HOW WE IMAGINE SHOES

Walking means to be moving. We make shoes for people in movement, for people who move themselves and others. For independent people defined only by the path they choose to take. No rules, no conservative restrictions, no „no-go“ without reason.

We grant ourselves the luxury to bring together 2 poles as diverse as can be: individual style and comfort. Impossible? „Watch-me“ design with a wearability that’s a threat to any orthopaedic? Of course!

No matter how rough or high-heeled the collection might be, one thing is guaranteed: our shoes are made for people who have both feet planted solidly on the ground and who set themselves apart from others by their own efforts.

Typically A.S. 98

You really need to have a spleen to create shoes with a character. To find the right time for the one and only idea, to develop a feeling for the Zeitgeist, to find a new line that appeals: behind all this is a lot of work. But most of all talent. The result is a distinctable product.
Soft leather from Italian tanneries and handmade finishes meet with select colours and solid lasts – each shoe is unique with a rough, strong statement. All but boring and replaceable.

Just look at the leather..

The leather that we use is herbally tanned. This involves more work and costs but comes up to our objective of using only natural materials. It’s a decisive part of our attitude towards life for us and our customers.

… and the ‘handfinish“

Our look attracts attention because it shows genuine handcraft. The leathers are treated with selected creams and are washed, fulled and brushed with special liquids, alcohol and (of course secret) additives. The different intensity of brushing and the additional reworking of the seams create a rough look that is typical for A.S. 98.

»The Designteam

… and the “inner life”

We make our shoes comfortable by using soles made of special foam that always grows back to its original form – with memory effect. „You can be whatever heavy, you won’t wear them out!“ Martino Turri is grinning. What’s more, the premium interior made of calf leather guarantees an airy climate in the shoe.

… and the details

The so far biggest clou from the “witches’ kitchen” came up in the season autumn/winter 2010. Soft wire was worked into the bootlegs. Up until now their material always moved back into its original form. Due to the wire everybody can model his own individual look – and it stays!

The exceptional is in the details: The accessories for A.S. 98 are not randomly taken from any average catalogue. In the spring summer season 2010 for example the buckles were stamped from real sole leather to achieve a completely new look! A specialty and not ready-made!

„It’s not going to work“ – the A.S. 98 design team heard this sentence very often, also from the heel constructor who resisted constructing a heel with a hole. The design team won! The heel with the hole was perfected and the shoe became a bestseller.

From underneath

Typically A.S. 98: the soles of our shoes tell stories, about the sources of inspiration for certain looks. Like this A.S. 98 shows its profile – from the top to the bottom. And always based on the same topic: „ go your way“. On sand, autumn leaves or a canal topping in a Parisian arrondissement…

One example are leaves collected in the garden of padrone Piero Oliosi, that were dried and squeezed before outpoured by our sole supplier. Made individually just for A.S. 98.