We’d like to thank Liza Weisstuch and Caroline Myler for introducing us to Spire.com. A few of us at Otabo just joined their network, and we’ve already made lots of fun plans inspired by their members’ In-the-know insight™.

Check out Spire Curator Suzanne Aaronson’s file on Custom Shoes and keep an eye out for reviews from the Otabo Team.

 

Pictured from left to right: SPIRE TRAVEL- Raffles Resort Canouan Island; SPIRE EPICUREAN - 1770 House East Hampton, NY; SPIRE SHOPPING - Shiatzy Chen Shanghai, China

Hampton Magazine coverage on the Otabo Golf Spectator Wingtip. Now available at trunk shows at The Nines in East Hampton, (631) 907-9077.




CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: White braided belt by Harmont & Blaine ($145). Harmot & Blaine, 38 Jobs Lane, Southampton, 287-6442. Plaid skinny pants by Gucci ($470). Gucci, 46 Main Street, East Hampton, 907-9290. Bespoke oxford golf shoes by Otabo ($725). Available at the Nines, 52 Newton Lane, East Hampton, 907-9088. Divot box by Brooks Brothers ($148). Brooks Brothers Country Club, 48-50 Main Street, Southampton, 287-3936. Golf bag by Hermes ($6,900). Hermes, Americana Manhasset, 2002 Northern Boulevard, Manhasset, 516-869-6660. Court V-neck by Michael Kors ($795). Michael Kors, Americana Manhasset, 2004 Northern Boulevard, Manhasset, 516-869-1901. Solid pima polo by Lacoste ($75). Lacoste, Americana Manhasset, 2110G Northern Boulevard, Manhasset, 526-365-1933

Dear Friends, Family and Otabo Customers, 

The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article on the dying infrastructure of the shoe industry in the United States – U.S. Shoe Factory Finds Supplies Are Achilles' Heel. Mr. Tim Aeppel, the journalist who wrote the report, interviewed Otabo Founder and President Howard Shaffer and spent a full day at our last factory bay in South Florida to watch us pack out for our move back to China. 

As you’ll read in The WSJ report, Otabo, like other American shoemakers, had been facing the difficulties of an almost non-existent industry. The negative tone of the interview (in regards to the failing footwear industry in the USA), has led some people to believe that we are closing up shop. This is not the case. We have simply moved. 

And we have moved with good reason – our business is growing, and we could not continue to affordably produce a quality product here in the United States.  Manufacturing in the US is increasingly expensive, and it is also more and more difficult to find skilled labor and high-grade materials.  We gave our US production a good run (it’s been over ten years since we first left China) and Otabo alone cannot save the shoe industry in America.   

For those of you who have visited our US factory, and maybe even watched your shoes in production, I am sure you can appreciate how much work and equipment it takes to provide the service and product that we do. Moving over 30,000 square feet of work space was not an easy task, but our new factory setup is finally complete, and designed to not only be more efficient, but to also introduce a greater variety of shoemaking techniques.  In addition to faster deliveries (we’ll be down to three weeks lead time before the end of the year!), we will be offering you more of the styles that you are asking for. 

So while we can no longer sustain a shoe factory in the States, we will continue to have a strong presence here in the US, and strive to influence the footwear industry for the better – developing innovative shoemaking techniques; reintroducing time-tested, traditional shoemaking techniques that modern industry has given up in favor of cheaper methods; and returning footwear to its roots as a service-oriented, highly individualized product. 

Now that I’ve addressed any confusion on The WSJ article, I would like to welcome you to Otabo’s blog.  This blog will be means for us to keep everyone updated on happenings with our company and to introduce you to the people, partners, projects and research that motivate and inspire us. 

So please subscribe and check in with us from time to time to learn about everything from new technologies we’re testing out, to tips from PGA pros on how to improve your game. We’d also love to hear your feedback and thoughts on how to better educate and service you on custom footwear. 


Sincerely,  
        
Sabrina Shaffer
Otabo Inc.  

 
Otabo at Tao Beach, Las Vegas
From left to right: Me and Otabo Designer Elizabeth Roque, who also happens to be one of my best friends; Otabo custom trainer, ostrich golf spectators, oxfords and loafer from our cabana display; award-winning, former Nike Design Director Christopher Bevans and the beginnings of his namesake footwear collection developed by Otabo.

Arnold Palmer’s Kingdom Maganzine coverage on the Otabo Golf Spectator Wingtip, custom designed for Se Ri Pak’s induction into the Golf Hall of Fame.  

 

CLUBS, PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT. A BAG to put the clubs in, also a matter of concern. Sun visor, sunscreen, golf balls, golf ball marker, proper shirt and pants, glove, laser rangefinder… Countless hours are spent flipping through catalogs and online review sites researching almost every bit of the golfer's tool kit. How odd, then, that when it comes to shoes so many golfers go on looks alone. Far from merely keeping your feet safe from a hot parking lot, proper golf shoes anchor you to the ground, which helps improve stability, which helps you not put your drive into the woods. Next time you set out to shod your dogs consider shoes from the following companies all of which have more to offer than just laces and a pretty tongue. Your swing will thank you. 

OTABO
The bespoke shoe goes high-tech with Otabo Custom shoes. The Florida-based company uses a computer scanning process that captures more than 200,000 data points to create 3D digital models of your feet. The scans, together with your fit preferences, shoe model of choice and custom design options, are sent to the factory. There, your custom golf shoes are made from the finest leathers and materials available – one shoe to the best fit of your left foot, the other to your right. Otabo even offers custom branding on the sole, perfect for personalizing the ultimate custom golf gift. Fit-to-finish takes about 10 weeks, which is quite reasonable considering yours will be the only pair like it in the world. 
Otabo Bespoke Golf shoes: Starting near $725Available at finer clothiers and shoe stores nationwide.
Visit www.otabo.com for more information.

Otabo Euro Oxfords worn by director, Judd Apatow, for GQ Magazine.
 

Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen, Michael Sera, Jonah Hill, and Paul Rudd

From Left: On Apatow: Suit by Emporio Armani; Shirt and tie by Giorgio Armanil; Shoes by Otabo. On Rudd: Suit and shirt by Calvin Klein Collection; Shoes by Etro. On Cera: Suit by Thom Browne New York; Shirt by Theory; Tie by Band of Outsiders; Shoes by Alden. On Hill: Suit and shirt by Ermenegildo Zegna; Tie by Dolce & Gabanna; Shoes by Tod's. On Rogen: Suite by Z Zegna; Shirt by Dunhill; Shoes by D & G.

Photo: Danielle Levitt