The New York Super Trunk Show: A Celebration of Craft in Manhattan

The New York Super Trunk Show returned for its second year this past weekend, transforming Manhattan’s Upper East Side into a hub for footwear and menswear enthusiasts from around the world. Hosted at the Kosciuszko Foundation at 15 E 65th St, the event welcomed 1,200 visitors eager to explore an impressive range of shoe and menswear exhibitors, watch the U.S. Shoe Shining Championship, and soak up a day dedicated to craftsmanship.

Spanning four elegant rooms in this iconic townhouse, the show benefited from the experience gained last year, allowing organizers—Jesper Ingevaldsson of Shoegazing, Justin FitzPatrick of The Shoe Snob blog, and Kirby Allison—to relax and enjoy the event even more this time around. 

The festivities began with a striking patina exhibition in the entrance hall, featuring the artistry of Alberto Suastez (Patina Works Arizona), Greg Park (Han Core Patina), and Chris Dillon (American Patina). These artisans spent the day creating stunning designs on Bridlen crust leather adelaides using Saphir products, transforming each shoe into a piece of art right before visitors’ eyes.

Nearby, the main exhibition hall was headlined by complimentary shoe shines, with well-known artisans like last year’s U.S. Shoe Shine Champion, Levi Elliot of Levi’s Shoe Shine, and Preston Soto of The Elegant Oxford lending their skill to keep attendees’ footwear looking its best.

Unlike last year’s rainy, chilly weather, this year’s show enjoyed clear skies and warm temperatures, drawing a steady crowd that peaked midday. A highlight was the U.S. Shoe Shining Championship, where finalists Ray Chen (New York), Hang Li (California), and Caleb Malinowski (Texas) competed to create the perfect shine on a new Bridlen oxford in just 20 minutes. Before an enthusiastic crowd, Hang Li took home the top prize.

For those who couldn’t make it, more content from the event will be featured on Kirby Allison’s YouTube channel this winter. And the future of Super Trunk Shows is looking bright: mark your calendars for the London edition on May 10 2025, and keep an eye out for our first Asia event in Singapore in 2026. The journey of craftsmanship and community continues!

*Photos courtesy of the [Shoegazing blog]