Top 10 Best Shoe Makers Around The World
According to the saying, a person's shoes can tell a lot about them, so it's important to make sure yours are telling the right story.
Just like the top 10 most expensive handbags in the world, here is the best shoemakers in the world that will not only help you make an unforgettable impression with their expert craftsmanship and frequently hand-stitched details.
Best Shoe Makers In The World 2023
- 1. Carmina, Spain
- 2. John Lobb, England
- 3. Crockett & Jones, England
- 4. Edward Green, England
- 5. George Cleverley, England
- 6. Hiro Yanagimachi, Japan
- 7. J.M. Weston, France
- 8. Santoni, Italy
- 9. Antonio Meccariello, Italy
- 10. TYE Shoemaker, Japan
1. Carmina, Spain
Carmina has been in business since 1866. Despite expanding across the globe, the company's reputation has only grown.
The shoes are made by hand by a dedicated group of artisans who select from more than 200 lasts that are made to fit a variety of foot shapes and provide the right amount of comfort. For exceptional quality and sturdiness, every pair of shoes has traditional Goodyear stitching.
2. John Lobb England
John Lobb was one of the best shoemakers in England between the middle of the 1800s and the beginning of the 20th century. He opened his first shop on Regent Street, the well-known shopping district, after perfecting his craft in London.
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A Parisian boutique followed, and the company was eventually purchased by the Hermes Group. However, the John Lobb company was allowed to operate independently, and its Northampton workshop still produces shoes by hand.
With boutiques in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the United States, the shoemaker has a global retail presence today.
Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, is one of the famous customers of the brand. He has owned a bespoke pair of shoes since the 1970s and still owns them today.
3. Crockett & Jones, England
This highly regarded shoemaking business was established by brothers-in-law Charles Jones and James Crocket. The family has owned and operated the business for five generations.
Shoes that have garnered national and international acclaim are still made with great care by the company.
Crocket & Jones was also the official shoemaker of none other than James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, for the films Skyfall and Spectre. Both King George VI and Prince Charles have visited their factory.
4. Northampton, England
home of the renowned English shoemaker Edward Green, should not come as a surprise given that Northampton is the nation's shoe manufacturing capital.
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Edward Green, a man who had a lifelong passion for shoemaking and a personal motto that read Excellence without Compromise, established it in 1890.
Ernest Hemingway and the Duke of Windsor have both donned Edward Green's creations, but unlike many of his contemporaries, he did not launch a major global business.
Only 350 pairs of shoes are produced each week by the company, and each one is meticulously crafted using only the finest European leather and the traditional Goodyear stitching.
5. George Cleverley, England
George Cleverley was born into a shoemaking family and knew from a young age what he wanted to do.
He started his own business in Mayfair in 1958 after completing apprenticeships in England, bootmaking at a French camp during World War I, and nearly 40 years in the industry.
He created the shape that became known as the Cleverley shape, which has a slightly chiseled toe and has been worn by many famous people, including David Beckham, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Sir Elton John, Jason Statham, and Sir Winston Churchill. George Glasgow Sr. and George Glasgow Jr., whose father had a long-term working relationship with Cleverley, run the business today. The company has continued making shoes for famous people for both Kingsman films.
6. Hiro Yanagimachi, Japan
Fine shoemaking has traditionally been the province of English and Italian artisans, the latter of which is especially well-known for the leatherwork they produce.
However, newer markets, such as Japan, have entered the fray as a result of the global economy.
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Before returning to Japan and beginning his career as a designer, Hiro Yanagimachi received his degree from London Cordwainers College. The term cordwainer refers to an ancient term for a shoemaker who works with leather.
However, he was unable to resist the draw of the profession, and in 1999, he began making bespoke shoes. Since then, the business has continued to thrive, and it now has its own studio in Japan.
Hiro's creations are only made to order, unlike most of the other shoemakers on this list. He works personally with many of his customers to get the right fit and design.
7. J.M. Weston, France
Although the company's name sounds English, Edouard Blanchard founded J.M. Weston in Limoges, France. J.M.
Weston is one of the few shoemakers to own a tannery, which means that it handles every aspect of the production process in-house. The original factory, which was built in 1891, is still the center of the business.
The brand is well-known for its unconventional design, which incorporates materials like leather and suede or cashmere and denim.
8. Santoni, Italy
No 8 list of the best shoemakers would be complete without including an Italian company, and Santoni, which was founded in 1975, is without a doubt one of the best.
The company began as a workshop run by a family, but partnerships with other luxury brands like IWC helped the company quickly become a global household name.
Even though the company is famous, all of the shoes are still made by hand in Italy. The product catalog also has sneakers and loafers if you want a casual but still stylish look.
9. Antonio Meccariello Italy
It may appear as though the company is relatively new given that the brand was only established in 2012. However, prior to that, the shoemaker has worked in the luxury footwear industry for a significantly longer period of time.
He is a member of a shoemaking family that owned a workshop in Italy's Benevento. Meccariello started his own workshop after studying shoemaking and working as an apprentice in Milan.
He later partnered with Rubinacci and Kiton, two well-known luxury brands. The shoemaker now focuses on his workshop, where he makes his signature hand-welted bespoke shoes, rather than the company as a whole.
10. TYE Shoemaker, Japan
Another Japanese brand completes our list: TYE Shoemaker, Japan. Since its inception in 2011, TYE Shoemaker has focused solely on the production of bespoke shoes. A TYE shoe is made with a lot of effort and a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction.
It takes three fittings to get one. The initial measurement and agreement on the design are the first. A trial shoe is used in the second fitting to ensure that it meets all requirements.
On the finished product, any flaws or missed details are fixed during the third fitting. All TYE shoes are made by hand, and the company made the conscious decision not to imitate any European-style designs, which makes each pair truly unique.
