Master Zuo 1610-8-2B
Badalassi Carlo Yellow Minerva
Maker
Master Zuo
Model
1610-8-2B
Leather
Last
1610 Last
US Men's Brannock: 9.5D HTB/9 HTT
1610 Last: 43D
Master Zuo doesn't make boots based on just one number. When you start an order, he asks for a number of foot measurements and your sizing in as much other footwear as you can tell him. He guarantees that his shoes will fit. I asked for a size 43 with extra space in the instep and for arch support. However, I'm not sure to what extent he followed his instructions or modified his lasts as opposed to just grabbing the size he estimated would work best off his shelf. The Master works in mysterious ways.
When I first received this pair, it was hard to put on. In fact, I couldn't get the boots on at all without taking the laces completely out of half of the eyelets. And the veg tan leather was very stiff. The fit was very tight at first but without any blisters or hot spots. The boots took about 300,000 steps over a period of a month before they felt fully broken in. Broken in, the fit is still very firm with thick socks and relatively loose and gentle with cotton athletic socks.
Sole
Heel
Purchased from
Taobao
More about this item
These hefty boots were made to order by Master Zuo, one of Guangzhou's premier bootmakers. Sizing was done according to five different measurements of each foot's length and girth at various points. The style attempts to meld some of the elegance and dash of classic English country boots with heritage Americana bulk and pizzazz. Between its bright-colored Italian oiled leather, braided Norwegian stitching, dogger heel, and toecap with prominent broguing, this pair of boots is certain to look like no other on the street.Why I own this
I wanted to treat myself to a real premium pair of boots by one of the top-tier Chinese MTO makers. After also considering Quan, Iron Boots, and Flame Panda, I opted to go for Master Zuo because his ordering process on Taobao seemed the most transparent, he offered several styles that were right on the money for what I wanted, and his lead times were by far the shortest of the bunch. In the end I settled on a style that I felt could do double duty as a British country boot and American workboot-inspired service boot. I felt the well-balanced last, the brightly colored oiled veg tan, and the brogued real cap toe do a great job of encapsulating that. This is a boot that demands respect and attention without giving up any elegance or sophistication. And in this respect, Norwegian stitching with added welt is the cherry on top, making for a pair that I doubt I'll ever want to give up.
How I sized
Master Zuo has a process for sizing. You can specify a size when making the order, but before he starts work he wants a collection of measurements of length and circumferences for both feet and your size in as many shoes and brands as you can tell him. He also asks for arch support preference. For what it's worth, he guarantees that every pair he makes will fit.
Ordering process
The process was very straightforward on Taobao. Master Zuo went point by point through his options for every detail of the new pair and through his sizing procedure. We spoke via instant message through the Taobao customer service interface, as is common to all Chinese makers for orders within China. Master Zuo claims a 20-30 day typical lead time but I got this pair in hand after 11 days. I'm unaware if Master Zuo would be able to do orders through any other platform or in any language other than Chinese.