Lucinda O'Sullivan's Ireland

I spoke recently to two men, both involved for many years solely in the world of women's fashion and accessories, who by adding 'something for the boys' to their repertoires, have found that it has greatly enhanced their businesses.

Thomas Wolfangel is one of Ireland's longest standing and best-known couturiers, having dressed many of our well-known and well-dressed women over the years. Known for his beautiful 'cut' and fabrics, essentially Wolfangel is a magnificent tailor and this is reflected in his creations.

"I was a boy growing up in Germany during the Second World War. In fact, I was 11 years old when the war ended in 1945," Wolfangel told me.

"We lived outside Stuttgart and I remember when it ended and the French soldiers came. We were lucky; we could have had the Russians. We all came out of our hidey-holes, there was no shooting and, as kids, we all ran around and looked at the tanks. Slowly people could put lights back on – it was wonderful."

Tailoring is in his blood.

"My father was a tailor so I was really born into it. I trained in Stuttgart for three years. It was very hard and I got my certificate from the Guild of Tailors." Wolfangel then went to work for a big manufacturing company before moving to another very large company who this time manufactured ladies' clothes.

"It again was very hard, you were on a production line, and you had to keep up with the pace. If you were not fast enough, they would tell you to speed up. You couldn't go to the toilet," he said. "You started at 7am and your first break was at 12 noon for lunch for 40 minutes and then you continued again until 4pm."

He was there for six years and said he learnt a lot. The company also had a branch in Sligo, called Sligo Models, and he was offered the opportunity to work there. This was the start of his long and distinguished Irish career.

"I had no commitments at that time so I used to do some extra work on a Saturday. I was making hunting jackets for Anna Livia, a shop in Dawson Street. There was a competition in London and one of my jackets won a gold medal."

Soon Wolfangel's popularity increased and he left Sligo for the bright lights of Dublin. He started out with a workroom off Grafton Street and eventually had his own salon in Ballsbridge for over 20 years before moving to his present premises in Dun Laoghaire.

Once a tailor, always a tailor, I guess, and Wolfangel has returned to his roots by now specialising in men's tailoring, for which he told me there is a considerable demand. "I have a lot of clients in the legal profession," he said.

Indeed, I am not surprised, as I looked at the samples of high-end fabrics in his showrooms, including swatches of exquisite Loro Piana Merino wool and silk fabrics.

"Some of them feel so fine it's almost like being in butter," he said. With that, I spotted a really cool black leather jacket, with zips and embellished brass buttons. It looked vaguely familiar and it transpired it was a jacket Wolfangel had made for Bono for one of his world tours.

And so, to another man of fashion, who knows what the well-dressed person is wearing on their feet! Indeed, there is nothing more important than being well shod, for they say the first thing hoteliers look at when you arrive at their reception desk are your shoes, followed then by the quality of your jewellery and handbag!

Paul O'Connor grew up in the shoe business as his father, Terry O'Connor, started out in the Fifties to become one of the best-known shoe manufacturers and wholesalers in Ireland. There isn't a thing this man doesn't know about shoes, from lasts and leathers, to colour and design.

He recalls how he and his three brothers and one sister all worked in the business at one stage. "The importance of work, and knowing how to do things, was ingrained into us from an early age by my parents. We might have to print labels for shoeboxes or stickers for soles. It was a great experience."

Paul opened The Shoe Box in Kilkenny in 2007. "I wanted to do glamorous, affordable shoes, always being conscious of and ahead of trends. I wanted to provide an alternative to the very high end shoes going into the stores, which were not accessible to a lot of people."

Like every other retailer in the country, he has seen the ups and downs in business in what have been some very difficult years. However, he has seen a steady increase in business since adding a new range of shoes for men.

Attending Moda, a bi-annual trade show at the NEC in Birmingham last August, where he was buying his stock for spring/summer 2014, Paul spotted a new men's range called 'Justin Reece'.

"The shoes caught my eye as they were very stylish, well-made from a good quality Italian leather, brogue style with eye-catching contrasting colourful laces – as well as matching laces for the more conservative customer. Well priced between €95-€145, they are very versatile and can be worn with either jeans or suits.

"The representative on the stand asked me whether I liked the shoes. I explained I wasn't a potential customer as I had a women's shoe shop in Ireland. He then told me that they had a new agent in Ireland, Raymond O'Connor. I laughed as Raymond is my brother."

Paul still didn't think about selling men's shoes in Kilkenny but, just before last Christmas, Ray asked him would he think of stocking them as they were selling very well.

