Description

George Cleverley is​,​ with John Lobb​,​ the most respected bespoke shoemaker in England. Known for their "suspiciously square" toe​,​ its history spans more than a century. George Cleverley begins with the man himself. After World War 1​,​ he began working in 1920 for the most revered shoemaker of all-time​,​ Nicolaus Tuczek. Tuczek was the bespoke shoemaker of the high-society and is recognized as a legend. His creative genius in lastmaking and patterns is still looked-up today. George Cleverley worked with Tuczek for 38 years in his shop on Clifford Street in the affluent district of Mayfair. Together​,​ they designed classic models with their famous chiseled toe ("serres d'aigle" in French)​,​ a creation that no actual shoemaker has come close to replicate in its true form. Their level of details was mesmerizing (from the almost invisible stitching of the upper to the quality of the leather and so on). Another model is their iconic lazyman (a mock-up oxford with elastic side gussets to wear it like a loafer) for Winston Churchill during World War II. Churchill was so busy he wanted an oxford he could slip into to go as fast as possible to the bomb shelters during the Blitz. Other models include the butterfly loafer​,​ a high button boots​,​ and many other iconic designs. In 1958​,​ George Cleverley decided to leave Tuczek to create his own shop on Cork Street​,​ also in Mayfair. Here he created shoes for Hollywood celebrities such as Cary Grant​,​ Humphrey Bogart​,​ the ballet-dancer Rudolf Nureyev​,​ and the Prince of Wales. George Cleverley was at the helm of the shop until 1976. At the time he was 78 years old and wanted to retire since the shoemaking business was being overrun with cheaper products and clientele became rarer. The shop on Cork Street was closed and Cleverley continued to work for New & Lingwood and other London shoemakers such as Foster & Sons​,​ Henri Maxwell​,​ and John Lobb St. James. 2 years later​,​ not wanting the name Cleverley to be forgotten​,​ he decided to help George Glasgow Sr. and John Carnera​,​ former employees​,​ to create a new shop on the Royal Arcade​,​ near Old Bond Street. The current George Cleverley was born. At around the same time​,​ they also obtained the exclusive rights to the famous Russian reindeer hides (iconic leather thought to be forgotten after the Russian Revolution) in the shipwreck off the coast of Cornwall​,​ Wales. Those hides were sunk in a storm in 1786 and recovered by amateur divers in 1973. Thanks to the Prince of Wales​,​ Cleverley is now the sole owner and original maker of Russian reindeer shoes. Still run by Glasgow Sr. (helped by his son) and Carnera​,​ Cleverley remains one of the finest bespoke shoemakers in the world. I propose one example of Cleverley's excellent work: 1997 black semi-brogues oxfords. They are the perfect pair with your best business suits and for formal occasions. They feature George Cleverley's signature chiseled toe and will age beautifully with each new coat of shoe polish. As always with George Cleverley​​​,​​​ everything is done by hand​​​,​​​ from the stitching of the upper to the soles. You cannot find such level of craft these days. The bespoke shoetrees are included as well. The condition is excellent​. The size is similar to a 6​​​,​​​5UK​​​/​​​40​​​,​​​5EU. Check the measurements below to be sure it fits you: - Length of the left shoe: 27​,​5cm - Length of the inside left shoe: 25​,​8cm - Width of the left shoe: 9​,​8cm - Length of the right shoe: 27​,​8cm - Length of the inside right shoe: 26​,​3cm - Width of the right shoe: 9​,​9cm The quality is equivalent to the following bespoke houses: - In England: John Lobb Ltd Bootmaker​​​,​​​ Nikolaus Tuczek​​​,​​​ Dominic Casey​​,​​ Foster & Son​​,​​ Gaziano & Girling​​,​​ Henri Maxwell​ - In Italy: Stefano Bemer​​,​​ Gatto​,​ Ricardo Freccia Bestetti​​,​​ Marini​​,​​ Pettrocchi​​,​​ Beppino Rampin​​,​​ Roberto Ugolini​​,​​ - In France: Aubercy​​​,​​​ Berluti​​,​​ Corthay​​​,​​​ John Lobb Paris​​,​​ Massaro​​,​​ Philippe Atienza​​​,​​​ Stephane Jimenez​ - In Japan: Yohei Fukuda​​​,​​​ Eiji Murata​​,​​ Tye Shoemaker If you have questions regarding the shoes​​​,​​​ don't hesitate to ask. Possible to try them in Paris 15th Arrondissement