Botisto Blog – Tus zapatos en Barcelona

Exotic leather products are increasingly considered to be among the highest-status, highly desired items in the fashion world. Related to their relatively high price many fashion brands market their exotic leather products as exclusive luxury items. However, the picture is actually not that black-and-white. Many exotic leathers are very resistant and long lasting materials, not to mention that many of them improve with age, which actually makes the price quality relationship of these products in most cases pretty good. We are definitely not talking about disposable items here.

There is a wide selection of different exotic skins at the market, such as crocodile, alligator, stingray, fish, snake, ostrich, eel, toad, chicken etc., some more affordable than others. Like all leather products exotic skins vary in textures, patterns, and markings, depending on the individual skin, as well as the area of the skin that was used in the manufacture of the item, and each item will always have its own unique texture and pattern which makes it different from any other. For example, snakeskin is much softer than other exotic leathers and that’s why items made of snakeskin can be more sophisticated in design.

The most coveted and high-priced skins from this family come from the largest of all living reptiles – Crocodile Porosus, a saltwater crocodile found throughout Southeast Asia and Australia. The commercial value of Crocodile Porosus skin is very high which leads to unpleasant by-products; some dealers call any crocodile skin Porosus to purposefully charge higher prices. So, if you are prepared to invest in a product made of Crocodile Porosus maybe it’s not a bad idea to do some investigation first.

Always before purchasing a product made of exotic leather check that the skins used to manufacture the products in question are legally obtained in full compliance with CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) regulations. The CITES Secretariat is administered by UNEP- The United Nations Environment Programme which is based in Geneva. The relatively high price of exotic leathers unfortunately also feeds undesirable phenomena, such as poaching which at its worst leads to extinction of endangered species. Nowadays most skins used by responsible suppliers come from farmed animals to preserve wild life. For example,the North American alligator has been removed from the endangered species list as of 1987. It is now raised on farms due to its commercial value. However, the Chinese or Asian alligator does remain on the endangered list.

Author: Jaakko Tulkki

Commonly, addictions are related to drugs or alcohol, however people can really get addicted to almost anything imaginable, to gambling, exercise, food, work, sex, social media and so on. Basically, whatever the addiction, it’s about trying to cope in some way and trying to fill a void and numb out one’s feelings. This time we’re going to ruminate on addiction to material, more precisely to shoes. Actually, the “shoe thing” is even a bit cliché these days—thanks to Carrie Bradshaw—however, even every paradise tends to have a downside.

It might sound curious that someone feels a compelling need for buying more and more shoes. Besides, is it really that bad having a lot of options in the shoe closet for every occasion and dress code? Yes, one can have too many shoes. Enough is enough no matter what is the addiction in question.

There are certain warning sign that alert you to the dangers of stepping out of line: maybe you have hundreds of pairs of shoes but you don’t even wear most of them, and this doesn’t stop you buying more. In other words, most part of the money you receive goes to shoes. Seriously, is it really okay with going broke for shoes? Or, have you maybe bought your current home based on the laundry/storage room, decorating the future shoe closet in your mind already during the sales presentation? Or have you ever surprised yourself by dreaming about designing a glass door book shelve style shoe cabinet with lighting in it to display all your shoes? If so, you might be seriously obsessed with shoes, but not in the good way.

Could it be that buying shoes helps you hide problems or relieve stress maybe? Do you buy shoes especially when you’re upset, lonely or just stressed? Like any addiction, admitting the true cause of your obsession is the first step to recovery. At the time it might make you excited but gradually you’ll end up in a spiritual void. The more shoes you get the more really important things you will let slip through your fingers, maybe relationships, hobbies, your credit rating or even a job. Definitely not worth it.

Ok, it’s time to stop. Shoes are just shoes, they’re meant to be accessories. Start with trying to figure out other things you can do to provoke that same feeling of excitement. Make a list of the things you could go with all the money that you don’t spend on shoes. A trip to Bahamas perhaps? In everyday life, be aware of all the danger zones, such as lunch breaks, holidays and paydays. Avoid rash decisions, both in the stores as well as online.

There’s nothing wrong with having some pairs of nice shoes. The right shoes can nicely compliment your outfit, they can lengthen your leg and they can alter the look of your calf. The right shoes can make you happy and maintain your health and well-being but not hundreds of right shoes. Invest in quality not quantity. Everything can be enjoyed with moderation. And finally, keep in mind: I wear the shoes the shoes do not wear me.

Hoy en día, los productos de la industria textil y calzado cada día más se basan en fabricación industrial. Sin embargo, todavía existen artesanos que mantienen las tradiciones artesanales en la fabricación de calzado.

La fabricación artesanal quiere decir trabajo realizado de forma manual por una persona sin la ayuda de maquinaria o automatización. Cada producto obtenido con fabricación artesanal es distinto a las demás y, como actividad material se suele diferenciar del trabajo en serie o industrial. Hay una larga historia detrás de la fabricación como, obviamente, antes de la industialización era la única manera de producir bienes y servicios. Para muchas personas, la fabricación artesanal es un término medio entre diseño y arte. También, se suele asociar artesanía con alta calidad.