"I had a difficult trading season over Christmas so I had to think of ways to refresh the shop. I decided to order the men's range and, from day one, they sold well. They have had a terrific reaction," Paul said.

"Another aspect is that lots of our weekend customers are visitors to Kilkenny. We have always had a good trade from women visitors with their male companions bemoaning the lack of men's shoes, or waiting just outside the shop for their partners.

"On Saturday last, while a woman was trying on wedges and eventually buying a pair, her husband tried a pair of men's shoes in black and bought not only them but also the same shoes in brown."

Paul said there is a pick up in retail trade in general this year, particularly the last eight weeks.

"I'm hearing from friends in retail around the country that the pick up is particularly noticeable in men's clothes and shoes."

He is also having a surprisingly good reaction from men who have seen the shoes on Twitter and Facebook.

"A well known restaurateur in Dublin has said that, having seen the range on Twitter, he's planning to get a pair for his wedding!" In case you want to know, the style 'Drake' in black leather with purple laces is their best selling man's shoe.

So, there you are now gentlemen – suited and booted!

Thomas Wolfangel, 24 Mellifont Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Ph: (01) 2807066

The Shoe Box, 6 Ormonde Street, Kilkenny. Ph: (056) 775-6111

- See more at: http://www.independent.ie/life/something-for-bono-and-the-boys-on-their-world-tour-30374046.html#sthash.pul0YvaF.dpuf

I spoke recently to two men, both involved for many years solely in the world of women's fashion and accessories, who by adding 'something for the boys' to their repertoires, have found that it has greatly enhanced their businesses.

Thomas Wolfangel is one of Ireland's longest standing and best-known couturiers, having dressed many of our well-known and well-dressed women over the years. Known for his beautiful 'cut' and fabrics, essentially Wolfangel is a magnificent tailor and this is reflected in his creations.

"I was a boy growing up in Germany during the Second World War. In fact, I was 11 years old when the war ended in 1945," Wolfangel told me.

"We lived outside Stuttgart and I remember when it ended and the French soldiers came. We were lucky; we could have had the Russians. We all came out of our hidey-holes, there was no shooting and, as kids, we all ran around and looked at the tanks. Slowly people could put lights back on – it was wonderful."

Tailoring is in his blood.

"My father was a tailor so I was really born into it. I trained in Stuttgart for three years. It was very hard and I got my certificate from the Guild of Tailors." Wolfangel then went to work for a big manufacturing company before moving to another very large company who this time manufactured ladies' clothes.

"It again was very hard, you were on a production line, and you had to keep up with the pace. If you were not fast enough, they would tell you to speed up. You couldn't go to the toilet," he said. "You started at 7am and your first break was at 12 noon for lunch for 40 minutes and then you continued again until 4pm."

He was there for six years and said he learnt a lot. The company also had a branch in Sligo, called Sligo Models, and he was offered the opportunity to work there. This was the start of his long and distinguished Irish career.

"I had no commitments at that time so I used to do some extra work on a Saturday. I was making hunting jackets for Anna Livia, a shop in Dawson Street. There was a competition in London and one of my jackets won a gold medal."

Soon Wolfangel's popularity increased and he left Sligo for the bright lights of Dublin. He started out with a workroom off Grafton Street and eventually had his own salon in Ballsbridge for over 20 years before moving to his present premises in Dun Laoghaire.

Once a tailor, always a tailor, I guess, and Wolfangel has returned to his roots by now specialising in men's tailoring, for which he told me there is a considerable demand. "I have a lot of clients in the legal profession," he said.

Indeed, I am not surprised, as I looked at the samples of high-end fabrics in his showrooms, including swatches of exquisite Loro Piana Merino wool and silk fabrics.

"Some of them feel so fine it's almost like being in butter," he said. With that, I spotted a really cool black leather jacket, with zips and embellished brass buttons. It looked vaguely familiar and it transpired it was a jacket Wolfangel had made for Bono for one of his world tours.

And so, to another man of fashion, who knows what the well-dressed person is wearing on their feet! Indeed, there is nothing more important than being well shod, for they say the first thing hoteliers look at when you arrive at their reception desk are your shoes, followed then by the quality of your jewellery and handbag!

Paul O'Connor grew up in the shoe business as his father, Terry O'Connor, started out in the Fifties to become one of the best-known shoe manufacturers and wholesalers in Ireland. There isn't a thing this man doesn't know about shoes, from lasts and leathers, to colour and design.

