Not to long ago I popped along to The Royal Arcade, off London’s Bond Street to have a peak into the inner workings of George Cleverley. The technique and knowledge involved in making a shoe of this standard is unbelievable. Bespoke shoe making is an art which needs to be recognised. The George Cleverley chaps have been refining their skills for over 50 years. Clients can choose their own design or from a current in-house style. Starting off by having ones feet measured and an individual last created. A unique pattern is drawn and laid on the last. You choose the leather you have in mind. Next the “Clicker”cuts the pattern from the leather. The “closer” takes on the task of sewing and shaping the hide around the last of the shoe. Finishing the shoe involves a final fitting, to ensure the shoe fits perfectly and is in keeping with their unique expectations. They are then returned to the lasts and the sole is stitched by hand and stained to ensure waterproof. Finally the lats are removed, the nails are clipped and the socks (inner sole) is added to the finished bespoke shoe.
As you can see a lot of work goes into the craftsmanship of a bespoke shoe. For obvious reasons the shoes are rather expensive, yet of the highest quality of footwear available. A wonderful investment.
13 Royal Arcade, 28 Old Bond Street, W1S 4SL
I found a video which illustrates the history in greater detail:
George Cleverley Shoes from Mike Saunders on Vimeo.
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