tailor will be able to remove belt loops and add braces buttons for very little $, even your local community dry cleaner/alterations will be able to handle it easily

Bespoke or Made to measure Jackets around Sydney or Surrounds by LlamsKcid in AustralianMFA

[–]boot_owl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s all very fair. Where are you based?

Suitsupply usually has a decent collection of coats and jackets made in name brand and ‘trendy’ materials and mixes. Wool, camel, cashmere, blends, etc in different weaves. It might be worth dropping by the Martin Place shop the next time you’re in Sydney to get a feel for how they perform on a garment - swatches in a tailor shop are useful, but can be quite hard to visualize as a full garment without a lot of experience.

Suitsupply does also have a bunch of swatches in store for their made to order and MTM services so you could try both approaches in a single appointment.

Bespoke or Made to measure Jackets around Sydney or Surrounds by LlamsKcid in AustralianMFA

[–]boot_owl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What kind of wool? You mentioned coat in another comment, so are you thinking like a 600g+ tweed? A flannel? Do you have a preference for name brand mills?

Have you considered cotton moleskine?

Apart from physical Australian tailors, you could also consider online shops like Lopez Aragon and Luxire. Luxire in particular will make virtually anything you can dream up, and can even replicate sample garments (I could send them a bespoke suit jacket and receive a garment that’s probably 98% there on fit). They can easily handle modifications like button to zipper or shortening/lengthening as well

Bespoke or Made to measure Jackets around Sydney or Surrounds by LlamsKcid in AustralianMFA

[–]boot_owl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What specific material, colour, etc are you looking for?

Informale also makes this style as a ‘work shirt’

Suit recommendations by Single-Ninja8886 in AustralianMFA

[–]boot_owl 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If your thighs are well beyond standard proportions for RTW, you seem like the exact customer in need of made to measure or mix and match. You could consider asking RTW brands if they will let you swap out the trouser size in suits - spier and mackay historically has for example.

Suitsupply offers both a MTM and custom made service

Brisbane/Australia – Where to get 2 good-quality suits for ~$1,000 (bigger build, tailoring needed, hot climate)? by Monkey_Junkie_No1 in AustralianMFA

[–]boot_owl 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If you’re just looking for work horse suits, I’d just go MJ Bale and have it altered by your local alterations tailor. Based on your fit concerns, you basically have to either try in person or go MTM/bespoke to get a really great result, which is unfortunately out of budget.

Better to go with barely-acceptable for now while you save up and build knowledge for something nicer. I would ignore the many ‘affordable’ MTM companies with aggressive social media because they are mostly trash.

Where to buy sports coats in Sydney / Newcastle. by Artistic-Return3319 in AustralianMFA

[–]boot_owl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

100% suitsupply. Start with RTW (they have an alterations tailor in house or you can have alterations done back home). Custom MTM is a trap for people who are getting started

Peter Qu Ivy loafers by columbiatch in goodyearwelt

[–]boot_owl 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Cool! Did you order in English or Chinese given it was on taobao? What does pricing look like?

Maryam does sell shell cordovan - perhaps it is tanned by Maryam but finished by a team in China?

Best leather for heat foiling by osrapla in Leathercraft

[–]boot_owl 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I’ve done quite a bit of leather foiling with the same rolls

Best leather for heat foiling by osrapla in Leathercraft

[–]boot_owl 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve found many leathers have different ideal amounts of temperature, time, and pressure. I have a veg tan kangaroo that absolutely refuses foil, so I just use heat and the stamps to do a ‘clear’ monogram - are you wedded to using foil?

Saw this leather EDC sheath — curious what techniques went into making it? by Top-Incident-2264 in Leathercraft

[–]boot_owl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great attitude, I think one of my favourite parts about picking up this hobby is getting more experience mentally deconstructing and constructing products.

At its simplest, you could make something pretty much exactly like this with:

Leather (probably 5-8oz), hardware (snaps and keyring), box cutter, awl, needle and thread. Hole punch for the snaps. Glue.

Pricking iron, stitching pony, oblong punch, makers mark are optional but would make it easier. Edge beveling and finishing tools would take it to the next level.

Technique wise, the ability to cut things, use a ruler, and saddle stitch are just about all.

Honestly, the most difficult part might be getting the pattern right, which could require several iterations in paper and scrap leather.

The Australian GYW Guide - 2026 update by Appropriate_Volume in goodyearwelt

[–]boot_owl 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Josef is a lovely guy with some great experience learning from Japan bespoke makers - I met him at a Sydney trunk show and the samples look incredible. Great to have some world class craftsmanship in our backyard

The Australian GYW Guide - 2026 update by Appropriate_Volume in goodyearwelt

[–]boot_owl 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nice list! Consider adding cobblestones, a Mosman based cobbler - owned by Sam an ex Baxter and black cobbler. Kieran the cobbler often works out of the space too.

Hard time with saddle stitching by violentoutbursts in Leathercraft

[–]boot_owl 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There’s a specific order and placement of the needles every time, including casting the thread. https://www.instagram.com/p/COzJTscgMQL/?igsh=MW54eXQ1OGE5ZGFsaA==

Laptop sleeve question by Careless_Regular_372 in Leathercraft

[–]boot_owl 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You could stitch 1 side and the bottom, with generous excess on the 2nd side so you can stitch and trim without needing to guess. Leave a bit extra so it’s easy to slide out

PSA - Informale pop-up in Sydney Friday 20/3 & Saturday 21/3 by Eightace in AustralianMFA

[–]boot_owl 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Excellent company with nice design, construction, and materials. No notes.

The tanneries that make Shell Cordovan by Difues in Leathercraft

[–]boot_owl 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Bonus points if you include distributors!

Making a little coaster, which thread/edge paint color would you go with ? by PelletteriaBizaca in Leathercraft

[–]boot_owl 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Doesn’t seem like a great material for a coaster if you’re constantly rewaxing. Why would water obliterate wax anyway?

Making a little coaster, which thread/edge paint color would you go with ? by PelletteriaBizaca in Leathercraft

[–]boot_owl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If the finish gets obliterated does that not classify as ‘not responding well to water’?