While @shirtingfantasy's friends underwent a week-long spending spree due to Skoaktiebolaget's recent sale and MatchesFashion's funny pricing, @shirtingfantasy resisted the temptation. It doesn't hurt, however, to share some photos of their recent purchases:
A few observations:
1. Socks are rather thin. Perhaps only slightly thicker than traditional English lisle socks. There are, however, decent toe and heel reinforcements.
2. The needlework is very decent and neat.
3. Both varieities contain about 1/5 polyamide - which, as per @shirtingfantasy's grade A in Certificate-Level Chemistry (and a simple Google search), means Nylon - and are therefore not 100% natural fibre. On the flip side, this does give the socks quite a degree of stretch; also, polyamide-mix also tends to be more durable and robust than pure cotton or wool - so this may not entirely be a drawback.
Is there a hidden link between @shirtingfantasy and these material explorations? Yes and No. Yes, because a fantasy for shirting is not a fantasy for shirts, and the core subject has always been the most important element of a shirt - the fabric. No, because if one has the misfortune of starting off with the most affordable bespoke items (i.e. shirts), there seems to be a natural tendency to drift into the other addictive areas, e.g. shoes, suits...
The socks will now be washed and dried. Expect the second part of this review in a week's time.
Brand information:
Stemeso
www.stemeso.com
www.instagram.com/stemeso_style/
Socks may be purchased via Meccariello Shoes Italy
www.meccarielloshoes.it/product-category/socks/
Until then, good bye!
 |
| Mr TC. From Skoaktiebolaget. EUR 799. |
 |
| Mr TC. From MatchesFashion. Approx HKD 8600. |
 |
| Mr TC. From MatchesFashion. Approx HKD 8600. |
 |
| Mr CL. From Skoaktiebolaget. EUR 799. |
 |
| Mr CL. From Skoaktiebolaget. EUR 799. |
While spending on non-discount socks from a budding brand may only be a kind of pseudo-thrift, @shirtingfantasy resisted the temptation to buy shoes to complement his shirts nevertheless.
At least - Skoak summer sale is ending.
Back to the topic of Stemeso.
Stemeso is a budding brand of artisanal socks from Germany. Yarns are from Italy. Weaving and making is in Romania. When asked whether making socks in Saint Crispin's home country has something to do with cost compression, the artisanal answer was also rather expected:
1. Factories in Italy require huge minimum orders.
2. The brand owner found a good family-run workshop in Romania.
3. It is the best way to deliver handmade quality.
Without further ado, close-up photos of the delivery:
 |
| Socks were purchased directly from Germany this time, as @shirtingfantasy's MTM pairs from Mastro Meccariello are still somewhere on their wooden lasts, i.e. not yet closed. |
 |
| The melange colour of the linen mix variety is quite lovely. |
 |
| This photo looks a bit more bluish than real. Nevertheless, its brightness allows one to see the fineness of the yarns (so the photo was kept despite the misleading colour). |
A few observations:
1. Socks are rather thin. Perhaps only slightly thicker than traditional English lisle socks. There are, however, decent toe and heel reinforcements.
2. The needlework is very decent and neat.
 |
| From left to right: outside, inside. One can see the toe seam is as fine as it can get. Maybe the Romanian handwork overspilled from St Crispin's. |
Is there a hidden link between @shirtingfantasy and these material explorations? Yes and No. Yes, because a fantasy for shirting is not a fantasy for shirts, and the core subject has always been the most important element of a shirt - the fabric. No, because if one has the misfortune of starting off with the most affordable bespoke items (i.e. shirts), there seems to be a natural tendency to drift into the other addictive areas, e.g. shoes, suits...
The socks will now be washed and dried. Expect the second part of this review in a week's time.
Brand information:
Stemeso
www.stemeso.com
www.instagram.com/stemeso_style/
Socks may be purchased via Meccariello Shoes Italy
www.meccarielloshoes.it/product-category/socks/
Until then, good bye!
Comments
Post a Comment