First off, I kinda stumbled across this random collection of links – a weird mix of used Bulgari shoes on some resale site, a list of “best shoemakers,” some dude’s Instagram handle (what’s *that* doing here?), and a bunch of English shoemakers bragging about their heritage. It’s a digital scavenger hunt, I tell ya.
Anyway, the Vestiaire Collective bit implies you *can* find used Bulgari shoes, which means they exist. I’m assuming they’re aiming for the luxury market, like, “I’m rich and want to wear snakeskin loafers to the grocery store” kinda vibe. Which, honestly, good for them. Get that bag.
Now, “handmade”… that’s where my eyebrow raises a bit. When I think handmade, I think of some dude in a tiny workshop in Northamptonshire, painstakingly stitching leather together. (Those English shoemakers are really good at the whole “heritage” thing, aren’t they?) I don’t necessarily picture a Bulgari factory with a bunch of robots stamping out logos. Unless, you know, it’s *artisanal* robot stamping.
I mean, maybe they *are* handmade. Maybe they have a dedicated team of Italian cobblers hand-crafting each shoe from the finest Tuscan leather, using ancient techniques passed down through generations. Sounds romantic, right? But also… expensive. Like, “second mortgage on your house” expensive.
Then there’s the whole “personal I.D.” thing in one of the snippets. I’m not sure what *that’s* doing here, but it got me thinking. Maybe Bulgari should offer a shoe customization service? You know, like, “put your initials on the sole” or “have a tiny diamond embedded in the heel” kinda thing. Total overkill, but hey, it’s Bulgari. Overkill is kinda their brand, isn’t it?
And speaking of other links, Bondeno’s been crafting handmade shoes forever. Loake’s been doing it since 1880! Talk about legacy. It makes you wonder what Bulgari’s shoemaking legacy actually *is*. Is it just a brand extension? Or are they serious about this shoe thing? Hmmm.