John Lobb is a IFKYK type brand – and it is just fine with keeping it that way. But if you do know about the historical British shoemaker, and you were around in Dubai last night, then you probably attended the private celebration for the brand’s cult silhouette, the John Lobb Lopez loafer.
Tucked away in the secret rooftop garden of Eugene Eugene, a hand-picked collection of Dubai’s most elegant, stylish and discerning gentlemen gathered to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the loafer with a serious legacy.
Hosted by Esquire Middle East‘s Editor-in-Chief, Matthew Priest, the soiree showcased multiple versions of the Lopez loafer and the star of the show being the attendence of one of John Lobb’s most-seasoned master craftsmen visiting from the brand’s famed factory in Northampton, England, to showcase the meticulous creation of the the iconic shoe.
Conceived in the 1950s, the Lopez was named for the man who first commissoned John Lobb to make it, Baron Arturo López Willshaw. A Chilean aristocrat from an industrial heritage, he moved to France in the 20th century and became somewhat of a celebrity in the Parisian scene of the time. He’d hung out with the likes of artist Salvador Dalí, opera legend Maria Callas and renowned designer George Geffroy – his wit was sharp, his attention was in demand, and his personal style was, well, influential.
Taking inspirtion from the sporty-chic penny loafer that was popular in the US at the time, his custom-made Lopez loafers caused quite the stir in Parisian high-society. But, now, 75 years later the legacy of the loafer continues to live on as a genuine icon, having remained basically the same over all those decades – from the original sketch by Baron Lopez to the shoe we wear today.
The Lopez is a timeless classic that has transcended generations due to its constancy, universality, and as a signature of John Lobb and its craft.