He recalls how he and his three brothers and one sister all worked in the business at one stage. "The importance of work, and knowing how to do things, was ingrained into us from an early age by my parents. We might have to print labels for shoeboxes or stickers for soles. It was a great experience."

Paul opened The Shoe Box in Kilkenny in 2007. "I wanted to do glamorous, affordable shoes, always being conscious of and ahead of trends. I wanted to provide an alternative to the very high end shoes going into the stores, which were not accessible to a lot of people."

Like every other retailer in the country, he has seen the ups and downs in business in what have been some very difficult years. However, he has seen a steady increase in business since adding a new range of shoes for men.

Attending Moda, a bi-annual trade show at the NEC in Birmingham last August, where he was buying his stock for spring/summer 2014, Paul spotted a new men's range called 'Justin Reece'.

"The shoes caught my eye as they were very stylish, well-made from a good quality Italian leather, brogue style with eye-catching contrasting colourful laces – as well as matching laces for the more conservative customer. Well priced between €95-€145, they are very versatile and can be worn with either jeans or suits.

"The representative on the stand asked me whether I liked the shoes. I explained I wasn't a potential customer as I had a women's shoe shop in Ireland. He then told me that they had a new agent in Ireland, Raymond O'Connor. I laughed as Raymond is my brother."

Paul still didn't think about selling men's shoes in Kilkenny but, just before last Christmas, Ray asked him would he think of stocking them as they were selling very well.

"I had a difficult trading season over Christmas so I had to think of ways to refresh the shop. I decided to order the men's range and, from day one, they sold well. They have had a terrific reaction," Paul said.

"Another aspect is that lots of our weekend customers are visitors to Kilkenny. We have always had a good trade from women visitors with their male companions bemoaning the lack of men's shoes, or waiting just outside the shop for their partners.

"On Saturday last, while a woman was trying on wedges and eventually buying a pair, her husband tried a pair of men's shoes in black and bought not only them but also the same shoes in brown."

Paul said there is a pick up in retail trade in general this year, particularly the last eight weeks.

"I'm hearing from friends in retail around the country that the pick up is particularly noticeable in men's clothes and shoes."

He is also having a surprisingly good reaction from men who have seen the shoes on Twitter and Facebook.

"A well known restaurateur in Dublin has said that, having seen the range on Twitter, he's planning to get a pair for his wedding!" In case you want to know, the style 'Drake' in black leather with purple laces is their best selling man's shoe.

So, there you are now gentlemen – suited and booted!

Thomas Wolfangel, 24 Mellifont Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Ph: (01) 2807066

The Shoe Box, 6 Ormonde Street, Kilkenny. Ph: (056) 775-6111

- See more at: http://www.independent.ie/life/something-for-bono-and-the-boys-on-their-world-tour-30374046.html#sthash.pul0YvaF.dpuf

I HAD a friend who always said: "Nothing ever stays the same." She was right. This, however, was never more appropriate than in the past few years, where businesses have struggled and where, in some cases, they found it difficult to adapt to the times.

I spoke recently to two men, both involved for many years solely in the world of women's fashion and accessories, who by adding 'something for the boys' to their repertoires, have found that it has greatly enhanced their businesses.

Thomas Wolfangel is one of Ireland's longest standing and best-known couturiers, having dressed many of our well-known and well-dressed women over the years. Known for his beautiful 'cut' and fabrics, essentially Wolfangel is a magnificent tailor and this is reflected in his creations.

"I was a boy growing up in Germany during the Second World War. In fact, I was 11 years old when the war ended in 1945," Wolfangel told me.

"We lived outside Stuttgart and I remember when it ended and the French soldiers came. We were lucky; we could have had the Russians. We all came out of our hidey-holes, there was no shooting and, as kids, we all ran around and looked at the tanks. Slowly people could put lights back on – it was wonderful."

Tailoring is in his blood.

"My father was a tailor so I was really born into it. I trained in Stuttgart for three years. It was very hard and I got my certificate from the Guild of Tailors." Wolfangel then went to work for a big manufacturing company before moving to another very large company who this time manufactured ladies' clothes.

"It again was very hard, you were on a production line, and you had to keep up with the pace. If you were not fast enough, they would tell you to speed up. You couldn't go to the toilet," he said. "You started at 7am and your first break was at 12 noon for lunch for 40 minutes and then you continued again until 4pm."

