Old Roger and Sarah Adams shoes from the 1980s

rogerandsarah · 9th September 2006, 17:52

Zaphod, and others, may like to know that we ceased trading as "Roger and Sarah Adams" in 1991 after approximately 8 years in the shoe business, starting with "old stock" 1960s stilettos, then punk shoes and boots, and finally designing our own collection. The circumstances were simple -there was a very nasty recession that year, and we couldn't keep the shop going. We were also in the middle of introducing a new heel, which proved to be a financial "last straw". Some people have commented that we used to "make" shoes in Brighton - this is untrue. As most people knew, we used a small cobbler in City road, London, who was supposed to be making the shoes by hand, to order. We specified and paid for the lasts and heels for our shoes, and the entire range in our catalogue was based on our designs and artwork. When we pulled out of the business, we gave our shoemaker the rights and goodwill to carry on marketing shoes made on those lasts and heels in return for clearing our account with him. We did not allow him to carry on using our name - and, to his credit, he didn't ask to. We have never visited "Leatherworks" or met the proprietors so I cannot say if their shoes are in any way connected with ours, but some of their styles and catalogue numbers are certainly familiar. In our catalogue, any shoes with a letter K prefix were cheaper quality shoes made for wholesale only. According to the Leatherworks site, they started in 1992. They sell fetish, so-called "sexy" shoes. We do not. We design and sell wearable, beautifully made (in Italy)1960-style ultra-pointed retro fashion shoes and boots which just happen to be spectacularly sensual. In fact, we personally find them a whole lot sexier than any fetish shoe.

xaphod · 11th September 2006, 09:58

Belatedly, hi,

I had always meant to get around to seeing you in the late 80s, but, in those days, I was a very busy bunny.

I hope you enjoy your stay on our board, and that your business prospers.

xa

Rob · 13th September 2006, 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogerandsarah

we used a small cobbler in City road, London,
.......When we pulled out of the business, we gave our shoemaker the rights and goodwill to carry on marketing shoes made on those lasts and heels

Hi Roger and Sarah,

Do you know if that Shoemaker is still marketing those shoes?

xaphod · 15th September 2006, 14:06

Yes, they're known to all as Leatherworks.

Xa

Rob · 15th September 2006, 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by xaphod

Yes, they're known to all as Leatherworks.

Xa

Really?

I'm surprised. I thought I had seen some Roger and Sarah Adams shoes in the 80's and that they were much more stylish than the quite plain styles from Leatherworks (which I thought originated from Ritual Shoes).

Roger and Sarah Adams, can you confirm this?