L’Atelier Malfroid investit La Cordonnerie du Bon Marché, Paris

Backstage at the glazing competition organised by Saphir Médaille d'Or and Corthay. The evening took place in the presence of enthusiastic customers, under the watchful eye of an exceptional jury made up of Valéry Khung, from the blog "Jamais Vulgaire" https://jamaisvulgaire.com/, and Pierre Corthay, founder of the eponymous House.

Jury: Pierre Corthay & Valéry Khung, ©parasian-wanderer ©corthay

Corthay is a French company founded in 1990 by Pierre Corthay, who trained at John Lobb. He chose to start making shoes for men, focusing on a combination of classic elegance and contemporary style. During our tour of the workshops, we met the House's craftsmen, who use a variety of techniques to create high-quality shoes. Each pair is made by hand, with particular attention to detail: cutting the leather, stitching and patina. Corthay also makes bespoke shoes, such as this innovative and ingenious pair made from carbon.

As soon as we arrived at the boutique, located just a few steps from the Opéra Garnier, we were greeted by a captivating scene: two people sitting at a table, creating patinas; a technique that symbolises the identity of the brand. The atmosphere is friendly, and the shoes are an explosion of colour, a far cry from the traditional black and brown, revealing the non-conformist spirit of the House. Some of the shoes are displayed like works of art on pedestals, with one model standing out for its angular shapes that multiply the reflections of light. More classic pairs with magnificent patinas represent the emblematic models of Corthay. After a fruitful meeting with the team, we explored the company's vaulted cellars. Here, no wine, but custom-made shapes hung on the walls, adding a warm touch to the room. Opposite us, on the shelves are carefully arranged ostrich, crocodile, shark, beluga and ray leathers, each as original as the next, revealing the diversity of leathers available.

Participant in the glazing competition ©parasian-wanderer ©corthay

The highlight of the evening was the glazing competition, where all the participants gathered around an elegantly topped table. Black shoes and the products needed to make the glazing were waiting for the guests: Pâte de Luxe, Crème 1925 and water. The challenge for the participants was to create a perfect glazing in 30 minutes on the hard toe and toe cap. Some were more experienced and organised, and quickly achieved a convincing result. At the end of the time limit, the jury carefully examined the results of the glazing. They didn't necessarily choose the glazing that looked the most convincing at first glance, but rather the one with the most harmonious gradation, making the task more complex than it seemed. 

Creme 1925 and Pate de Luxe ©parasian-wanderer ©corthay

The winner of the glazing competition,

Gregory Bouffay ©parasian-wanderer ©corthay