The Birth of Patina Art
With basic colors like black and brown becoming boring, choosing colors that bring personality to classic shoes quickly became a new trend for gentlemen. And from there, Patina was born.
Patina is understood as a term used to refer to the manual dyeing of shoes that have been finished in natural leather. To do this dyeing, in addition to choosing good raw leather (undyed leather), the dyeing technique to create a work of art also requires the skill and experience of the artisan.
At that time, most men's shoes were black or brown; Olga developed a new and unusual color palette. The shoes became more unique and fancy.
Patina originated from the famous shoe brand Berluti in the 70s. It is a hand-colored technique that uses subtle layers of color or different shades of light and dark on the leather.
Patina shoes will become “unique” because no color is the same even with the same polishing method, the same hands. Since its inception, Patina shoes have marked a breakthrough in the men's leather shoe industry and are considered a symbol of high-end men's leather shoes. Because they are the crystallization of skillful hands, aesthetic sense and extreme creativity of shoemakers on color effects. Because of the uniqueness of color, Patina coloring brings products with different colors, no product is the same as another product. With Patina, each pair of shoes is a different work of art, the dark and light effects or even patterns on each work will depend on the preferences of each gentleman.
Patina men's leather shoes must be colored on raw leather, cowhide that has never been dyed and painted with many layers of color to create a permanent color. To create Patina shoe masterpieces is not a simple process. It requires the shoemaker to have skillful hands, patience, carefulness, delicacy and meticulousness in every step.
It is no coincidence that Patina shoes have become a symbol of successful gentlemen. The unique color and artistry have made Patina special.
Originating in 1895 with a pioneering spirit in design, for over a hundred years the leather goods maker Berluti has always created works of art to serve famous gentlemen. From the famous painter Pablo Picasso, famous singer Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra to the king of pop-art Andy Warhol or the legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent...
The founder of the brand - Mr. Alessandro Berluti started his shoemaking career in a very unique way. While at that time, sewing a pair of shoes required many pieces, the Berluti artisan initiated the way to make the first Oxford shoe from only one piece of leather (whole cut), creating a smooth, complete whole that extended from the toe to the heel, timeless elegance. The next generation, Torello Berluti focused on the 3D shoemaking method, emphasizing the size, weight and volume of each pair of shoes - something that shoemakers of the time had ignored. After that, the two brothers Talbinio Berluti and Olga Berltui brought the unique handcrafted shoemaking techniques to ready-to-wear shoes and bespoke bag designs.
When Olga started working at Berluti, it was a time when gentlemen usually only wore brown shoes after 6 pm, while the rest only wore black shoes. In Olga's eyes, there was nothing more beautiful than shoes that were covered in color and faded over time. From that concern, she invented a technique called Patina - which includes the use of creams and natural pigments to give shoes colors of different durability and depth. Mixing colors in many shades, levels of transparency of the color and intensity of impact when hitting in different positions, Patina artisans create a deliberately arranged darkness and lightness, similar to the way of creating blocks in painting, sculpting "sculpted feet".
Patina shoes will become "unique" because no two colors are the same, even with the same playing style and the same hands.
Instead of coloring the entire shoe, Berluti's Patina style adds color very naturally, so that the newly painted layers of color also have the feeling of having gone through time and wear, creating an overall natural feeling. Even though Patina shoes get old over time, the color fading is very natural, each stage creates a unique beauty. At that time, the owner can completely bring it to the expert to change to another Patina color bespoke for himself and the shoe is "reborn" with a completely new look. Therefore, the lifespan of Berluti shoes and bags is often very durable.
It must be said that this was a color revolution in the world of gentlemen's shoes, paving the way for a future full of freedom and freedom. Olga Berluti developed the color palette up to 9 colors that were not usually found in gentlemen's wardrobes at that time and until now, stylish gentlemen do not stop at wearing brown and black shoes anymore.
Hom Nguyen and the first Berluti Boutique in Hanoi
Unique shoes through the art of Patina
Hom Nguyen was born and raised in France, he has a journey from being a Patina artisan on leather shoes before becoming a portrait painter. To celebrate the first boutique in Vietnam, the century-old leather goods maker Berluti invited artist Hom Nguyen to return home to honor the art of Patina.
As an independent Patina artist, Hom Nguyen sells and polishes shoes. He begins by applying colors to leather and skillfully applies Patina techniques to create vivid paintings on the feet of collectors.
Hom Nguyen was a Patina artist before coming to painting.
With his artistic ability, Hom Nguyen then began to paint on shoes, tattoo on skin and create a small buzz, he had a more stable life and was known in this field. There were customers who had to wait because of the piled up of unique orders. Hom Nguyen was surprised with his own development in the Patina profession, thanks to that he had confidence in his artistic perception and decided to delve deeper.
Thanks to the shoes, Hom Nguyen no longer had to struggle with the obsession of making a living like before. But there was one concern that he knew clearly: he had no need to open a large workshop or become the owner of a shoe company. The more he did, the more he wondered and seemed to understand himself better, which led to the decision to return to painting in 2009.
Although he officially became an artist when he was nearly 40 years old, Hom Nguyen had the honor of having his works displayed at the Grand Palais - the "Arc de Triomphe" of the art world in the capital city of Paris.
Berluti launches first boutique in Hanoi
Berluti, the iconic fashion house of Patina and men's leather craftsmanship, has launched its first boutique in Vietnam. The brand's first boutique in Vietnam opened on September 3, located at 57 Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. The brand is currently officially distributed by S&S Group.
Since 1895, the brand has built a reputation for its superior knowledge and skills in crafting men's shoes, handbags and leather accessories, passed down through generations, starting with Alessandro Berluti.
Hom Nguyen (right) creates shoes through the art of Patina at Berluti Hanoi
The first store is located right in the French Quarter of Hanoi, opposite the Metropole Hotel and next to the Capella Hotel. The boutique design focuses on simplicity but luxury with the main materials being wood and leather. These are also two typical materials of the fashion house from the very beginning.
Berluti Hanoi features a unique leather Patina wall – a symbol of the brand’s craftsmanship. There is also a chandelier inspired by Vietnamese rice terraces, symbolizing Berluti’s savoir-faire style and relentless creativity.
Inheriting a heritage of craftsmanship through many generations, Berluti develops its own style by combining boldness and fantasy in each design. "Each design of the brand is a harmonious symphony between classicism and modern thinking," said a brand representative.
The painting was specially dedicated by Hom Nguyen to Berluti Hanoi on the occasion of its opening.
Sharing on the occasion of the 67th boutique opening worldwide, Berluti's representative said: "I am very excited to attend the special event celebrating the opening of the first Berluti boutique in Vietnam, accompanying S&S Group and artist Hom Nguyen to honor the artistic value of Patina, the quintessence of Berluti, a very special collaboration that has never happened before."
Right on the second floor of the boutique, artist Hom Nguyen performed live the final stages to complete a special painting dedicated to Berluti and only available at Berluti Hanoi. The painting is the artist's gratitude to the art of Patina that has sustained him as well as his passion for art through the most difficult times.
