A Passion for Shoemaking
Gordon Wang, destined to make shoes
Gordon Wang, the master shoemaker and owner-operator of Jim&Jun Shoemaker grew up around shoes. Both his parents were shoemakers and working in a shoe factory with traditional goodyear machinery, where he spent a lot of his childhood. His interest for goodyear welted shoes was developed early on and never left him. After majoring in marketing and computer science, Gordon worked as programmer for a software company. He quickly realized that his true passion lies within shoemaking, taking up his studies of the traditional craft of shoemaking in a newly founded high-end workshop in China, employing traditional as well as modern European shoemaking techniques. This journey began 20 years ago and set the basis for his craft. Even today, Gordon is striving to continuously improve and learn to further his own knowledge and skill as well as the quality of the shoes he creates.
The Jim&Jun Shoemaker Workshop
In 2006, Gordon finally realized his dream and built his own shoemaking workshop, based out of Shanghai, China. He not only makes fully handmade bespoke shoes, but also offers an exceptional goodyear and handwelted made-to-order (MTO) line. With his high standards and remarkable integration of skilled handwork and precision machinery from Europe and the US, his goodyear welted range can rival any high end European brand. He currently employs two fully trained shoemaker, who are both trained in and practice the craft of handmade shoemaking, as well as two further craftsmen working in his workshop. He operates under the brand Jim&Jun Shoemaker, which he named after his two children Jim and Jun. His work is already a celebrated success within Asia and the community who know and appreciate him. With this international online store, he is happy and confident to offer his exquisite made-to-order and made-to-measure line to his international clientele.
How Your Shoes are Made
Made to Order – Advanced Goodyear Welted
For the Jim&Jun Shoemaker Standard Line, Gordon Wang employs an advanced goodyear welted technique. Over the years, he has perfected his methods to a level that these shoes can easily be mistaken for fully handmade bespoke shoes. With most goodyear welted shoemakers a cotton rib is glued to the insole, to which the leather welt is then sewn. Gordon instead carves a channel inside the insole, so that the welt can be sewn directly to the insole. This way the soles offer a slimmer, yet more durable construction and need much less cork filling. Because of this an extremely tight and beveled/ fiddled waist, close cut heels and impeccable and high density stitched uppers as well as soles are just some of the unmistakable hallmarks of his shoes. The integration of precision machine and skilled hand work is seamless allowing for an accurate and steady production of the highest quality, always raising quality over quantity.
The shoes are made to order on one of our 6 last shapes, in 15 sizes, each available in a narrow, medium and wide width as well as low, medium and high instep height. For more infos, please visit the last and fit guide.
Made to Measure – Hand Welted
The premium line employs a higher portion of handwork. The shoes are not only lasted but also welted fully by hand, meaning that the welt is sewn to the channeled insole by hand as well as the uppers are pulled over the last by hand, allowing the workers to shape the leather with much more force and finesse than any machine could.
Additionally you will receive a test shoe prior to the final pair. With this test shoe you can test the fit, and our last maker will make further modifications to your lasts to create a close to perfect fitting shoe for you. For more infos, please visit the last and fit guide.