Rob's Loafer w/ Vibram Tuscany
Opera’s Full Grain Tumbled Palermo Leather tanned in Toscana, Italy
Custom Vegetable Tanned Leather Insole w/ Built-In Arch Support
Vibram’s Tuscany Outsole
Hand Cut, Hand-Lasted, and Hand-Stitched
Genuine Moccasin Construction
1950’s Most Beloved Moccasin Last
Handmade in Italy
A Classic American Penny Loafer done Yuketen style! This timeless shoe design has been a staple in American fashion for decades and continues to be a popular choice. The Rob’s Loafer was introduced as part of our Spring / Summer 2023 collection and is part of our Made in Italy collection.
Our Director, Yuki Matsuda’s design concept with the Made in Italy collection is to take classic, well-loved American footwear styles and produce them in an artisanal, small historic Italian factory in Mount Sibillini, Italy (part of the Appennines). Simply put, American style, Italian craftsmanship, Yuki’s Japanese sensibilities, and excellent materials.
Handcrafted using Genuine Moccasin Construction, this means the leather is wrapped from UNDER your foot, completely enveloping your foot like a thick, super comfortable leather sock. We use from the most beautiful full grain, tumbled Palermo leather from Opera Leather tanned in Toscana, Italy. The leather is called "tumbled" because it undergoes a process of tumbling, which softens the leather, making it more pliable and comfortable to wear. Palermo leather is known for its durability and resistance to wear and tear, while still being highly breathable.
Hand cut using our original Yuketen patterns and hand-lasted using our favorite 1950’s last. The vamp and saddle areas feature beautiful hand-stitching. Intricate overcast stitching on the saddle ensures that seams are durable but also adds a beautiful detail indicative of the shoe’s handmade charm. We added a backstay and collar with additional pinking detail to give the shoe structure, protect any seams, and give the shoe a little more character. To add a little structure and a lot of style to the shoe we add classic penny loafer styling by adding a leather saddle across the plug with a hand-cut slot (leather strap across your foot with penny loafer styling) ... AMAZING style.
Your feet rest on a thick, custom Yuketen vegetable tanned leather insole with built-in arch support. These insoles mold to your feet as you wear them and get more comfortable as they break in. Giving your feet the support, they need for all day comfort. The Vibram Tuscany outsole gives the shoe a sophisticated look while still being durable and comfortable.