Sin embargo, hoy en día cada día menos personas se dedican en la fabricación artesanal. Uno de los principales problemas de la fabricación artesanal es la competencia con los productos procedentes de procesos industriales de bajo coste, muchas veces, con apariencia similar a los productos artesanos, pero con menor precio y calidad.

No obstante, en realidad la división entre fabricación artesanal y proseco industrial no es tan blanca y negra. Un producto industrial no quiere decir, automáticamente, peor calidad. Muchas veces, cuando el motivo más importante es producir grandes cantidades, rápido y de menor precio el resultado final tampoco puede ser de muy alta calidad, pero no deberíamos juzgar el producto industrial así como así sin conocer los recursos y procedimientos de la fábrica y marca en cuestión. Un producto industrial puede ser de alta calidad y, también, personalizado como hoy en día la tecnología moderna hace posible fabricar productos, también, en pocas cantidades pero de manera lucrativa.

En general, la tecnología ha hecho mucho más fácil el esfuerzo humano, sin mencionar el ahorro de tiempo y eficiencia. Además, cabe pensar que las manos humanas también cometen errores. La fabricación artesanal, que requiere mucho tiempo, obviamente tiene su efecto en los precios al consumidor lo que limita el grupo objetivo, y en el peor de los casos el negocio se convierte en pérdida de tiempo y dinero.

Un concepto moderno muy interesante, y un fenómeno creciente, es una mezcla de las dos maneras de fabricar: un producto que comprende fases de trabajo tanto artesanales como industriales. En el mejor de los casos, el resultadio final es un diseño original de alta calidad pero como se fabrican algunas partes de manera industrial es posible bajar tanto los esfuerzos humanos como los costes. Optar por el camino más fácil no es necesariamente siempre insensato, sino puede ser genial.

Nowadays, more and more people are breaking with tradition, and buying shoes online. On one hand, looking for shoes online can be relaxing and fun. You save time and energy as you don’t have to travel to a shoe shop. At its best shopping online can make shoe shopping simpler and easier than before. On the other hand, there are some points that can make purchasing shoes online sometimes challenging.

One of the major challenges when buying shoes online is finding the correct size. If it’s sometimes difficult in a shoe shop, it’s even more difficult online. Because the shoes are being bought without the advantage of having been tried on, they may not fit properly and returning them can be problematic. Obviously, is your motive for online shopping is basically to save money and your looking for items of the shelf, you can always try on the shoes in a physical shop, ensure the correct size and later buy the shoes at home.

Anyway, in some cases looking for shoes online can end up vary advantageous. If you, for example, have a difficult time finding the right pair at stores due to the size of your feet, this is the perfect way to get exactly what you need. Most shoes shops usually focus on standard sizes, because they sell more of them, and don’t actually offer much alternatives when it comes to other measurements than the length of the outsole. Thus, those in search of, for example, bigger sizes, wide-fitting shoes or narrow shoes can find what they need in online stores. And, it really doesn’t have to mean compromising comfort for fashion. As a matter of fact, you may find a wider variety of sizes and styles online than you would find in the high street: amazing designs and delicious colors can be yours, whatever your size. And bear in mind that some brands offering such services only operate online.

Obviously, also in this above mentioned case one of the fundamental basics behind a successful shoe purchase online is proper size chart offered by the shoe online shop, so make sure that you understand the instructions and be very precise when taking the measurements. The methods for taking the measurements can vary between different brands so they are applicable only to the shoe making of the particular brand in question. Avoid falling for too complicated methods as it does not necessarily go hand in hand with a successful result. For example, simply showing the different measurements in centimeters, or in other predominant measurement system, can really help a confused shoe shopper.

Moreover, it’s highly recommended to be very familiar with the return policy of where you are shopping shoes online. Although it might sound like a boring waste of time, it’s always a good idea to read the return policy before the check-out, because you never know when a store decides to change their return policy. And, extra attention should be payed to the return policy of sale or clearance items. The most reputable companies have return policies that always serve the interests of both parties. When you finally get your shoes and try them on, make sure you’re careful not to walk outside or get them dirty, or else you can’t return them. A carpeted floor would be an ideal place for the test run, and make sure not to run for kilometers. The idea is just to test the size. For example, high quality leather shoes always take some time to soften and adjust to your feet.

Autor: Jaakko Tulkki

Hormas de zapato son imprescindibles para conservar intacta la forma del zapato y que éstos luzcan como el primer día. Ayudan a conservar los zapatos y prolongan su ciclo de vida.

Hormas de cedro

Una horma se coloca en el interior de los zapatos cuando siempre que no se está calzando ese par de zapatos. Por lo general, consiste en una pieza rígida redondeada que se introduce en la puntera del zapato y se apoya en la parte posterior del mismo gracias a una barra rígida. En su parte trasera cuenta con un tope redondeado del mismo material destinado a conservar la forma del talón y no dañar la piel del zapato. Las hormas de alta calidad se fabrican en madera generalmente de cedro ya que ayudan a controlar el olor y a absorber la humedad, y siempre son mejores que unas de plástico. Sin embargo, existen hormas más económicas y ligeras elaboradas en plástico.

En Botisto están a la venta hormas de madera de cedro de alta calidad con muelle de hierro adaptable y pomo auxiliar.