Not vintage - but very clever counterfeits...

Jonathan

Jonathan

VFG Member
I am researching entries for my book on shoe design since 1950 and I ran into a dilemna....

I already wrote up www.frenchsole.com - the company founded by Jane Winkworth who made a fortune on ballerina flats in the 90s.

But then I ran into www.londonsole.com and it looks similar but spidey senses are saying - FAKE FAKE FAKE. The websites just aren't the same quality, and this may sound racist, well, it is racist, but the woman pictured as a wholesaler contact on the londonsole site is Asian, and that just says - COUNTERFEIT to me.

So am I a racist rube, or does the londonsole site look like it sells fake Frenchsole ballerina shoes to you? I have already run across a convincing 'Louboutin' site that sells brazen copies. I just wish they would say on their sites 'These are copies' then I wouldn't care! At least then they aren't guilty of misleading customers.
 
At least according to the site info, she's in Santa Monica, here in So Cal.

Looks to me like she's capitalizing on the similarity of the name - definitely. Copying wholesale - I dunno. You're the shoe expert :)
Honestly, most modern shoes look so darn similar to me these days that I cannot say.
It's certainly interesting that she says "The Creator of Ballet Flats". A misleading catch phrase, to be sure.

She also uses many of the same shoe names & very similar wording in the descriptions. :USEROCKY:
 
I hate to say it but if it indicates that the location is in China, I won't buy it. I've been scammed once (got all my money back). Now I won't even take the risk.

Every day I see more and more scams and frauds. It is hurting the legitimate businesses...
 
Interesting...on the "Our Story" page they talk about Jane:

Chelsea based British shoe designer, Jane Winkworth, has created a unique collection of classic ballet flats, English loafers, sumptuous embroidered velvet smoking slippers, opera pumps and boudoir mules together with many other styles of eclectic English flat footwear.
Jane Winkworth has been designing shoes for the past 20 years and she knows exactly what her devoted customers are looking for when they buy her shoes.

But the way it's written, it doesn't actually say that Jane has anything to do with London Sole.

I went to a Shoe Fair last year and met French Sole - their product is great, beautiful and expensive (shoes are really expensive here in Aust, it's a pity) and there was no mention of any other kind of Sole. My feeling is that if they've built up a good brand under one name, why adapt it for another city? I think it's totally fake.

Nicole
 
Weeell, it's all rather strange...

Here's what it says when you click on "Wholesale" on the French Sole page:
"If you would like to stock this famous global brand name please visit our stands at .... For further information contact
Lucy Choi (Managing Director) [email protected]
or Telephone 0207 730 3779"

On the London Sole page, it says under "Wholesale":
"For asistance with your wholesale enquiries please contact Lucy Choi on +44 771 863 6984"

Don't know what to make of that! What's even stranger, they both claim to have a shop on 6 Ellis Street in London :puzzled: - and the pictures show the same shop - only on one it says French Sole (clearly visible), and on the other one, I can just make out London Sole...

Karin
 
Originally posted by anothertimevintageapparel
I thought the creator of ballet flats was Capezio.
Click to expand...

YUP, me too. Had em in the late 50s--perfectly flat leather sole, another slice of leather for the heel. No inner construction or arch support, fabric lining. Unlike other shoes of the day, didn't require painful 'breaking in.' A truly revolutionary shoe.
 
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