John Cornforth back to main page
bespoke shoemaker
Shoes
For the most part I make traditional Derby and Oxford shoes for gentlemen and smart, tending towards “sensible” shoes for ladies.
Ultimately the shape and characteristics of the foot suggest the style of footwear which will be most suitable and it is often helpful if you can bring with you a favourite shoe or boot to be used as a guide.
Getting the fit right is my first priority and to this end I prefer to start with a relatively straight-forward style, (ie one in which decoration is kept to a minimum).
“Proving” the lasts is a vital part of the process of bespoke work and requires careful control of tension and direction of pull during hand-lasting of the initial pair. Features such as apron-fronts or broguing can become distorted during lasting and are better left to a second or subsequent pair of shoes.
Types of fastening can be either by lace or strap and where feasible I will make slip-on shoes, (though I regret I will not attempt ladies’ court shoes). You can choose between a variety of different soling materials and styles of heel up to 1¼ inches in height.
Whether your
shoes are for every-day wear or for special occasions only, they will receive
the same care and attention to detail.
I love my work and constantly try to improve the quality of my shoes.