He was there for six years and said he learnt a lot. The company also had a branch in Sligo, called Sligo Models, and he was offered the opportunity to work there. This was the start of his long and distinguished Irish career.

"I had no commitments at that time so I used to do some extra work on a Saturday. I was making hunting jackets for Anna Livia, a shop in Dawson Street. There was a competition in London and one of my jackets won a gold medal."

Soon Wolfangel's popularity increased and he left Sligo for the bright lights of Dublin. He started out with a workroom off Grafton Street and eventually had his own salon in Ballsbridge for over 20 years before moving to his present premises in Dun Laoghaire.

Once a tailor, always a tailor, I guess, and Wolfangel has returned to his roots by now specialising in men's tailoring, for which he told me there is a considerable demand. "I have a lot of clients in the legal profession," he said.

Indeed, I am not surprised, as I looked at the samples of high-end fabrics in his showrooms, including swatches of exquisite Loro Piana Merino wool and silk fabrics.

"Some of them feel so fine it's almost like being in butter," he said. With that, I spotted a really cool black leather jacket, with zips and embellished brass buttons. It looked vaguely familiar and it transpired it was a jacket Wolfangel had made for Bono for one of his world tours.

And so, to another man of fashion, who knows what the well-dressed person is wearing on their feet! Indeed, there is nothing more important than being well shod, for they say the first thing hoteliers look at when you arrive at their reception desk are your shoes, followed then by the quality of your jewellery and handbag!

Paul O'Connor grew up in the shoe business as his father, Terry O'Connor, started out in the Fifties to become one of the best-known shoe manufacturers and wholesalers in Ireland. There isn't a thing this man doesn't know about shoes, from lasts and leathers, to colour and design.

He recalls how he and his three brothers and one sister all worked in the business at one stage. "The importance of work, and knowing how to do things, was ingrained into us from an early age by my parents. We might have to print labels for shoeboxes or stickers for soles. It was a great experience."

Paul opened The Shoe Box in Kilkenny in 2007. "I wanted to do glamorous, affordable shoes, always being conscious of and ahead of trends. I wanted to provide an alternative to the very high end shoes going into the stores, which were not accessible to a lot of people."

Like every other retailer in the country, he has seen the ups and downs in business in what have been some very difficult years. However, he has seen a steady increase in business since adding a new range of shoes for men.

Attending Moda, a bi-annual trade show at the NEC in Birmingham last August, where he was buying his stock for spring/summer 2014, Paul spotted a new men's range called 'Justin Reece'.

"The shoes caught my eye as they were very stylish, well-made from a good quality Italian leather, brogue style with eye-catching contrasting colourful laces – as well as matching laces for the more conservative customer. Well priced between €95-€145, they are very versatile and can be worn with either jeans or suits.

"The representative on the stand asked me whether I liked the shoes. I explained I wasn't a potential customer as I had a women's shoe shop in Ireland. He then told me that they had a new agent in Ireland, Raymond O'Connor. I laughed as Raymond is my brother."

Paul still didn't think about selling men's shoes in Kilkenny but, just before last Christmas, Ray asked him would he think of stocking them as they were selling very well.

"I had a difficult trading season over Christmas so I had to think of ways to refresh the shop. I decided to order the men's range and, from day one, they sold well. They have had a terrific reaction," Paul said.

"Another aspect is that lots of our weekend customers are visitors to Kilkenny. We have always had a good trade from women visitors with their male companions bemoaning the lack of men's shoes, or waiting just outside the shop for their partners.

"On Saturday last, while a woman was trying on wedges and eventually buying a pair, her husband tried a pair of men's shoes in black and bought not only them but also the same shoes in brown."

Paul said there is a pick up in retail trade in general this year, particularly the last eight weeks.

"I'm hearing from friends in retail around the country that the pick up is particularly noticeable in men's clothes and shoes."

He is also having a surprisingly good reaction from men who have seen the shoes on Twitter and Facebook.

"A well known restaurateur in Dublin has said that, having seen the range on Twitter, he's planning to get a pair for his wedding!" In case you want to know, the style 'Drake' in black leather with purple laces is their best selling man's shoe.

So, there you are now gentlemen – suited and booted!

Thomas Wolfangel, 24 Mellifont Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Ph: (01) 2807066

The Shoe Box, 6 Ormonde Street, Kilkenny. Ph: (056) 775-6111

Sunday Independent

- See more at: http://www.independent.ie/life/something-for-bono-and-the-boys-on-their-world-tour-30374046.html#sthash.pul0YvaF.dpufxx