Franz ElizApart from tailor services, Hoi An is also known for leather goods. These leather goods are mostly ready to sell, but custom-made ones are also available upon request. As I walked around Hoi An’s old town, I came across a leather shop called Be Bi II Leather.
Be Bi II Leather is a leather shop in the old town, selling ready-made leather goods, such as leather bags, footwear, wallets, and jackets. Customers can also find non-leather sandals. Upon request, the shop provides custom-made services at affordable prices.
While there are many leather shops around Hoi An, my best friend Abed and I found Be Bi II Leather to be our favourite. Continue reading as I share about the business and its services.
Be Bi II Leather Offers Beautiful Leather Goods
Like many other leather shops in Hoi An, Be Bi II Leather offers an array of leather goods, like leather shoes, bags, wallets, belts, and more.
The product quality is good and so is the pricing. Even so, Abed and I tried to bargain for the best price. We tried not to overdo it, though. I’ll explain why.
Affordable Custom Men’s Shoes
As discussed earlier, Abed and I tried to bargain for the best price. He got himself two shoes – a pair of sneakers and a pair of vintage leather shoes. Both shoes are brown; the vintage one matches the brown suit he got from Blue Chic Tailor.
The first pair is made of suede and while it may look expensive, it was quite affordable. For a pair of custom-made shoes of such quality, it was a steal. The shoes cost about US$50.
The price for the second (vintage) pair was about the same price as the first pair. My shoes also cost about the same price. I’ve seen similar ready-made shoes sold at a much higher price. A pair of ready-made shoes like this can easily cost between US$100 and $200, or probably even more.
By knowing the price of similar goods, we reminded ourselves to go easy on the bargaining. The seller needs to make a living, too.
Cute and Affordable Custom Women’s Shoes
I also made a pair of shoes for myself. There are many styles to choose from, but I decided to go with a cute pair of black leather Mary Jane. I have tiny feet, so finding shoes has always been a challenge.
My shoes cost about RM200 (about US$50) only. A pair like this would cost me between US$60 and US$80 at an online store specialising in small feet where I bought one of my shoes. Some websites specialising in shoes for tiny feet even have their Mary Jane shoes selling at $300. These shoes are usually hand-made to order, but they don’t always fit properly. Customers are expected to make their orders based on a size chart provided.
I was disappointed with one of the shoes I ordered from an online store for tiny feet; I never wore them because although the length of the shoes was correct, the width was slightly bigger than expected.
At Be Bi II Leather, I had my feet measured. I also chose the style I wanted, and the seller showed me the different fabrics the shop had. As mentioned earlier, non-leather goods are also available here. If I wanted, I could make a pair of Bohemian or Gladiator sandals made for almost the same price, but I thought it would be a waste of money. If the sandals were cheaper, I would’ve considered them.
It’s the same dilemma I had at Blue Chic Tailor. I thought, why would I pay the same price I paid on my wool coat for a set of basic crop tops and pants? To me, it wasn’t worth it. But hey, this is just my opinion based on how I’d like to spend my ringgit.
Are the Shoes Well-Fitting?
The shoes are well-fitting. However, note that leather shoes may feel tight and hard during the first wear, but they may soften over time. Using a leather conditioner would help to speed up the softening process.
On the first try, my shoes felt too tight and I struggled to get into them. Fortunately, the shop could make the shoes bigger. I’m not sure how that would work, but it worked. Since the shop had to send the shoes back to the factory – it’s somewhere in Hoi An – I had to return to the shop after a couple of hours. While waiting, Abed and I went to Citrus Spa.
When we collected our shoes, everything was okay and we were ready to pay the bill. Abed decided to buy a ready-made leather bag for his dad, too.
The sellers were very happy to have us. The lady who assisted us (she’s probably the owner) was glad that we returned to the shop. Previously, we visited several shops to look for the best deals. Other shops we visited quoted much higher prices for their custom-made shoes.
How Long Does It Take To Make a Pair of Custom Shoes?
It can take several hours to make a pair of custom shoes at Be Bi II Leather. However, some designs require extra time, up to a day or more. Should there be any adjustments, it can take a few hours more after the shoes are sent back to the factory.
I had my shoes adjusted because they were too tight. According to the seller, the factory thought my feet were too small, and thus refused to make the shoes. Now, this is why I stated earlier that finding my shoe size is a challenge, and shoes sold on most websites catering to this niche market are typically expensive.
But thanks to the seller’s persuasion, the factory agreed to make my shoes. The shoes turned out great!
Do Custom-Made Shoes in Hoi An Come From the Same Factory?
It’s possible that custom-made shoes from several leather shops in Hoi An come from the same factory. However, note that there are many factories in Vietnam specialising in making shoes, bags, clothes, and so on. Today, many international brands have their products made in Vietnam, including The North Face.
Initially, I thought the people at the shop were the ones who would make my shoes. However, the seller informed me that their factory would be the one making the shoes. I suppose different factories provide for different shops. That was fine by me.
You see, I’ve always liked products made in Vietnam. I have shoes and jackets that were made in Vietnam and they’re all good quality-wise. For that reason, I wasn’t surprised by how lovely my new Mary Jane turned out.
Do I Recommend Be Bi II Leather?
I recommend Be Bi II Leather to anyone who’s looking to make custom-made leather goods. The workmanship is commendable and the staff are very friendly and helpful. While there are many ready-made leather goods ready for sale, customers can have one made in the style they like.
To make the leather good you want, all you have to do is show the seller a picture of a similar good. The seller will let you know if the design is possible to make or otherwise.
I think the shoemakers did a pretty good job in making the shoes we requested. These people surely know their stuff. I hope they’ll keep up the good work.
Address: 4 Trần Quý Cáp, Old Town, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
Summary
Be Bi II Leather II is one of the best leather shops in Hoi An. The service and workmanship are satisfactory. Every experience is different and prices of goods may vary, so make sure to negotiate your prices to get the best deal.
Would I return to Be Bi II Leather? Yes, absolutely. For only about $50, I can get a pair of custom-made leather shoes in the style I like. Great. Now I know where to make custom-made shoes for my tiny feet.
