Improving Deepeeka caligae, shoes

[richsc]

Sam Agarwal of Deepeeka US came to visit our fabrica yesterday, bringing prototypes of new pugio (q.v.) and expressing Deepeeka's desire to develop or improve any product they make. He basically said if you get to them in Meerut, they will put you together with their development team and see how they can bring an item to production.
Their caligae haven't changed since introduced. Seems like a good time to get them to make the improvements necessary, maybe even two types? After all the other items RAT has talked to them about over the years, should shoes be the next focus item?

[Pointer]

Point taken

[Hasdrubal]

Patrick,

At least they're trying to attempt to make a proper replica and instead of going by their instinct or what they might think the people want, they're instead asking members here (Who are very in the know of things, Roman.) to help better their product.

I respect that. It shows the company is dedicated to selling a proper product and in return, I would be honored to buy some things from Deepeeka's line.

[richsc]

Did I accidentally delete Patrick's post? My iPhone screen can cause odd things to happen.

[M.VAL.BRUTUS]

I think maybe we should be looking beyond improving their existing caligae. I mean they obviously need to be improved, but so does all of their footwear. They need to produce some decent calcei as well as caligae, both styles with proper conical hobnails, in proper veg tanned leather... Honestly, just changing the type of leather use in production would be a huge improvement.

[deepeeka]

And all I need is a good example- not drawings, but a sample of what is desired. Hobnails- I need samples.

Gagan

[richsc]

Gagan, I can give you some sample hobnails. I have a larger one and a smaller one. I think historically the larger are more accurate, but not entirely sure. I can run these over to Sam.

Would anyone be willing to give Deepeeka a set of caligae or other shoes to use as examples? There are some good cobblers around here.

But Gagan, would they get them back?

[deepeeka]

Thank you for your kind offer. Cannot promise about getting back- however, we can do a barter- maybe with additional sets of sandals, or a sword or something similar.

Gagan

[richsc]

Maybe I should ask this a different way. There are plenty of different caligae out there, so if you were to select one for DPK to put into production, which would you prefer? And if someone like me can acquire a pair to send, who might be willing to have DPK reproduce theirs? I have patterns but am still woeful at making shoes.

Gagan, why will a pattern not suffice?

[richsc]

I dropped off some of my conical hobnails to Sam Agarwal today, and hopefully DPK will figure out how to make them in the thousands. I have two sizes, and I think the larger one would be more popular (it's not that much bigger) as it will wear better.

[M.VAL.BRUTUS]

I've used both sizes when making boots. I use the larger nails on the perimeter of the shoe and smaller ones one the interior, where there is more pressure from the foot.

[66kbm]

Both sizes make sense to me. Don't know if its historically accurate, but when one purchases a set of boots/calceus/caligea one would like then to last a "while".
Asking for 2 sizes of hobnails on the same boot from Deepeeka aint gonna happen. Too complicated and not cost effective I would imagine..
This business of sending them a pair of Caligea, fine if one made them oneself.....but what if someone else made them?
Deepeeka then are copying someone else's design. That someone may well be selling them on the market already.
Tough call in my opinion.
Kevin

[ANTONIVS MAGNVS]

There are so many good patterns available online why would anyone need to send them a pair?

[66kbm]

Probably not the answer you were looking for Jay.....but they want a pair because they asked for them?
Kevin

[richsc]

I am going to guess that Gagan wants to take them apart and create templates. Matt Amt and I may put our heads together to make a pair from patterns for that reason.